Hugo-Request to include in boat tests.

DPH

DPH

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Having rafted up at the weekend to a prestigious make of boat the owner of two years and I agreed that one of the things boat tests ignore is the canopies.

i.e.
How long does it take to put up?
Does it fit?
Is it waterproof?

Said owner was very miffed that for £400k his canopy leaked like a sieve. Had he know this I doubt he would have bought this model.

Although not as bad, my last boat suffered this when motoring into rain. The canopy was watertight everywhere apart from over the three forward seats. I think this could have been easily fixed by using more Velcro along the top flat but just never got around to it.

I suspect that on most tests the writer arrives to a glass of wine and is presented with the boat, clean, covers off and ready to go. On return the boat is handed back to the dealer to clean and put away. So I suspect the writer gets very little feel of what it’s like to own the boat.

Point is this is information I'd like to see in a boat test, after all we must spend half an hour each weekend playing with the canopies.
 
Agree with that - canopies are nightmares and mine are easily the most infuriating aspect of my boat. A section on canopies would be good, timings to put up/down, broken fingernail count, and test 'em with a hosepipe if it's a dry day. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Because we don't like being forced to drive from inside a rattly fibreglass box with poor visibility: that's what Reliant Robins were for?

The tent is optional. Normally use the "flat" cover when in the marina, and "full tent" comes out when overnighting (5 times yr?) or fiddling with the oily bits in poor weather.

In general, if the weather is that bad that I need the canvas up, then forget it, I'm staying on shore...

dv.
 
Not all boats have the option of a tonneau type cover.
Ever tried putting the full canopy up when the weather's taken an unforseen turn for the worse? That's when you really start cursing.
 
> Not all boats have the option of a tonneau type cover.
S24's do.

And yes, suspect daughter will learn many words she probably shouldn't listening to muttered curses issued trying to put the S24 full canvas up when raining. Mind you, when up, you get a real sense of achievement that you've reduced the downpour to a steady drip from the radar arch, and then...

...

sixty seconds after the last popper is done...

...

The rain stops.

dv.
 
I think with all full enclosures the Radar arch helps immensly (my chris craft didnt have one). Now, I for one know the Bayliners aren't without their faults, but I am really pleased with the cockpit enclosure. Goes up easily (now I know how) and I have had it out in really nasty wet weather and so far havent noticed any leaks going into driving rain. Doesnt protect very well against a heavy sea, water gets bewteen the windscreen and front covers with big waves, but then its not designed to...
 
Indeed so, and by coincidence I cleaned my tonneau yesterday of the summer's seagull cr*p, and will try and fix the lift-the-dot-tear-your-fingernail popper that's parting company from the fabric some time soon.

One of these days I'm going to fall off and in when trying to fix the radar arch poppers...

Yep my S24 leaks. Presume they all do from the (lack of) design.
 
It's always struck me as odd that even cheap convertible cars can make the hood go up in a few seconds at the touch of a button but my boat canopy takes 20mins of fiddling and still leaks.
Mass production vs small volumes I suppose.
It's about time someone like Jeremy Clarkson did boat reviews.
 
I'm with hlb on this one. Is'nt the point more about the drama of 20-30 mins putting the canopy up upon return to the berth more than a question of visibility?

With hlbs boat all he has to do is lock the patio door and go to the bar out of the rain.

As for visibilty I have had occasion to skipper a 42 foot sports cruiser recently on several charters, fortunately the weather was fine so I could see well over the (plastic) windscreen . Cant imagine how one could get any visibilty peering through the screen with the canopy fastened down in bad weather.

Now on my fly the vision and view is faultless and in bad weather at least I am dry inside and looking through a (glass) windscreen using wipers. And as I have said if its still raining when I get back I just lock the door and head for the bar.
 
And dont them zips just love to jam and break off half way along.The palaver on my mates T37,uncovering and unclipping all them millons of studs every morning ,trying to ram the covers into their hidey holes while holding up all the seating with your third hand and then to have to put the whole blinking lot back on in the evening and then take it all off......etc ....etc etc...
 
Could'nt agree with you more. The canopy is the biggest thing that puts me off sports boats. The canopy on my old Targa 48 was a barsteward to put up, leaked like hell and was positively dangerous when there was spray about 'coz you could'nt see thru the placcy panels
And another thing. How come you get an electric canopy on a crappy £10k Peugeot car but you dont get one on a £400k boat?
 
I guess I'm still thinking "small boats". Below 30ft, I still haven't seen anything that has an indoors that I would want, apart from maybe the SC29.

There is a size where having an indoors makes more sense than a huge cockpit. Probably below 40ft I would go for a sportsboat, any bigger, it would have to be a flybridge...

dv.
 
Don't care. Would prefer woolly hat, woolly pully, woolly underwear( /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif okay maybe not), and a couple of waterproof bits on top instead of being in a greenhouse on most boating days. That's the point, it's not a tent, it's more like driving the MX-5 in january with the top down. I want to smell the sea, not decomposing biscuit crumbs and mouldy carpet.

Another factor is probably how much overnighting/weekending you do. Cos the boat is at the bottom of the garden, tends to be frequent day trips with flat cover on/off, plus maybe 5 weekends each season, so not much tenting there either.

dv.
 
Oh we still wear woolly hats and pullovers. Even coats and gloves. BUt there all for upstairs, when the rain or sea gets to bad, we go downstairs, switch the heating and window wipers on and gently closes the door!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Now as anyone with experience of boating knows fly bridges are suited for the warmth of the Med, you use the flybridge when motoring and the breeze keeps you cool. When you stop you go downstairs and sit in the air-conditioning.

Sports cruisers are designed for the UK's fluctuating weather. Start off covers up, bit chilly you see first thing. Sun comes out, undo a few zips and let some air in. Sun back in and zip up again. When the sun stays out for a few days at a time leave the covers off completely, or perhaps leave the top on for some protection from the sun.

Try not to laugh at the fly bridge brigade in their woollies just because you’re protected from the wind by that big windscreen.

Don't forget the sports cruiser at anchor also offers more protection from that afternoon sea breeze. Enjoy a Chablis while your guest loaf around the cockpit enjoying the sun. Try not to look over at the neighbouring fly bridge, it’s top occupants windswept and nauseous from the exaggerated pitching. The weaker guests of the fly bridge may be observed downstairs, probably drinking hot chocolate to thaw out from the journey.
 
Oi, yer little muppet. You had yer soap dish out lately??

Real boater, boat all year round and have the equipement to cope. Seakeeping ability extends far beond the boat actually sinking.

Proper boats keep crew warm and fed, no matter the conditions. Aids the skipper whether up top and able to navigate in tight confines, whilst comforting him in long incement, sea voyages. A good boat has the ability to cope easily with all these.

And when he finally arrives knackered at his destination.

It does not ask him to spend half an hour Fcking around with press studs!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

By the way. With the barge, you spend half yer life putting the shed up and down!!
 
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