How do you use your canvas?

Everything off except the bimini's. Moored under cover in boathouse. Front window and sides up at night to keep dew off cockpit when out overnight.
 
Bimini always on. I take the center windshield section out. Most of the summer I remove rear Eisenglass glass every morning and replace every night. Lake Michigan is cold for 8-10 months of the year.
 
I put "Smile" zippers in all my glass so its less than 5 minutes to roll it all up. Very easy to zip back down
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also.
 
Siboatguy said:
Most of the Time i just take down the middle if its really hot ill take down the hole front but i leave the sides on...
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This is what I do too. But if it is really, really hot, its nice to take all the isinglass out, especially if we are at anchor and its light breeze. (its quieter at speed too to have all the glass out, even if it is a bit windier). But at night it all goes back in for bug/dew control. Its often easier to just leave the front on.

I always leave the canvas bimini and visor up. Its a bit of shade, even on our 330.
 
Minneapolis here. If its under 50 degrees the canvas with camper goes on. Any other time i use a cockpit cover when in the slip and use the dial biminis only for sun shade (no canvas front or sides when on onboard regardless of overnights.

Unless it rains, then front and sides go up.

The dash and instruments can get quite wet from dew so we drape a towel over them at night.
 
Our glass only goes up if a thunderstorm is incoming or if we are out of the slip and spending the night at the levee. We like the breeze.
 
Don’t have any! I had to drive back in a bad thunderstorm once in 2.5 years, I just try not to do that again!
We have debated getting more shade for the rear of the cockpit, but never follow through. In the winter, when it’s “cold” I put on a ski cap and/or a hoodie to keep warm, only have needed that a few times.
 
I just had my 3 front windows redone in policarb, so I will most likely just flip up the middle piece (snaps to the arch) and leave the other 2 up. The PO had really nice custom cloth containers for all 3 pieces, so like EZ I may remove and place in them on really hot days (or days I just want the breeze). But after having my 37 DA for 12 years (which I loved) and couldn't stand up at the helm, it's really nice with my 40 to stand up and feel the breeze. And makes the need even greater to have nice clear front panels.

As far as the front panels with the u-shape zippers, I believe that would annoy the crap out of me. But to each his own.
 
I leave mine in on my 320 but when I had new ones made I had them make them with the "Horseshoe" of "smiley" zippers. that way I can open them but I don't have to go through the often arduous task of removing them
 
I use the boat to experience all the outdoors have to offer, so all but the Bimini top (for shade) get removed weather permitting. If we're travelling through rain or cold weather, I'll go with all the canvas up and open the front windshield vent for positive air flow.
 
The bridge enclosure was removed to transport our boat. It took me about 1/2 day to install it. The past two summers we have rolled up the four smileys. I just had upholstery covers made for all of the bridge upholstery. As soon as the pollen season is over here, plan is to remove the enclosure and leave it off until fall. We cannot wait. It is really nice to have it in the winter as we boat year round. The cockpit enclosure goes on in winter and will come off when the bridge enclosure comes off.

Bennett
 
Thanks for all of the feedback - it looks like about half of you take the canvas down like we do, the other half leaves it all up - interesting. Glad to know we aren't alone.

Next question: We are deciding whether to stick with the traditional tan canvas or whether to go with black. I think the black has a more updated look but we are concerned with the heat build up. Our canvas fabricator said that the heat is more a factor of the sun coming through the windows than the color of the top, but both obviously play a factor. Again, we are a Lake Michigan boat so we don't have the same type of sun that those of you down south get to deal with.

Do any of you have black canvas, and if so, are you happy with it? Would you do it again?
 
Black always looks good and ages well.
 
yobub said:
Thanks for all of the feedback - it looks like about half of you take the canvas down like we do, the other half leaves it all up - interesting. Glad to know we aren't alone.

Next question: We are deciding whether to stick with the traditional tan canvas or whether to go with black. I think the black has a more updated look but we are concerned with the heat build up. Our canvas fabricator said that the heat is more a factor of the sun coming through the windows than the color of the top, but both obviously play a factor. Again, we are a Lake Michigan boat so we don't have the same type of sun that those of you down south get to deal with.

Do any of you have black canvas, and if so, are you happy with it? Would you do it again?
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We have black colored canvas and don't have any issues with the heat building up.
 
yobub said:
Thanks for all of the feedback - it looks like about half of you take the canvas down like we do, the other half leaves it all up - interesting. Glad to know we aren't alone.

Next question: We are deciding whether to stick with the traditional tan canvas or whether to go with black. I think the black has a more updated look but we are concerned with the heat build up. Our canvas fabricator said that the heat is more a factor of the sun coming through the windows than the color of the top, but both obviously play a factor. Again, we are a Lake Michigan boat so we don't have the same type of sun that those of you down south get to deal with.

Do any of you have black canvas, and if so, are you happy with it? Would you do it again?
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My 340 had dark blue canvas and was like an oven unless i opened her up. But my sides and rear had screens so i would open them up and the center window for a breeze. i rarely take the canvas down now on my 400 DB.
 
Great question about the black canvas. I agree the black looks the nicest. So thinking this may be the color I select next time I need canvas, I visited a fellow boater on a warn day who had black canvas and it, to me anyway, seems much hotter than my tan canvas. I will probably stick with the tan as having a camper top I spend a lot of time in the cockpit (as opposed to sitting outside the well).

Brent, your hard top is white, so this isn't a far comparison.

My only recommendation is to spend the money and get policarb on your front 3 panels.
 
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