Camper Top VS. Mooring Cover

Jetmart

Jetmart

Member
Aug 10, 2010
282
Great Lakes - Lake St Clair
Boat Info
2004 Formula 37PC
(Previous 2004 280 Sundancer)
Engines
8.1 Volvo
I installed our camper top for the first time last night. I have been using the mooring cover since getting the boat last fall.

I prefer it because it is easy on and easy off. The camper top seems to be a pretty big chore to get it off and on. It is very hot with it on and very limited screens.

Also the camper tops allows a lot of sun through fading & deteriorating the carpet and vinyl much quicker. With all this said am I missing some of the advantages of the camper top beyond the obvious of keeping the weather off and bugs out?

Just so many are used all of the time in great weather.
 
Many boaters in the north and some in the south use the camper tops to keep the weather out but still be able to move around in the cockpit and enjoy the boat. In some areas where you're on the hook the bugs may be bad and they put it up at night. I find it much easier to put on the mooring cover so I use it while the boat is on my lift mainly to keep out the sun and rain. This way on Friday I can take it off and still have a clean cockpit area. It's really your own preference as to which one is easier and which one to use.
 
We use our camper most of the time. For us it is definitely bug protection in the evening. It also allows us to use the boat when it is raining. (Staying over until Monday morning is not an option just because it is raining.) This past winter I had the rear panel window extended up and down by about 18" and added a combination screen window. That really has improved air flow.

henry
 
I never use the camper because of all the reasons you mentioned. I'm sure some will chime in about how great it is -- not for me though.
 
Henry Boyd said:
We use our camper most of the time. For us it is definitely bug protection in the evening. It also allows us to use the boat when it is raining. (Staying over until Monday morning is not an option just because it is raining.) This past winter I had the rear panel window extended up and down by about 18" and added a combination screen window. That really has improved air flow.

henry
Click to expand...


Do you have a picture of what you had done to the back panel?
 
Tonka Boater said:
I never use the camper because of all the reasons you mentioned. I'm sure some will chime in about how great it is -- not for me though.
Click to expand...
If you had the bugs and storms that we have, you would be using the camper top...lol
 
We only use our camper top when staying on the boat when needed. We use the mooring cover when not using the boat days at a time. If the sun is really hot, we put up both binimis for shade but not attached to the windshield (that section rolled back). If we get hit by rain, we unroll the front/attach to windshield and put the side curtains on. The only time we put the back and back sides on is overnighting and if bugs get bad. I do have screens on all the back and side windows plus air conditioning when on shore power. We are staying on the boat this 4th of July weekend!....Mike.
 
Jetmart said:
Do you have a picture of what you had done to the back panel?
Click to expand...

Here it is:

IMG_0479.jpg


Henry
 
Last edited:
We use ours all the time. It's nice to take down and run on sunny days. We then stow it in the bag rolled up. Once we arrive to our destination, I redeploy it in the evenings so that we can keep the dew off and have a nice enclosed space without any mosquitos.
I like it. It give us much more usuable, sheltered space.
AntennaCompliance4.jpg


I had the back curtain redone.
Before (Warining this pic it the day I looked at it before I bought her)
PICT0012.jpg

After
MaidenVoyage1-20-087.jpg
 
Bucit said:
I agree, same year/boat and mine sits much lower in the water too.
Click to expand...

We've beat that puppy to death in the 280 thread. It seems that there is a slight difference in mounting height of the platforms. No one has been able to pinpoint the year/factory demarcation point, but it has nothing to do with power package, or heavy options like the genset.

Henry
 
Henry Boyd said:
We've beat that puppy to death in the 280 thread. It seems that there is a slight difference in mounting height of the platforms. No one has been able to pinpoint the year/factory demarcation point, but it has nothing to do with power package, or heavy options like the genset.

Henry
Click to expand...
With all due respect, I don't see it! In looking at your pics and stepping out in the shop and looking at mine, our swim platforms appear to be in the same location. Also looking from the rear of your boat forward, your bow sits lower than mine....alot! It's quite a climb to walk from my transom door to the companion way door! Just look above at Bucit's picture at how high his bow is. also look at the water line at the back of his boat compared to yours.
 
I purchased and installed a mooring cover for my boat this spring. Love it! Very quick to remove and reinstall (being doing that every day for the last three weeks while working on it). I like the fresh air when cruising so our camper top stays stored away. We'll use it for a rainy day, and we did use it late last fall when it was getting cold.

As far as the sitting height of the 280DA, my platform sits very low also...
 
I think it's a Florida thing (sitting low in the water that is) :huh:
 
As a PacNW boater, a camper is a must if you plan on taking advantage of the boating season. I keep the bimini up full time with the side panels usually off. We get dew at night here so deploying the top canvas keeps things dry.
 
We had a camper canvas made for our 330 and were very happy with the results. We had screens made for the summer out of a material called Phifertex (sp??) because it allowed us to see out but people couldn't see in. It also kept the temp inside about 20 degrees cooler than the outside temps.

P1010074.JPG


We also had windows made from Strataglass for winter months. My idea was to have the part of the canvas you can't see through (the Sunbrella parts) as small as possible so as to let in as much light as possible. I also had them design it with no support posts at the aft end of the cockpit. The whole upper part that covers the cockpit was supported by two braces that came off the radar arch. It worked well and held up for about 8 years until I traded the 330 in on the one we have now.

Liquid_Asset_2_Oct_30_05_at_Rich_Marina.jpg
 
I use my canvas as the weather dictates... I boat rain or shine! :smt038
If its wet when I get back to the slip, I will leave the canvas up, otherwise I use the cockpit cover.

For those that never use the tops, what do you do if your caught in a freak storm... get wet?

With practice, I have learned to put my tops up in a moments notice. :thumbsup:
 
Could it be that you guys sitting lower in the water are in fresh water and Henry's in salt?
Stab in the dark?
 
Nehalennia said:
Could it be that you guys sitting lower in the water are in fresh water and Henry's in salt?
Stab in the dark?
Click to expand...

My sig pic is in the ICW and by the looks of Bucit's pic, my bet he is in salt also.
 
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