Any cons to camper back?

[starcrafttom]

Oh one last tip that should be obvious to you canvas makers but is not. Across the top of the cabin where your canvas attaches, it should be mounted with a slide track but then have a zipper the width of the top with in 3 inchs or so of the slide. . If you do not have that zipper, and I have seen it done that way, you will have to slide the whole 8 ft wide top to the side to remove. the track is by far the better way to attach to the roof but the most inconvenient way to remove the top while fishing or anywhere but the dock. In fact we had the zipper set so we could open either the left or right side of the top to make exiting at the dock simple and easy. If this does not make since I could video it.

[thataway]

Tom, Do you have a single zipper, or two zippers, which start in the middle, and then zip toward the outside? We have one piece which goes into the awning railing, and then zips either to the Bimini or the cockpit slant back cover from the center to the outside.--this piece is permanently fixed to the aluminum awning rail. I have found that in the heat the vinyl awning railings will stretch and eventually the bolt rope will pull out to it.

[JamesTXSD]

Our 25 had the two zippers at the bolt rope track to make it easy to open either size of the top for entry/exit.

I am surprised that no one talks about the biggest down side the the full camperback enclosure: It gives you a second room; your stuff that is in the cockpit stays dry (from rain or spray); keeps out the bugs; a great place to sit and toast the end of the day, even if that day has some liquid sunshine.

The downside: it makes you want to spend more time on these great boats. Your lawn will suffer. Projects around the house will get pushed back. You will start questioning whether that job is more important than spending all your time on the boat. You may start dreaming bigger about all the great places the boat can take you. Your social life may suffer because you won't really want to play bridge with the neighbors (and I have no idea how to play bridge, anyway)... unless they want to come to your boat and play in the cockpit!

Warm weather or cool (especially if you have screens), if you aren't at the helm or navigator position, the cockpit is just a darned nice place to be. Oh sure, it takes a little effort to set it up or take it down. The Blonde made a nice storage tube to keep our sides/screens in when not set up, and it would store just fine under the radar arch. But, most of the time, when we were on the boat, the camperback was set up.

So, yeah... there is no downside. Like the trailer, the camperback makes these boats even more functional and "homey."

[ssobol]

[hardee]

And I thought Jim was going to get technical, about all the weight that is added aft of the Center of Balance requiring greater down force by the trim tabs and causing a need for more fuel burn to counter said aft weight. Then he goes and gets all philosphically practical. What a guy.

I'm with ssobol

Harvey
SleepyC

[starcrafttom]

My boat has two zippers. Its great on the 27 in the winter because I can unzip the top just above the rear steering station and look over the top of the boat and still stay warn and dry.

[Kars10]

I took a family of four out for a charity fund raising event and it was cold and rainy. They worried about being miserable on the water and thought of cancelling. I put up my full camper back and told them they will be dry no matter what the weather. They were very comfortable and warm inside the cabin and cockpit with no fear of the weather spoiling the trip. Later that afternoon the sun came out and we removed a couple panels to enjoy the rest of the day on mirror calm water. So I would say that camper backs are worth whatever it costs and any extra handling to store them. I very much appreciate mine.[/img]

[Simplicity]

We’re cruising the Erie Canal and lake Champlain and the camper back gives a lot of extra covered space but when we’re home and in fishing mode it’s stored on land.Cruising yes fishing no.

[Chuckpacific]

I had a nice camper back on my CD-22....check out my album.

[chucko]

I agree with harder to get in and out but that can be resolved in advance of constructing . I leave mine up all year long just to keep water and dirt out.
If I did it again I would skip the screens though, they trap dirt , so need more cleaning, and we just don't have mosquito problems here.
Also in winter it's a solar heated room, very toasty.

[thechadmiller]

I guess my big (only) concern is trailering as we try to take it out once a week, and we have to trailer every time.

[colbysmith]

If you are only trailering a short distance, it should be fine left up. However, if it's long distance, you are probably better taking it down.

[thataway]

We always take all of the canvas off the frames to trailer--I have seen Bimini damage even rolled up. If it was right behind the cabin house, then I probably would be OK with it on the frame. (My Caracal Cat Bimini fits flush below the casting platform when down, and no problem trailering because it is out of the wind.

[colbysmith]

I just trailered my boat about 1000 miles with the bimini in the set back position. That is, with the top rolled up around it's frame, and then enclosed in it's cover. It sits upright, back over the motor. Otherwise, I have trailered it laying forward against the cabin, tied in that postion against the top roof rails. (Unfortunately, in this secured position it is harder to get into the boat when "boaterhoming".) In the laid back position, I worry more about the frame's side to side movement on rough roads, than anything else. Other than a very short distance, I wouldn't trailer with the entire camper enclosure up/on. Or even with the Bimini in the open position. Colby

[ssobol]

My bimini is stored with the cover on and rests on the top of the cabin when not in use, whether cruising or trailering.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=SoBelle&id=P7280026_1_sm&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php