Oh, what a feeling!

[alt]

To go from this:

To this:

I'm delighted I forked out for a new canopy, transforms the boat! Still a little tight as it hasn't spent much time on the boat (I removed it when I went travelling last Dec) so hopefully a bit of rain and time and it'll bed in.

Now here's hoping for the weather (despite me wanting some rain to help the canopy!)

 

[Nigelpickin]

Looks great and here's to not needing that canvass until at least October

 

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Looks great and here's to not needing that canvass until at least October

On the West of Ireland, it's rare that the canopy comes off! We always travel with at least one of the bow windows off, and the rear section is usually off when under-way. Ideally, a HT would suit this region best, but I do love being 'outdoors' when under-way, feels like proper boating.

 

[scubaman]

Congratulations. The (only) nice thing about spending the winter out of the water is the added joy of finally getting the boat back in.

 

[rafiki_]

Great job, she looks fantastic. Yes a fresh canopy does wonders for a boat.

 

[Nick_H]

Still a little tight as it hasn't spent much time on the boat (I removed it when I went travelling last Dec) so hopefully a bit of rain and time and it'll bed in.

Now here's hoping for the weather (despite me wanting some rain to help the canopy!)

Did the canopy maker show you how to fit it? On a properly fitting canopy (as yours appears to be) there is a method to fit them, basically involves just starting the zips, attaching the fixings at each end of a run, then attach the fixings in between, then finally use the zips to tension the cover. That last bit is critical, if you zip them up first you'll struggle to get them on.

A surveyor on a boat I bought told me the canopies had shrunk, and I called Jim Bowman to complain. He offered to come down, and he showed me the above method and of course the canopy fitted perfectly, as all of Jim's covers do.

It's much nicer to have a taught canopy than some you see which are very loose.

 

[alt]

Did the canopy maker show you how to fit it? On a properly fitting canopy (as yours appears to be) there is a method to fit them, basically involves just starting the zips, attaching the fixings at each end of a run, then attach the fixings in between, then finally use the zips to tension the cover. That last bit is critical, if you zip them up first you'll struggle to get them on.

A surveyor on a boat I bought told me the canopies had shrunk, and I called Jim Bowman to complain. He offered to come down, and he showed me the above method and of course the canopy fitted perfectly, as all of Jim's covers do.

It's much nicer to have a taught canopy than some you see which are very loose.

Yup, and from experience I was quite familiar with installing canopy. My issue is that it has spent little time on the frame as when we were getting it made it was winter, so didn't want to leave it on.

I took off some pieces yesterday and it was just a little tight getting on. So, I loosened some of the bars (you can screw to loosen/tighten) and went on no prob, then just tightened up the bars again. I don't have them set 'dead tight', just enough that the whole thing fits like a glove.

Cheers for the tip though!