Camper enclosure

[James OBrien]

hey everyone !! Nice to be part of the group!!
I have a 2000 340 sundancer im looking to get a camper top for. The canvas is blue on it now. I’ve asked my marina in Michigan City Indiana for a quote and they are saying $3,500-4,500....anybody have any advice or someone for me to contact for more pricing?
Thanks again and nice to say “Hi” to everyone.

 

[Boater420]

Welcome Aboard! Use the search feature here, lots of discussions about camper tops. Great Lakes Boat Tops comes to mind.

http://greatlakesboattop.com/

 

[Sublimetime]

that's a fair ballpark estimate.

 

[wayne0]

Having the same boat, you're in the ballpark. I sure wish Searay offered the camper top. My slip mate paid over $5000 for his top on a 32.

 

[James OBrien]

Thanks everyone...we will see what happens when they get started I guess. Since it’s my marina and all I guess giving them business is fair.

 

[CliffA]

insure they use stainless steel tubing and hardware instead of aluminum.....I suggest making the window panels as large as possible for better visibility, especially when backing into a slip....you will need to decide if you want a single double bimini top or a two piece top....the two piece top will have a bump where the two tops zip together....you will also need to decide how tall to make the new camper canvas....I made mine tall enough that I would not have to stoop down when boarding the boat when the window over the transom door is rolled up.....you can choose to have windows that roll up or you can have windows with zippered panels built in that can be opened for ventilation.....I had snaps installed on the bottom of the center front window and on the radar arch so that I could swing that window open and snap the bottom of the window to the arch for ventilation....I had flaps incorporated that cover the zippers for the front windows that have Velcro fasteners....this helps insure no water leaking in from rain.....some people also have screens made along with the window panels....

here is a pic of my camper canvas I had made a couple years ago.....

cliff

 

[James OBrien]

Cliff.....I love what you did there !!!! do you mind my asking what the price range was on this fabrication?
I'd like to show my marina this picture to see if they can replicate? would you mind if I did that?
thanks for the great feed back and the ideas

 

[CliffA]

feel free to use the pic as needed....I have other pics that show different angles if needed and a pic that shows the rear frame.....my boat already had a camper top when I bought it but it was dry rotted....I was able to use the rear frame so that saved some cost.....I opted to use strataglass window panels instead of isinglass which added some cost.....i also used the canvas shop who has the reputation as being the best (and most expensive) in this area...the cost was around $4,400....I also had a cover made that completely covers the front of the cockpit from one arch leg to the other....I call this my 'storm' cover....if we are out on the water when the camper canvas is not installed and a storm comes up and we want to ride it out I can install this cover in just a couple mins. where the front camper windows would normally be.....it covers the windshield as well...this cover along with the bimini top protects the entire front half of the cockpit from rain.....cost was an additional $600......this way I don't have to keep the more expensive and more fragile front camper windows on the boat all the time and the new cover is much easier to store when not in use...

if you want some pics of the camper send me a PM (conversation) with an email address and I'll send them to you....

good luck...

cliff

 

[be_prepared]

We had a new camper made when we bought our 340DA. You can remove the two rear supports when you're just sitting on the hook or at the dock without the side curtains. Theoretically the cantilever supports can support them, but the fabricator felt better with the supports when underway because of the stresses that long aft sunshade will put on the attachment points to the radar arch.

There are many personal choices to make when you do something like this, so really think about how you will use it. I almost always travel with the sides and back either rolled up or removed, and my wife wanted the screens on the openings, for example, so we could have airflow but fewer bugs at night.

It's fun working with a good canvas shop that has a professional fabricator. They will work with you to create something that meets your needs.

Cheers - Ron