Sundog Covered Cockpit - Feedback Appreciated

Sundog

Hi There ,

Tomorrow I am taking my boat into a shop to create a covered cockpit arrangement so that I can fish/adventure and stay dry. I have posted a couple links at my site and was hoping people could review these 2 links and give me some feedback that might impact the design.

Links:
http://www.sundogmedia.com/proof/sundog/side.jpg
http://www.sundogmedia.com/proof/sundog/top.jpg

Some of the things I tried for are:

1. To be able to remove some of the roof which will be canvas and have some sunlight on sunny days and also make it easy to set the hook and fight fish.

2. Tall enough to be able to slide my dingy both onto the roof and also nose down in the cockpit as I often carry it this way, so it sticks up about 8’

3. Create an area for hauling shrimp pots and extra rods.

4. The surface at top will be diamond plate and I imagine sitting up there with my chair drinking coffee while the kids are fighting below me:)

5. On nicer weather I could haul boats or gear on top.

Anyway - any thoughts would be appreciated, I see that variations of this have been done with Red Fox's being the most recent configuration.

Thanks,

Joe Law with the Sundog Crew Hot

Jeff Brigner · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:33 pm Post subject: feedback

Sundog, you are a much braver man the I to stand up on that top. Even in the lake I wouldn't want to defend my self up there from the wake of another boat. The effect up that high will be much more drastic than what you feel in the cockpit. Is that back resting on the table or secure? My radar even shows the wake of my motor from time to time. Do you think your radar will function with that steel up there? Please keep in mind you ask for opinions.

thataway · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject:

Very nice and well done drawings!

Be cautious about putting too much weight up aloft. I have seen various boats with small towers and large T Tops with a half tower, capsize under the correct conditions.

It looks as if you are making the top much higher than necessary. We had a folding camper top on the 22, it was on sliding side mounts on the inside of the cockpit and could be taken down and rolled up, so no obstruction if fishing or nice day.

You will have to attatch awning railings to the diamond plate for the top--and make this joint water tight. I would worry about the canvas sagging without a mid support--but it may be fine, if you can get it tight enough.
The cabin top or foreward deck are already good places to "get away".

But this is just my thought.

oldgrowth · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:39 pm Post subject:

Joe – it looks like a well thought out design. When you get it finished, post some photos of it for us and let us know how it worked out.

Good Luck.
________
Dave

Larry H · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject:

Joe,

I like the design, Have you done a weight analysis? How heavy is the 4 x 8 diamond plate?

I agree that it looks too high.

The boat runs bow up, so the roof can drain aft underway and can drain forward at rest. The splash from the roof draining onto the aft locker hatches sprays the cockpit.

Sundog · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:12 am Post subject:

Thanks for the feedback.

To answer a couple thoughts

1. you are right it is a little crazy to hang out on top, but I already dive off the radar arch - so the crazy part is a given.

2. The Height - I really like to pull my dingy in sticking up vertical and my dingy is 8' long - thus the height. -- I would like it shorter as well - but it is a compromise - I do agree to watch the weight though -- especially in heavy weather.

3. The whole metal should be about 100lbs - the diamon plate around 50lb.

4. Had not thought about the radar and metal conflict, my boating partner has both and does fine but I will look into that -- one thing for sure - I will show up better on other peoples radar.

Thanks - don't be shy - let me know your thoughts - it will be late shortly:)

Cheers,

Joe with the "Sundog"

mmitchell · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:44 am Post subject:

Saw a couple a few years ago in Homer that had a design something like what you are going to tackle. It was a 25' and they had the top made out of fiberglass with storage built in over the cabin. The top was made at the c-dory factory in the 80's.
If you can incorporate into your design the storage always sticks out in my mind. Great idea!

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:17 am Post subject:

Somebody who was contemplating adding a partial cockpit cover to his own boat had a photo of that 25 here about 2-3 years ago! Might be in one of our albums.

FOUND IT!

1982 C-Dory 26 with factory supplied roof extension (from Gary Johnson's Album)

Forward view

Here's a LINK to the Hardtop Extension discussion about this and other boats.

Joe.

Sundog · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:32 am Post subject:

As I mull over this, I am thinking about pulling my radar arch as it will be redundant - I can setup a spot for radar on the new aluminum work - does anyone know how much the tall radar arches are worth? could help with my costs on this project:)

Thanks again for any feedback

catdogcat · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject:

I was looking through some of the pics on your site and noticed you have a fishing buddy with a similar design. The guy with the blue Seasport? Personally I think the design will work great on your C-Dory. I would even keep the radar arch. Look forward to seeing the finished product.

C-Hawk · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:46 pm Post subject:

I just bought a tall stainless radar arch for $250.00 made for the 22' with tall top.

Sundog · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject:

Well -- I have been really taking the feedback to heart and am going to spend a little more time in the design phase before I jump into the welding. I am really hoping to do the AK portion of the inside passage this summer and not sure I can afford both -- I guess if I have to choose between the 2 - the trip comes first - I also need to get radar and some other saftey items.

Joe

CAVU · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject:

Sundog,
Just looked over your plans-it looks like the way the rocket launchers are oriented and where you would have to stand to remove a rod, may be a very long reach, especially for the top one? To remove a rod from a storage holder you have to be able to reach it and lift it 10-12 inches to remove it. Looks like a nice addition though. Have you looked over Red Fox's project? It's similar to yours.

catdogcat · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject:

On your Inside passage trip, are you driving then launching out of Hains? I've been thinking about the same trip. Still doing allot of research. Can you recommend any books that describe Points of Interests, places to fuel up ect..?

Sundog · Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: