Camper Top Idea

[spimik]

We are going to have a full camper top added to our 2008 330DA this fall and are looking for suggestions and ideas on how to have this built.

I see several different styles at our marina and was looking for ideas on what to incorporate into ours from those of you that have them. Are there certain features as far as screens, openings, etc. that are important to consider?

Thanks!

 

[dpvandy01]

For the front glass I've seen a horse shoe zippered opening that allows you to keep them in place but zipper them open for added air flow. Others here have added a snap to the under side of their arch so they can be brought back and fastened in position.. I'm sure there are pics here some where. good luck.

 

[fwebster]

A lot of us have added aft enclosures to our boats with varying degrees of success at preserving the lines of the boat. I've had 2 designs on my current boat and a 3rd on a previous boat so I know what works for me in our area.

One thing I will tell you is to avoid the U-shaped inserts in isinglass panels on a Sundancer, unless the panel is completely vertical the zippers will leak like a seive, unless you fabricate a facing to cover the zipper teeth and a facing is going to obscure your vision. Put the u-zips on a partially horizontal surface you you will be wiping up water every time it rains or the boat gets washed and you will never keep the cockpit dry.

There are also various types of clear materials for isinglass panels. Isinglass is probably the worst since it easily scratches and will get cloudy when exposed to heat and severe temperature changes. Strataglass is flexible and is scratch resistant, but is more expensive. Neither isinglass or Strataglass is 100% optically correct. I am using a hard plastic sheeting called Makrolon for the forward and side clear panels now and we love it since it is optically correct and is like looking thru clear glass.

The other big challenge is finding a competent canvas guy who can do the metal work as well as the canvas equally well with good quality.

Hope that gives you a start..........

 

[spimik]

Thanks Frank- some great ideas. When we dealt the boat, we included a $ figure for a full camper. Now that we are at the marina and I am paying more attention, I am noticing a number of different designs.

Great points and I will continue to keep an eye open.

Thanks.

 

[aquadancer]

Frank - I am curious about your Makrolon fron and side panels. I am somewhat familiar with it properties and, in addition to being optically correct, it provides very good thermal insulation. Those are both good things. How do you use and store your front panels? Is there a way to fold them up and clip them to the top?

I will second your point on u-zips in forward panels. They tend to leak and Isenglass sratches very easily from frequent rolling up.

 

[Drama Queen]

I don't want to be rude by asking......but well I am going to ask any way. What price range are you finding? Are you doing the whole canvas or just the stern? We would love to do this too, it adds so much room when you have your canvas on.

 

[spimik]

I don't want to be rude by asking......but well I am going to ask any way. What price range are you finding? Are you doing the whole canvas or just the stern? We would love to do this too, it adds so much room when you have your canvas on.

First off, we boat in Ontario, Canada, so not sure if the numbers that we are working with are correct.

The Marina that we dealt the boat with supports a local canvas maker who does all of the Sea Ray canvas work for them. They claim he is top drawer in both quality and ingenuity. The '08 330DA came with the "upgraded" blue canvas, which we do not feel matches the interior of the boat, which is a gorgeous white/tan. When we bought the boat, we included an allowance of $4700 to do the entire canvas over again in tan. This includes the new camper top, along with re-doing the exisiting bimini, and front/side enclosures.

The price seems very fair and the fact that the selling dealer "sold" this to us, as opposed to dealing with the canvas shop direct gave us great confidence.

I am looking for ideas and thoughts from those who have a camper top and any of the pitfalls of these.

Thanks for the advice thus far all.