Canvas Lessons Learned and Start Over Question

B

Byrdman

New member
OK...tossing this out for all of the gained knowledge and wisdom available from our owners.... If you started over with your canvas...what did you do right....and what would you do differant if you were starting from the get go....

Yes... after much considerations and thought during my retro work on the 18' , 1984 Angler...many have advised to bring her back to new shape...and put a good canvas on her...

So... let's see what I get from lessons learned.

Byrdman
 
In retrospect, I'm not too happy with the way my canvas was originally set up when I bought the boat. It was a good quality job, done by King Marine arranged by the factory but I find it doesn't suit my needs so well. The things I would change are:

1) The forward section is attached to the roof line with a sliding dealy - the canvas has a piece that is sewn to it that slides horizontally into a mating catch. It's a PITA to get in and out and I didn't knoow enough then to have an additional zipper put in across the top.

2) Attached to the roof is too low, especially w/o flaps to allow better ingress/egress. It would be better to have it start about 8-12" off the roof at the front end. There are a number of ways to accomplish this and I'm thinking of a design that might add an attachment point/cross bar to a radar arch.

3) I wish I had the back end go clear to the stern rather than stopping at the back of the cockpit. That extra foot or so makes it seem far roomier.
 
The camperback that the Canvas Riggers did for "Sea Shift" is top notch! (Da Nag has the same camperback from Canvas Riggers). It has numerous options with its' various "zippered panels" and has zippers so the forward "roof line" can be unzipped and flipped up for easier ingress and egress. I'm certain that if you look in Da Nag's and Sea Shift's albums you will find a few photos of it. (I also have "solid panels" that can be attached inside the clear panels for privacy, but I've not felt compelled to utilize them yet). When I first used the camperback it was confusing figuring out where each panel went as there are nine panels (not counting the top), but after labeling them it is very "user friendly". If I had to do it again, I'd have Canvas Riggers do it the same way!
 
Yes will be having the canvas done at Canvas Unique in Old Hickory, TN. They are the "major provider" for folks using the Cumberland River system in our area. Mom and Pop shop....or actually, Joe and Tammy. We have used them for years on the many boats that have processed thru our family. Quality jobs, and they "USE" their stuff...and don't just sell it so they have the in the water experience to keep them from making things that simply do not work..

Dan, I sent you an email, yes, please send the pics. I will take time this weekend to draw up my wish list.

Keep the comments coming. Thanks!

Byrdman
 
I have made most the changes that have been addressed so far. All great ideas. In addition, I would have the back piece done in two, or more pieces. So much easier to store. You don't want to bend the plastic when stored, it's life will be shortened greatly. The best addition that I made for my 19, was adding a drop curtain. If you go with one of these, let me know and I will give you my ideas as to how I think they should be attached to the boat. Your boat is looking good Byrdman! :D Robbi
 
Byrdman, I agree with using someone locally that can do it the way YOU want it. If for some reason however that you decide to go with canvas riggers give me a buzz and I'll drag mine up there to use as a pattern. Us 18 owners gotta stick together.
Norm
 
We will be picking our CD-25 up in two months at the factory. I purchased my camperback enclosure (added screens) through the factory, and I assume that King will be doing the canvas work. How have others who have used them dealt with ingress/egress? We want the canvas to be user friendly, but we have never been "users" of this type of product. For the many others who have dealt with King Canvas, are they open to suggestions for best usage? I was impressed with the enclosure on Tom and Susan's "Susan E"... was that a stock camperback or were there mods? We would also like the aft end of the camperback to extend as far back as possible to give more living room inside.

Hope this is still on-topic with Byrdman's original post.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim and all others: Target on. Getting in and out of the boat when it is "down in the water" while tied up to a dock or wall for sure is an issue. We have to keep in mind a difference in boats with bulkheads and a solid door, and those with an "open aft area" such as the 16's, the 18's and the 19 Anglers. On my 16 I had two canvas set ups basically. One, I could drop down straight down the aft edge of the cabin. One flat piece with a "plastic clear square"....that I busted one day by flipping it up when it was frozen. It was set up so that it would roll up and store while still attached on the "inside" of the roof and cabin. The other was a fastback cover which would attach to the "top of the roof line" thru that little slide bar hook up as mentioned in an above post...and kinda went down and back to the "top surface" area of the stern... It did snap on the vertical sides/transom edge as to allow water to run off the boat and not into the boat. This was great for a little security of "stuff" at the docks and/or when towing. These were both with the boat when I bought them, and both were reconditioned/re-sewn with newer "thread" prior to selling the boat. IF...I had purchased a 3rd enclosure, it would be something like Broc and others have on their 16s. So....following that same school of thought on my 18 Angler with the open back, and a "light blue fastback" canvas/sunbrella cover on a white & black boat (maybe a deal on light blue???)... I want a straight drop down to cover lack of a bulkhead, and the "real top"...set up about at the 6'6" height from the cockpit floor to allow for folks to stand up. The cabin of the 18 Angler will not even let me stand at the helm. Yes, I have thought about cutting the roof off and adding about a 2' section...but others keep saying "keep it like the factory.." So for now...I will go with the group and just put a high top canvas aft of the current "low roof line." I see a one piece drop down zip in section that would go from side to side, and the height would be what ever needed to match up with the high-top of the aft area that is 6'6" above the cockpit floor. This would allow for flow thru ventilation, and/or some type of "draft diverter" as to force the air off the roof and down into the cockpit area when slow cruising and all the forward movement draft is being blocked by the cabin. This keeps insects off of the passengers in the chairs down here. I am going to have to do some fast looking at some of the cooler mounts on boats. I have not totally given up on having an "enclosed engine box" that I can sit a cooler/generator on while traveling, and at the same time would deflect the noise of the motor behind the boat instead of collecting in the "cathedral like" cabin of the boat. This "motor box" could/would be built of starboard, and sort of "slip into catch plates" as to allow me to use it...or store it. Have seen a guide boat that fishes the flats in FL with a removable push pole tower. A mix of that, plus some of the other "rigs" I have seen on other C-Dorys...and that is what I see for the "long haul." So more than likely I will get out my 1x3 lumber and saw...build me a frame that is as pretty as my AC frame/stand I had on FreeByrd, and a piece of 1/4" lauan (sp?) wood and do me some "let's see if this works"..... prior to having canvas aft section finished out... or...have two aft curtains cut... One for no motor box, and one for the boat as is from the factory. Yall gotta let me rig up something on this boat.... just to give it that Bama Engineered Look...:mrgreen:
OK now...ya'll tear me apart and put me back together.....again.
 
James, the top on the Susan E is a canvas riggers creation. Les helped them design it for us. after seeing others the only thing I would change is having the back curtain cover pass the hatch covers. That way I could not only get inside them with out opening the curtain but could us that space at night to set things. I would also move the rear uprights so they are out of the way when fishing. I have been folding them up and tying them to the front up rights. Then I just run a long bungee from the top center of the back roof to the hooks on the motor well. this keeps the wind from folding up the whole thing. Right now we are using mexican blankets as privacy curtains in the back. we use small bungees to hold up the blankets. susan is busy right now making light weight curtains that will velcro to the camper canvas. They will match the shades in the cabin.
 
Pat,

IMGP0924_001.jpg

Looking at this image of the Divine Miss you can see that the roof height is lower than head height. I think if I were going to put a "Camper Back" on this boat I would put a dodger on the roof with clear panels for looking forward while in the back. I would then have the canvas attached to the back of the dodger with snaps or a zipper to make it easier to enter/exit the boat. If you don't have the rear bulkhead, I would also have a "Drop Curtain" that is basically 3 pieces allowing you to roll up the center section and leave the sides in place.

Great topic!
 
The "dodger" that Gary (gflr) has mentioned before would also be my preferred solution - and I think something like that could be integrated into/attached to the radar arch. None-the-less, the idea of getting the forward canvas a bit higher off the roof is a good one. I'd also like to come up with a design that can be used either as a large volume camper back or the sloped version for storage in the driveway.
 
Yea....and the Divine Miss....or more acurately.... NORM and I are about the same height.....so we both would really need to stand on a cooler to see over our short roof... :mrgreen: :smiled :teeth :thup
 
I recently had a bimini made by Dave at King's and could not be happier. It has a zipper on both sides of the front so I can open it up when boarding. I went with the stainless tubing and really like it. It is very easy to put up and down for travel and the quality looks great to me. I fell like it was a fair price and has been a great addition to the Mary Ellen. I have posted some pics in my album. Dave personally met me at the Factory and installed the new top. First class guy. Dave also made a Sunbrella cover for the Bomar hatch so it stays dark in the morning, will be great for sleeping. It snaps from the inside.
 
Big Mac: Some real nice pictures in your album. Great looking set(s) of anchor rode hands too...(grandchildren).. The pic with Arik took me a bit... I wondered if that was big mac....just how big is that C-Dory.. Glad we can zoom in on those pics. I like the gray color too. I have white boat with "original" black stripes. Not sure I want a black top due to heat and visibility of dirt. I may go gray.
 
Byrdman, I have agree with Gary on the dodger idea. If you look on my album there are a couple of pictures of a similar setup on a 19 I saw while shrimping up on the canal last month. I plan on putting a radar arch on mine and would like to attach it to that. The big question for me right now is if I can make a 19 roof panel fit. Need to run up to the factory this week and do some measureing. I would really like to have the raised center section for a cleaner electronics shelf installation. Plus still might look at raising the roof about 4". The extra headroom would be nice and I don't think it would ruin the lines of the boat.
Norm
 
That 19 is the Mar-T. I have not seen them in many months. Glad they are out on the water enjoying the boat. I think they have been busy on some other non-boating projects. Saw Mike at the boat show in January.

Byrdman, the Mar-T has a drop curtain that zips into the back of the short dodger. That is all he uses as he shrimps and fishes most of the time. This gives him easy access in and out of the boat, and he still can enclose part of the cockpit when they overnight. Robbi
 
Here is the picture in question.

P5060010.sized.jpg

This is great and not that different from the extended top on my boat, other than mine is hard and 3' long. Mine also goes forward on the roof about a foot.
 
Great photo and thanks for the photos and input for sure.

Well, the down side to the top is that I have not really had any real cruising/fishing time in this particular hull....but that is what happens with a lot of our 1st time C-Dory owners who are having tops made.

And... it is summer, and I pic my boat up on the coast where there is inland fishing, bay fishing, and "deep water :mrgreen: " bottom fishing, and having been blessed with some :mrgreen: NW 270' deep shrimping on the 05 Blakley Gathering trip via Roger and Beth Johnson.... by the time I tow it to Mt. Juliet TN for the canvas work... I should be able to go into this project much better informed.

Les Lampman of E.Q. in Oak Harbor has also put together a word doc with a bit of talk kinda on "a top canvas".....a better top canvas.... and a sure nuff you are going to be using this to stay warm and dry, getting in and out of your boat when it is both hot...and when it it cold and wet and your fingers do not want to play... canvas top.... with the pricing ranging from about $1,000 to almost $2,000 depending on just how functional and just what materials you use.....and just how many the canvas shop has made..

Now having gathered all of this data so far, to include the many pics folks have emailed me.... I will begin my design ideas and layout for the 18 Angler... Then, take all the stuff and drop it onto a CD named "putting canvas on our C-Dory"... and send it to folks that request it.

This is just too good of stuff to bury away in a lost thread some where...
 
Back
Top