Cockpit cover on a Sundancer!!

D

dakst54

New Member
Mar 19, 2007
10
Hey guys, I've got a 1998 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer, and the big canvas enclosure with the eisenglass is turning into a real pain. I rarely, if ever, go out with the eisenglass still on, but I certainly don't like leaving it off and the cockpit exposed when I'm not on it.

So, I'm looking into options on some type of cockpit cover. Ideally, I'd get one that I could just snap on and off for only the cockpit - do they make those? If not, does anybody have any of these?

http://boat-cover.net/index.cgi/?br...d=1998&session_id=711934209&cart_id=291093810

Any suggestions on getting a good cockpit cover would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Dave
 
You might want to look for a local canvas shop that can make you a snap on cockpit cover.
 
I'll double what Half Off suggests and make it a whole! A local canvas shop is the way to go. We had one made a few years ago and it's great. Easy to put up and take off when we get home. Keeps the critters and dust out and I'm not chewing up the camper top by having it up all the time when it sits on the trailer. It cost about $600 to have one made and that included the snaps below the windshield to keeps the sun out while the cover is up. :thumbsup:
 
First Born said:
If you can't find what you are looking for from a local canvas shop give these people a call. They should have a what you are looking for already in stock.

http://www.greatlakesboattop.com/searay#98


Good luck with it. :thumbsup:

Wesley
Click to expand...

These are the folks that made the cockpit covers for your boat for Sea Ray when your boat was brand new. You will find their prices very reasonable and way below what your dealer would charge you if you purchased it thru them. But you will have to install the snaps yourself to complete the job so you need to buy a tool for that available at any marine supply store such as West Marine.

A custom cover may or may not be moe expensive so for comparison purposes, I would get a price from Great Lakes first and then get a price from a canvas shop to custom make one.
 
I just sent 2 ( yeah 2 ! ) different full covers back to WM that did not fit properly. I am now having a cockpit cover made by a local canvas guy for $550.
 
I highly recommend Great Lakes. Prompt, friendly and efficient service, and the quality of the cover is tip-top. I just bought a cockpit cover for my 260DA, and it came to right around $500 including the snaps, poles and shipping. If you do go with them, and you plan to leave your bimini(s) furled on the poles, be sure to tell them when you order as the covers come either with or without cutouts to fit around the bases of the framework.

Being too cowardly to drill into my gelcoat, I paid a canvas guy $100 to put in the snaps......

Bill
 
I did the same thing, bought the balance of my camper canvas from greatlakes and had local guy do the snaps. Best $100.00 bucks well spent on the snaps. The canvas is top notch. Very happy! :thumbsup:
 
I too recommend Great Lakes. They were prompt, much less than a cover from the dealer, and when I ran short on snaps they were very apologetic and immediately sent me more than enough to finish.

I elected to install the snaps myself, and borrowed the vice-grip-style tool from the mechanic at our marina. They were very easy to install but it took about 6 hours (I also drilled and installed the male ends around the base of the windshield -- a lot of that time was getting up the nerve to drill into fiberglass!).

Jeff
 
this is the setup i had on my crownline 26'. i ordered the cockpit cover at the time of purchase b/c we never used the full enclosure. as a matter of fact, i had that boat for 2 1/2 seasons and only put the enclosure up once. i kept the bimini up and booted, and opened it up for shade if we so desired. i'd go to a canvas shop near you. they come down, take precise measurements and you can go there and look at the fabrics, snaps, etc. the crownline snaps were cool. they had a CL embossed on each one. :grin:
 

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Ok, so I have a question. Why do you have to install the snaps. The boat should already have the snaps from the normal covers correct? I quess I was just thinking about it and got confused. Help :smt100
 
the camper/normal canvas snaps are on the top of the windshield... a cockpit cover usually covers the windshield requiring snaps just below the windshield. Depending on the boat the back half snaps may be able to be used for the cockpit cover.... unless you have the loop thingys like I do. I have a cockpit cover...... still scared to drill for the snaps.... :smt009
 
not sure if the factory will put on the snaps for the cockpit cover unless it was ordered with the boat. if not, the local canvas guy will do it.
 
Hey Wesley,
Looks like 280 searay and rounds already answered it before me. Since i've got both (Cockpit & Camper Canvas) for MS Judy I put the little white snap cover tops on the set of snaps I'm not using. Just keeps them looking good and keeps the grude out of the snaps.
 
I have the snaps that clip on to the bottom of the framework for the windshield and side windows. Every once in a while I have to replace one of them, but, it is not a big deal. Saves drilling into the fiberglass. I, however, feel that 280 SeaRay should get a really big drill, a new set of pink bunny shoes and have at it.
 
Jerry... thanks a bunch.... now I wont sleep well tonight.... nightmares of gel cracks all over.... I will pull out the big drill and pink slippers if you come out this way and give me a hand :grin: I will buy any refreshments required :wink:

So tell me more about the bottom of the windshield snaps sir :thumbsup:
 
Jeremy: Take a look at the ones that West offers:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...oryg/10001/-1/10001/741/740/13/man/asc/0/grid

I know that there are sizes other than 7/8". They clip onto the winshield frame. If they are a little loose (ie:they pull out), you can tighten them up by grasping each end with needle nose pliers and arching the main band just a little bit.
They work great for me, I tow the boat 11-1200 miles and they hold tight.

BTW, I had my cover made locally with the windshield snaps in mind. And, I agree, have the canvas maker install the snaps.

Another thought - I had zippers installed in the frame pockets of my bimini top so that I can just unzip it to take it off for cleaning.

How much do you have to pay for a nice set of pink bunny shoes? :smt101
 
Couple of points about canvas enclosures:

1. The ones that Sea Ray provides are not very good. When buying a Sea Ray, in my opinion it is not a bad idea to budget around $1500 to redo the purchase. (Amount based on a 340 or so sized boat).

2. Forget Isenglass. It is obsolete. Better materials exist, such as Strataglass and Barrett Enclosure.

3. Here are some photos of what I designed and installed in my 340. It is self-stowing as far as all of the side panels go--they just roll up and the back swings and snaps up. I've been out in rain, heavy seas, and bad winds with this rig and no problem.

The one downside to this setup is that you can forget about overhead casting from the cockpit if you are a fisherman, which I am not.

Here are some photos, for anyone interested.

Boat0004.jpg


Boat0003.jpg


Boat0002.jpg


Boat0001.jpg
 
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