Sprayhoods

[brians]

Where can I get a reasonable sprayhood at a reasonable price in the Solent area?

I have had 2 quotes in excess of £650! This ios more than I can buy a JRC radar for! Can this be right?

 

[steve_cronin]

That\'s about the going rate...

...for a 30-35 footer with frame 7 fitting.

I once had a replacement made by a tent repair company called Billsons (formerly Billson & Grant) in Anstey Leicestershire. I took the old one as a pattern, they unpicked it, cut around it and sewed the new one together in heavier PVC canvas for £75 (as I remember). They did a really good job and hand waxed all the stitching. That was eight years ago but it probably would still only cost around £200 today. Problem is, anything with "boat" attached to in attracts a premium.

 

[AndrewB]

Yup, exactly the same experience.

Two years ago. Lowest spray-hood quote was £500. A tent maker quoted £220 for identical specification, acrylic with three windows. Perfect, except ...

"Why have you put a flap all round the edge at the bottom?" "Well we always do on tents".

 

[Guest]

Hang on, guys. Have you considered the relative manufacturing techniques for a radar and a sprayhood? A hand made sprayhood? A "tailored to your boat" sprayhood? Agree, a tent maker could copy an old one fairly easily, however a friend had a local tent maker copy his sails. You've never seem such a ****-**!!

 

[davel]

I had a hood and wheel cover made for much less than that by JBYS. Frame already existed though.
Call 01489 572 487.

 

[DaiB]

Try Comfort Afloat in Gosport. Phone 02392602686.
We had a hood made for a 39 ftrrr using the old frames for just over 300 quid.
After using it for the year it still looks as good as new, we were very pleased with the finished job.

 

[incognito]

Yeah, cos sprayhoods do not detect other vessels very well - and radomes do not provide much shelter from the rain!

 

[gus]

Save your money for your radar and make your own sprayhood. It is not really all that difficult as long as you take your time and think it through. Decide what shape you want. Make up a suitable frame. Mock up the cover with brown paper and masking tape to give you your pattern and get sewing. Have plenty of try-ons at each stage as there are little alterations you can encorporate as you go. There is also plenty of advise to be had from the material suppliers and even from fellow readers if you ask nicely. So have a go, it's nice to be able to do these things yourself and be proud of your efforts.

 

[steve_cronin]

Particularly if you don\'t want to waste time....

....actually sailing it that is!!

If like most owners you spend only weekends at your boat isn't it better to "add a little extra value" during the working week and pass the increased revenue so generated to a specialist to do it for you, thereby maximising your boat's "in service" time as well as fuelling the economy which will in itself serve to maintain the economic environment which allows boat ownership and the pleasure that it brings to us all?

Unless you are retired of course!

Steve Cronin

 

[vyv_cox]

DIY Sprayhoods

I pride myself on being able to fix most things and make a lot of them. My wife has excellent sewing machine skills and has similar views to mine regarding making and mending things. We have owned two boats that had DIY hoods and both were pretty poor. We spent considerable time on trying to improve them but they remained obstinately "home-made". We made a winter cover for the present boat, which is beautifully sewn but far from a perfect fit.

Last year we bought a custom-made hood from a local supplier. It is utterly superb, as rigid as a GRP top, fits to perfection and includes many of the items that distinguish the professional item from the amateur. My experience tells me that there is absolutely no way that the amateur, no matter how skilled, can come even half way to making such a class piece of kit.

Most people could make something that will keep the spray off, but a good hood is something else.

 

[gus]

Re: DIY Amateurs

Sorry Vyv but I must take issue with you on the ability of amateurs. Just because you cannot do a bit of proper DIY doesn't mean that everyone else cannot. Over many years I have found that apart from very specialised tasks like electronics or sail making, the ONLY way to get a job done properly is to do it yourself.

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: DIY Amateurs

Which is just what I said. There is no job on my boat that I don't do myself. We have made very successful sails and built (simple) electronic equipment. I have repaired a holed GRP hull more than a foot across and nobody could see where it was done. Completely rewired two boats. Reconditioned many engines. Re-engined my present boat. (plus converted 5 vans into caravanettes). Built several cradles. The list goes on. But I could not have made a hood half as good as the one I bought.

 

[claymore]

Sorry for the delay in replying but a sprayhood tends to be a one-off and so there is bound to be more expense involved than in buying a mass produced item such as radar. Anyway - to the point, Boat Jumbles in the North West often have a mail order firm based in cheshire who supply diy kits. I fitted one to a boat about 5 years ago for around £150 and it was great. If I can find the blurb I'll send you details.... Its in the shed!

 

[charles_reed]

Re: DIY Sprayhoods

Totally agree with you Vyv.

My sprayhood, now 7 years old is coming to the end of its working life and I've been collecting quotes around the coast - UK S coast prices are about £1000, Irish Sea £700, La Rochelle £600, Cascais £650, Sevilla £480 and I've been assured that, when I get to Turkey, It'll cost about £350. So the poor old thing will have, with the help of sail-repair tape, do another year until I get into the E Med.

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: DIY Sprayhoods

Mine was made by a small company in Holland. In all we bought new stainless steel frames, hood and cockpit tent, all fitted and quite excellent, for 4000 guilders, not a lot over 1000 pounds. The cockpit tent adds a whole new dimension to the evenings, barbecues and parties in heavy thunderstorms are very entertaining!

 

[steffen]

Re: DIY Sprayhoods

Can you tell me which company and where as i am planning to have my sprayhood repaired or replaced depending on the costs of both. The material is still good but the stitching is gone.

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: DIY Sprayhoods

Abos Zeilmakerij, Oud-Beijerland. 0031 186 649064 Fax 640919

 

[Guest]

Not the Solent but.... Calibra Marine in Dartmouth do an OK job. Best I've ever seen made by Sharpe & Enright in Dover. They have a guy who makes all their canvas stuff upstairs from their chandlery, and he's a proper craftsman. I've previously had stuff made in Somerset by Paull's of Martock, who make marquees and are really good at working with heavy canvas