420DA Hard Top Camper Canvas?

[Sprint27c]

Hello all.

The stock canvas for our 2005 420DA is a "fastback" style leading from the rear of the hardtop to just aft of the rear seats. During a rainy weekend it really limits the space in the back of the boat.

Has anyone managed to come up with a "camper" canvas for the hardtop layout. Given the curves of the hardtop it appears as though this might be a quite a challenge for a canvas maker.

It'd be nice to have all that room and even some side screens for when the mayflies show up mid-summer.

TIA,
Shawn Chaney
Marblehead, OH

 

[fwebster]

No...its an easy job for a good canvas guy with some metal working ability. Nearly every late model hard top DA in our marina has cockpit air conditioning and all have added aft enclosures.

The job isn't without challenges, however. Care must be taken with your design so you don't destroy the profile of the boat or block access to the side decks with various supporting members or top height.

 

[Hampton]

My fastback curtain on my boat attaches to an aft bimini which is fitted to the curved arch, just like your camper canvas would be attached to an aft bimini which is fitted to the curved hard top. It is not a problem for your local canvas shop.

I would guess that the whole assembly would be around $4,000 for the 420. Make sure you have good access to the swim platform and the walk-arounds. Have a plan for warm days - many make panels that roll up and secure at the top. The guys around here have the sides made almost completely out of glass. Don't buy eisenglass. Use stratt-glass (or something like that). It rolls up, but is heavier and more durable than eisenglass - basically a better version of the same stuff.

A good friend of mine had his 390 done. He complains of holes through which bugs fly and rain pours during windy conditions. Make sure your guy has a flap over every opening. Emphasize that you want it water tight from all angles. Have a plan for quick engine room access - you'll need to undo the fittings but probably don't want to have to remove the sides.

We plan to do this during the next slow season (next fall/winter). About the time we get 10 foot-itis, we'll double the size of the cockpit area by adding the camper package. One of our friends had his 340 done. It makes it like a 420 without the camper - relatively tons of more room. It's like an outdoor living room - very, very nice and you get a lot more utility out of your boat.

 

[Sprint27c]

No...its an easy job for a good canvas guy with some metal working ability....

Very Cool. Does anybody have any pictures handy of a hard top model with camper canvas installed?

I assume when this thing is down - its all the way down (as in disassembled) as I don't see how the framing could fold into any part of the boat neatly.

 

[Hampton]

Searching for pictures: I was told that the aft bimini would fold up and be wrapped in a cover and standing free at some point behind the arch - like smaller boats with two bimini's folded around their support apparatus. One of my questions was going to be whether or not that could be designed to fold forward against the back of the arch/hard top.

 

[Hampton]

http://www.avaladirect.com/photoviewer/MapEvent.aspx?rgnId=9

Try clicking on Shell Isand and then:

View 7 of 23 for interior view. Most have more glass.

View 8, 13 and 17, 19 and 21 of 23 - Pewter hull with camper.

17 shows a boat with the camper up and sides removed - look closely.

 

[fwebster]

My current boat is my second with an aft enclosure; I've been at this a while, so I know the features we wanted designed into our top. Our canvas guy...another "best in the West"...... worked within out ideas and crafted a great top.

Ours is shorter than most to preserve the boats profile and while it is made to take down, it is so user friendly that we've never been tempted to remove or fold it up. Our top is also cantelevered off the original aft bow with one support near the arch placed to give an added hand hold when accessing the side decks.

Our top has facings over all the zippers and we get no blown in water unless we are really taking seas over the bow........everything gets wet then.

I do have photos of both my top and of a 460DA with a hardtop next door. I haven't taken time to figure out how to post photos yet, so if you want the pix, PM me with an email address and I'll shoot them to you when I have a minute.

 

[ezwoo]

I'm currently trying to design a camper enclosure for a 2004 390 hard top. I have the same issues. I am currently having someone try to draw something that does ot look like a box!