Sprayhoods

[zoidberg]

Who else has zip-on rear curtains for their sprayhood - as shown here on Jean-Luc Van den Heede's 'Matmut'...?

How do you get on with them?

 

[Stemar]

I want something like that for Jazzcat so we can be shut in but still have headroom, but that's a special case. For most boats, I reckon a full cockpit tent would be better as it gives you a full extra room. Better still if it's done in such a way as to allow it to remain up under sail.

 

[Beneteau381]

Who else has zip-on rear curtains for their sprayhood - as shown here on Jean-Luc Van den Heede's 'Matmut'...?

How do you get on with them?

We had a full cockpit enclosure, sailed to Portugal with it up, across Biscay as well. Magic, warm and cosy, extra room, Arranged the tubes and a corner of the side so that the winches worked ol.Go for it, why do cold and wet?

 

[Laysula]

We have one. We zip it on over winter when we're not using the boat much, and it's great when you end up in a marina stern to the wind and it's raining. We can leave the washboards out and the hatch open and still keep the cabin dry. Ours has a large window in it so it does not make the saloon dark and we don't have it fitted whilst sailing.

 

[Dellquay13]

We have one. We zip it on over winter when we're not using the boat much, and it's great when you end up in a marina stern to the wind and it's raining. We can leave the washboards out and the hatch open and still keep the cabin dry. Ours has a large window in it so it does not make the saloon dark and we don't have it fitted whilst sailing.

I’d love a full cockpit cover but A, they’re too expensive for me and I already have a Habitent, and B, where would I store all the poles etc on a small boat when I want to use the boat for sailing?
I do like the idea of a zippable and detachable back to the spray hood though, to use as a porch rather than the full conservatory to keep the worst of the weather out while fighting with unruly washboards

 

[Martin_J]

There's a boat just a few along the pontoon with one. It looks great and as mentioned, where would most boats store the metalwork from a full cockpit enclosure.

 

[Tranona]

I would imagine that is quite useful for the type of sailing he is doing. Enables him to sit in the companionway and look back at those horrible big waves coming for him!

There are many variations on the theme. My next door neighbour has similar to Laysula on a Southerly 35. Mine is also zip on but covers the whole cockpit to protect the woodwork in the winter.

Nice thing with canvas work is that you can indulge yourself with a custom arrangement to suit your need - within the constraints of your boat.

 

[Poignard]

There's a boat just a few along the pontoon with one. It looks great and as mentioned, where would most boats store the metalwork from a full cockpit enclosure.

My boat is 28' load and the cockpit enclosure has only one hoop, which is in two sections joined with a sleeve when the cockpit enclosure is erected.

When dissembled, the two sections are easy to stow out of the way in a corner of a cockpit locker.

The cockpit enclosure is one the most useful accessories on the boat. Worth every penny.

 

[Martin_J]

My boat is 28' load and the cockpit enclosure has only one hoop, which is in two sections joined with a sleeve when the cockpit enclosure is erected.

When dissembled, the two sections are easy to stow out of the way in a corner of a cockpit locker.

The cockpit enclosure is one the most useful accessories on the boat. Worth every penny.

Same with my cockpit tent. Two frames with a sleeved join in the middle and I even made a curved bag (with handles) for the frame for when they're stowed, even though I did shape the frame to match the cockpit shape when lowered and it is out of the way, it is still nice to put fully away.

For the simplicity though of a short non-framed cover, it would be preferable to have that than having the wind and rain coming in as soon as the hatch is opened.

 

[Graham376]

We clip ours in when leaving the boat for a month or two or when raining and we want the hatch open. Used to use it on cold/wet UK overnights, very snug sitting in companionway with Eber running.

 

[zoidberg]

I wouldn't mind seeing some photos....
....illustrating the attachments and other good features, so I can point a marine canvasworker in the right direction.

 

[Tranona]

Here is mine




This is of course a winter cover for the whole cockpit, but the details of attachment might be useful. There are 2 zips with the fixed ends in the middle so that you can open it from either side. The half of the zips on the sprayhood are beneath a flap and the aft end of the hood is covered in a pvc type material (same as the reinforcing on the aft corners) to protect the fabric from abrasion. The flap covers the zips when the cover is on. Much better than exposed zips but a lot of fiddly work to get right.

Not sure what you are hoping to achieve with a zip on "curtain". The purpose in a way determines the construction and attachment which is why it is best to sit down on the boat with the person doing the work so that you can explain what you are hoping to achieve and they work out whether it is feasible. Two way process as obviously with their experience they can contribute ideas as well. I spent about 3 hours with the designer for the sprayhood and another 2 later in with the cover - simple things like placement of the buttons (and type) and particularly how to deal with the tiller. The prevailing wind blows directly onto the cover as you see it in the second picture and we could not devise a sensible waterproof "sock" around the tiller in its central position so clipping it off securely to one side is a simple solution.

As you can see it was made by Kemps, as was the stackpack and the sails. I have a good working relationship with them going back 30 years to when Rob first started. Top quality work.

 

[steveeasy]

If you watch the latest Coric Contessa 32 Youtube film. They have added a similar removable screen to the end of their sprayhood. looks quite useful if not a little limited in practical use.

Steveeasy

 

[Martin_J]

I wouldn't mind seeing some photos....
....illustrating the attachments and other good features, so I can point a marine canvasworker in the right direction.

I'll take some photos of the one near me at the weekend, provided it's still there and the canopy is still up..

FWIW, I did sew my own sprayhood and made the frames and did all the fabricwork for my cockpit tent myself but I do like the simplicity of the non-framed one..

BTW - Does anyone have a proper name for what these are?

 

[Martin_J]

I have found a name... It will make it easier searching for them now...

Sprayhood Backdrop, or Back Drop!

 

[Martin_J]

It looks like with some, the zippers end level with the top of the seating, whereas on others, they have taken the zippers all the way to the cockpit floor.

The ones below also look good. I wonder which length zipper works best..

I think zipper to the floor, then once the zip is done up there's nothing more to do.

 

[zoidberg]

Thanks, guys.
Each one of those gives me ideas I can 'weave in' to what I'll go for.

 

[Beneteau381]

There's a boat just a few along the pontoon with one. It looks great and as mentioned, where would most boats store the metalwork from a full cockpit enclosure.

Its a permanet structure! just like a bimini really

 

[tross]

I have found a name... It will make it easier searching for them now...

Sprayhood Backdrop, or Back Drop!

View attachment 150516

 

[tross]

The Hanse is my boat. I have to admit I was not happy with the fitting of it. The zips where small and bloody fiddly especially the upside down ones., I was very angry about dilling the teak seats to add popper buttons, as they tore my leggings. When I had my new canopy made by cover craft, they fitted larger zips all round which make life so much easier. and the moved the poppers to the side of the seats which is a hundred time better