Sports boat canopy

[lanason]

Like a lot of people on here I have a sports boat with a full rear canopy - I'm wondering is it better to leave the canopy up over the winter or take it off and replace with a tarpaulin or similar.

Tarps never seen to hang right and often rub in the funniest places, also on the points over the widscreen they tend to rub and wear out.

Last year I used the canopy "rails" to support a tarp over the top and took the hood off. Worked quite well but I did have to "rope" the rails into postition to create a frame as the tarp doesnt have any poppers to lock onto the tubes.

Downside of all this is access, to start motors and generaly move about and work on the inside.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>More Pics of Kelisha</A> /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[barryjl]

I don't think it hurts to leave full canopy up over the Winter, is the boat staying in the water?

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[kindredspirit]

Canopy is handier but it also gets green and grubby over the winter.

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[miket]

Re: Tonneau

Why not have a tonneau made to fit existing poppers?

Probably a fraction of the price of a new hood.
I had one made for the Command bridge of my Broom 37. Cost around £200.
New hood, nearer £1,000.

Hood now in 3rd year and still looks like new.

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[tcm]

The replacing of hood with tonneaue is also a total pain.

We have a huge overcover thingy that goes over the whole screen side windows and the normal canopy. It ties around the rear facing arch. Wouldn't work so well (or different design needed) if fwd facing arch. Looks a right mess but does the job. Totally and utterly dry, and no canopy-cleaning needed, ever.

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[tico]

Look at back of MBM or exchange & Mart for tarpailin makers, they sell polyprop ones dead cheap so you can get one big enuf to go over everything. White so lets in light, keeps canopy clean.
make sure you have ventilation or dehumdifier to avoid mould.
consider how rain will pool, its surprising how much 2 months worth of rain will weigh

<hr width=100% size=1>Been there, done that, got the oily T shirt