Preferred cockpit cover: fasten at the top of the windshield or over the windshield

M

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
I chose a covered slip to be out of the sun. weather, etc. Well my boat is covered in bird poo and spiders now so I want to get a cockpit cover made. My previous 2 boats came with an over the windshield cockpit cover so I assumed that was the norm.

The canvas shop asked me which type I want, over the windshield or snap to the top of the windshield. Thinking on it more I do see boats at the marina where the canvas snaps at the top of the windshield. I cannot think of any advantages to this though, curious to hear others thoughts on this.
 
I had one that snapped at the bottom of the windshield on my 260. My current boat has one that snaps at the top of the windshield.
I liked the one that covered the windshield a lot better. I keeps the sun from shining in on the interior. I'm in a covered slip as well, but sun still does shine down on it.
The one that covers the windshield was harder to put on, but I'd take it over the other one any day.
 
As noted, ease of installation is really the only benefit to snapping at the top.

However, with your boat, since you can walk around the windshield to the foredeck, it might be easier for you to snap it at the base of the windshield and then walk back and snap it along the base of the side windows as you go?
 
I prefer the over the windshield type as not only does it provide shading for the dash and helm seating but also protects from a driving sideways rain intrusion at the top of the windshield.
Do you have existing snaps on the top of the windshield on on the deck just in front of the windshield?
 
techmitch said:
I prefer the over the windshield type as not only does it provide shading for the dash and helm seating but also protects from a driving sideways rain intrusion at the top of the windshield.
Do you have existing snaps on the top of the windshield on on the deck just in front of the windshield?
Click to expand...

+1

While the cockpit covers to the top of the windshield are more convenient to put on any rain with wind driving towards the windshield can cause the rain to be pushed under cover. This can be compensated for with the addition of a spray welting but still will not give complete protection.

The cover to the top of the windshield also allows the sun to come through the windshield creating a "green house" under the cover and since the heat is at your dash area it subjects it to additional high temps.

Now, all that aside you should really think about your use. A cockpit cover for a 380 will be a very large piece of canvas and require several supports (min 3). All this will need to be removed, rolled and stored each time you want to use the boat. This may quickly get old - but it is a personal preference.

Many of my southern customer use these boats with the eisenglass down all the time - so they simply remove the cover and store in a dock box if they have one. Northern customers seem to like to have the enclosure up so that they can simply get on and go - especially if they have smiles or frowns sewn in for air flow. I know my enclosure is up most of the year so that I can sit on the boat even in the rain.

-Kevin
 
I had a custom cover made to fasten to the topof the windshield just so I could get rid of the other type. On our 225WE I hated having to crawl over the windshield to snap it then crawl back over to get off the boat. We have a small cover inside that protects the instruments. It gets hot under the canvas no matter what so I'm not sure the other design mitigates the heat, maybe. We've never had any problem with rain entering. It's a tight fit to the windshield with some overlap so it wouldn't be easy for water to get in.
 
Great feedback. I thought maybe the top of the windshield cover was for convenience so now that makes sense. I watched my slip neighbor do his this weekend (an 07 340DA) and it seemed less painful than over the windshield ones on my last 2 boats.

Good point about size and storage. One of the reasons I went with a covered slip was so that I could leave the camper canvas enclosure (side curtains/glass/screens) off the boat. In fact I took it all off and brought it home. Now though with the spiders and poop I am thinking about putting it back on. Now I understand why my dockmates leave theirs on. I do have a dock box but would prefer to keep my current stuff in it.
 
Mine is on the top of the windshield, my slip mates covers the windshield….

The thing I have noticed is the scratching of the chrome frame. It can happen when put the eisenglass up, but the cover (for me) is weekly…. Also, (covering the windshield) it would keep the windows cleaner. But you would have to install the snaps in the fiberglass, vs using the existing snaps already on the top of the windshield
 
On our 260DA, snaps were on the bottom of the windshield. Current 420DA, snaps are on the top of the windshield. No water gets in as we are in a covered slip. Have a helm cover for the dash, steering wheel, etc. Have 2-vents with support poles and I love it and would not have it any other way. Sometimes I leave a small fan running under it in the cockpit. No mold, mildew, and 100% dry. Also leave the front vent cracked for some ventilation if needed.

Cockpit Cover 3.jpg


Bennett
 
I had a custom helm cover that literally covers everything including the steering wheel and throttles, made right after I bought the boat so I've got that covered. I've been leaving the vent cracked, however I've noticed trails of spiders and spider poop with it open. I was leaving the center strataglass open as well, but birds have been coming in through it.

I would not even be considering a cockpit cover but for the birds and spiders since I'm in a covered slip. It sucks to have paid for a covered slip for just that reason, keep the boat protected and covered, now I'm looking for solutions to keep bird poop and spiders off of it.
 
I keep a cockpit cover on mine to keep the dust down. We live in a desert, and it can get windy here quite a bit.
If I don't cover it, my wife will have to spend quite a while cleaning the dirt up.
 
Although not the same boat, mine is similar in size and my cover goes down to the deck and covers the windshield. It does work well and keeps things covered and in good shape. With that said, I literally say it everytime I end the weekend - "Putting on this cover is the worst part of the weekend". It's not terribly difficult, but I truly hate it. If I wasn't so anal about the full enclosure getting ruined, I would love to leave it up year round.
 
douglee25 said:
Although not the same boat, mine is similar in size and my cover goes down to the deck and covers the windshield. It does work well and keeps things covered and in good shape. With that said, I literally say it everytime I end the weekend - "Putting on this cover is the worst part of the weekend". It's not terribly difficult, but I truly hate it. If I wasn't so anal about the full enclosure getting ruined, I would love to leave it up year round.
Click to expand...
Haha, I can definitely relate to this
 
I had a mulit-piece cover made. The normal mooring cover snaps to the top of the windshield. A second cover was made with double snaps on the top to cover the windshield. It works great! I also had a large cover made that takes the place of where the isenglass is. These 3/4/5 pieces let me configure it however I want. Just mooring cover, just glass, all blacked out with windshield cover and solid for the top, etc, etc. I like having more pieces and options vs just one massive mooring cover also.
 
douglee25 said:
Although not the same boat, mine is similar in size and my cover goes down to the deck and covers the windshield. It does work well and keeps things covered and in good shape. With that said, I literally say it everytime I end the weekend - "Putting on this cover is the worst part of the weekend". It's not terribly difficult, but I truly hate it. If I wasn't so anal about the full enclosure getting ruined, I would love to leave it up year round.
Click to expand...

I used to hate the cover that snapped down on the deck...the one that snaps to the top of the windshield, for some reason, it not nearly disliked as much....

Bennett
 
I had a cockpit cover made for my boat by @KevinC to the top of the windshield with spray welting and even with wind and rain towards the windshield my dash stays dry. I used it through the heat of the summer my first season with the boat but now I keep the glass up in the front and use the slant back most of the season for the easy access it provides.
 
My last boat had a cover that snapped at bottom of windshield. My current boat has one that snaps at top of windshield. I have to be honest to say I prefer the snap at the top of the windshield. Its so convenient.
 
When I had my cruiser, I had matching sunbrella panels made that replaced the isinglass ones. I only put up the isinglass ones if we headed out in inclement weather, but always used the sunbrella insets when we went home. The isinglass panels still looked new when I sold the boat.
 
I do think the snaps on a cockpit cover are easier to deal with than lining up all the zippers on the full camper enclosure.
 
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