Cantilever cockpit cover and camper back

Avidmagnum12

Just picked up my CD-22 Commuter today with a new camper back installed.
Should have done this a long time ago! My wife and I have made some over nite trips but have always wanted a bit more room. Troy at Marine Metals in Wiliston Florida fabricated a cantilever cockpit cover for us last spring. It's a similar to the ones fabricated up near Pensacola but has a little more rounded look. It's tall enough so that none of my friends have trouble with height. Even with the Tbag that holds life jackets. I've posted some photos in the Out 2 C photo album. The camper back has lots of ventilation but not much privacy.......so I borrowed a c-brat idea and bought some shower curtains at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Seem to work well. So off to the St. John's river for another shake down cruse on Monday. The reason I went back for the camper back to Marine Metals is they did such a GREAT job on the cockpit cover. I put their card in the photos of the camper back.

redbaronace

potter water · Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:49 am Post subject:

My wife is a sun worshiper and often tilts back the bimini to get full sun in the cockpit. Also, for fishing, we often stow the bimini. It looks to me that the metal frames bimini could frustrate someone who likes full sun when running or anchored and could interfere with fishing though not as bad as my conventional bimini if not stowed.

Thoughts?

Foggy · Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:48 am Post subject:

Out 2 C - like your canvas top. So does my wife. It's almost on our 'list' now except for 2 questions. Thanks.javascript:emoticon(' Confused

')

Without the side curtains in place, how does that neat aluminum frame affect your passage to the bow?

And how about boarding boarding from a dock which may be high when the tide is out?

Aye.

localboy · Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:57 am Post subject:

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 1:06 pm Post subject: Price and utility

The price for the cockpit cover with aluminum frame was $2,500. I had some rod holders mounted on the roof and I wanted to use the same holes. The camper back was $1,800 which included some work on the berth cushion. Not cheep but great quality. I have not had any problems with my kind of fishing but then if I really want to fish out on the gulf I take my Carolina Skiff. A cover could be made shorter if you needed to.
Everyone uses a boat differently. It took me almost three years to talk my wife into the cockpit cover. She is a sun lover and with my skin cancer history I stick to the shade. With the cover we both get what we want. Lots of Sun here in Florida and some days she will move over to the shady side for a bit. Yes.....she could go into the cabin but she likes outside air flow. Just asked her if she would ever want to take off the cockpit cover.....the answer NO WAY! The neat thing about a C-dory is that you can modify it the way you want it. Still have a list of mods for the Out 2 C......will get to them one at a time.

ah more questions.
The frame makes it easier to get in the boat off the dock on all conditions. My wife calls it her "jungle gym". Lots to hold on to! We usually have our Yeti cooler on the side we board on. As far as going to the bow no problem with just the cockpit cover but have not tried to do this with the camper back on.....will let you know after I get done with the shake down cruise Tuesday.

thataway · Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 7:59 pm Post subject:

What thickness is the vinyl--did they offer to do it in Statoglass or one of the other premium vinyls? If so what was the cost difference?

Thanks,

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 8:42 pm Post subject:

Bob
I went with 30 gage vinyl. I do not plan to leave the camper back on for day trips.....only for over night trips. It is very easy to remove from the cantilever cockpit cover. The boat is stored inside my airplane hanger except for days we are Out 2 C. Never asked for a price on Stratoglass. My 20 gage vinyl on my golf cart is over 10 years old and still looks great. I am hoping it will last at long as I do.....only time will tell.

Out 2 C......Tom

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 5:46 pm Post subject:

Just a note.....We have been using our camper back for a while now and love it as much as when new. The only thing we changed was to add roll up straps to the side panels aft of the doors. This makes it nicer when rafiting with other C-brats. Laughing

All the best......

Tom Schulke