I'm having a laying up cover made

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I\'m having a laying up cover made

and I've considered the options of material. One is the usual vinyl or it could be in acrylic "canvass"

The cover will be an under-boom affair with waterfalls over the top rail to make run-off water miss the teak cappings and the topsides, with luck, zip-joined at the mast with a ridgeback to support the forward part. It will be secured by a large number of tie-downs to the lower rail.There will be a zipped access panel at the rear. Due to this type of construction, it will allow good air circulation but keep the high winter rainfall of Corfu off of at least the coachroof and decks. Now I'm not looking for comments on the general layout (& won't receive them gracefully!) as it has been discussed with the very experienced local maker and I'm firmly set upon that but simply on the material to be used.

Acrylic canvass has the greater aesthetic appeal as it just looks more nautical but since it won't be seen by the general public, only other owners in the compound, that isn't really important. A "Con" to acrylic is that it soon loses it's "duck's back" water shedding property and absorbs it instead unless it is regularly re-proofed with proprietory sprays (Grainger's etc.) Although frost is rare in Corfu, damage and maybe water penetration and stitching rot could ensue.

Vinyl, on the other hand, soon ends up with rain stains and can look rather dowdy but apart from stitching holes, would be totally impervious. It's visual appeal is far less but as I've said earlier, that doesn't matter in a boat park. Another factor with vinyl is that it is more likely than acrylic canvass to suffer from early UV degradation and go stickey but since this is a WINTER cover and I'd probably choose a dark colour, that too should be minimal. As to costs, the Vinyl would be around €2000 and the acrylic €2500

Anyone have any thoughts. I'll be placing the order very soon.

Steve Cronin
 
Re: I\'m having a laying up cover made

I replaced our PVC dodgers recently with acrylic canvas. The PVC had lasted at least 20 (UK) summers and was getting a bit brittle, but that is all. No idea what grade or quality it was compared to the currently available stuff, but it seems to last well based on that.

I know you said you have already decided on what you want, but just in case it's of passing interest to you, we cover our cockpit and main hatch with a "real" tent, a 3-man hoop-supported thingie from Black's end of season sale. The ends of the poles sit inside the toerail and the guys are passed under the hull. They last about 3 years, November to March, tho' you'd probably need a rather larger one than ours, but being a mass market item they are much, much cheaper.
 
Re: I\'m having a laying up cover made

One thought or two. PVC is somewhat stiffer than acrylic which MAY be an advantage if you anticipate prolonged heavy winds.On the other hand I have seen plenty of acrylic used in Florida that has gone through tropical storms ok if well cut and well attached all round-I take it that this is a bespoke cover and not something that the wind will be able to get under and blow around? All in all if it were me I would go for acrylic,watching that any chaff areas get suitably doubled up on thickness.The stuff is easy to fold up and looks smart,so if you were ever to sell the boat,it would imo be a bonus...
 
Re: I\'m having a laying up cover made

If condensation is a problem...
Acrylic canvas will tend to hold any condensation on the underside, and will quickly succumb to being a mould / mildew haven. Removal is by chemical obliteration only, and the stuff is neither cheap (for that kind of area) nor pleasant.

Vinyl will tend to let condensation run off, possibly leaving watermarks just where you don't want them. Any mould and mildew will be more readily scrubbed off.

Also...
Canvas should fold up smaller and be lighter I imagine (dependant upon fabric spec.).

Vinyl easier to DIY repair with the right type of cement, or cheap and professionally by a truck curtain maker.

If stitching rot is a problem with the canvas one, tell them to use the same thread as they use for the vinyl one.
 
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