Sprayhood

DoubleEnder

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On a classic sailing boat? Yes? No? It would make the cockpit a nicer and drier place. And I could leave the hatch open when it's raining. But.... What do you think?
 
Yes, definitely, especially if it folds down. They may be classics but they should still be comfortable unless you are only displaying them as museum pieces.
 
I have one on my Twister (which I suppose now counts as a classic) but I would not dare remove it. When I bought the boat she had cockpit dodgers and I will not soon forget the trouble that ensued when the crew (SWMBO) discovered I had discarded them! :(
 
Yes "BUT" it would have to be in a vintage style to be right more like a pram hood and not a modern designed-look-a-like, there are still old fashioned three legged Spray hood fittings that can have steamed oak hoops attached to them that would make it look the part, and not just a modern attachment.
I have a set of fittings for "Mercia III" and if you wish I can photo them if you are not sure of what I am suggesting.
and I must add it is well worth the trouble to build and fit one the pleasure of sitting in the protection of one is bliss.
 
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Yes "BUT" it would have to be in a vintage style to be right more like a pram hood and not a modern designed-look-a-like, there are still old fashioned three legged Spray hood fittings that can have steamed oak hoops attached to them that would make it look the part, and not just a modern attachment.
I have a set of fittings for "Mercia III" and if you wish I can photo them if you are not sure of what I am suggesting.
and I must add it is well worth the trouble to build and fit one the pleasure of sitting in the protection of one is bliss.

If you could send me a photo or sketch that would be great. I was thinking of something fairly narrow, not a great big effort that spans the whole cockpit..... NO rush, but thank you. I'll pm my email address
 
I was asked by a friend with the same boat as mine to come up with an idea for a hood, that could be put up and stowed easily. The plan was to use interlocking pipe plastic for cheapness, could be done in 316. On each side of the cabin have two brackets that the vertical poles can fit in. You then make a goal post arrangement, this is then slip into pockets in the cloth. The cloth goes over this the clips onto the cabin roof as a sort of lean to. How you clip it on will depend on the set up you have bungee on the grab rail would work for him. Sides back can be added and taken back as far as you would like. I hope I have explained it ok.

The advantage, it can all fold away out of sight on the nice days.
 
I think it is one of very best additions you can make to a small boat, although mine is stowed for 80% of the time.

Whatever style you choose it may be possible to design it so that you only need hoist the bottom section, giving you a sort of soft top Halbery Rassy screen - very useful.
 
The constraint on many older boats (apart from aesthetics) is limited height under the boom to get sufficient clearance to exit the companionway with the hood up. Would avoid a narrow one that just covers the companionway (having had one) - its only value is stopping spray getting down below. It obstructs vision and does not confer the real benefits of a hood which is to provide protection to occupants of the cockpit.
 
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Hi Graham.
Here is the photo of my fittings as you can see they are a plug in so the whole Spray Hood can be removed and stowed.
Left hand pic shows the starboard hand fitting in the open and the right in the folded down positions.
My idea is to use steamed oak frames and drill the ends of the hoops and fit an internal tube and form a ferrule made from a bit of 1" to 1 1/2" copper pipe knocked up to fit snugly around the outside of the end of the Oak Hoops to strengthen them.
Going to the outer edges of the coach roof would be better than just over the hatch and companion way, it gives a nice dry area on ether side of the hatch to shelter and put things out of any wet.
Theses fittings come up on ebay from time time, I have looked in Davey's cat and found they don't list them.
A phone call to Davey's may bring some info of where they may be found.
I hope this helps Cheers David.
 
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