Lets see pictures of unsupported camper tops

[Z-Worthy]

My wife and I are considering extending the aft canvas top on our '97 400DA, but we don't like the "typical" design of most full camper enclosures. What I'm designing in my mind is kind of a half-camper-enclosure by extending that canvas back a few feet more than it is, but not all the way back to the stern. We would like to avoid the stainless supports at the aft corners because we feel like it kind of closes off the open feel of the cockpit during nice weather.

But I can't seem to picture this in my mind at all. Does anyone out there have a camper enclosure similar to what I'm describing? Who has pictures of their unsupported canvas top over the cockpit? Anyone have suggestions of things to avoid, or if you could do it over again, would you change anything?

 

[fwebster]

My aft emclosure is cantilevered off the back of the arch as you describe. I have several photos showing the support system we engineered to handle the loads of the top with full Strataglass side panels. My boat is larger so you would have to adjust the design for a 400DA, and one of our members in Canada has used my top as a pattern with excellent results. There are too many photos to post, so if you will PM me an email address, I'll send them to you.

 

[Quint4]

Post a few Frank, I would like to see them.

 

[SWF340]

A guy near me has this design and I really like it. Note the absence of the diagonal support post found on most canopies and enclosures. The frame is attached to the aft bow supports and extends straight back, hidden in zippered pockets on the underside of the canopy. The secret is there's a support pole that attaches to the middle of the aft bow on one end, and the middle of the frame at the stern. There's no diagonal support to block the view or interfere with fishing if he chooses to wet a line or place fenders etc etc. The one drawback I see is with this design it's either up or it's not. In other words, there's no way to fold back the canopy and lay it against the arch like you can with the diagonal support frames.

 

[Pyrojodge]

I am also interested in what others have done...

 

[gyrospiro]

Here you go

 

[Z-Worthy]

Spiro, that's VERY similar to what I'm looking for! Thanks for the pictures!!

 

[boltman]

I have an unsupported camper top but I... Have a bridge boat so it's not going to be the same design .


Boltman

 

[fwebster]

Here are a few photos of the aft enclosure we had made for our 450DA. We chose to try to preserve the profile of the boat so the top stops short of and doesn't fully cover the aft seating. The 450 has a long cockpit compared to the 400DA, and this was about as long as we could go from a strength of materials and support standpoint without adding aft supports in the corners. As it is, we decided to go back and add a removeable center support because the full Strataglass enclosure caused a huge downward vector on the frame when subjected to wind loads over about 30 mph, and we do get tropical storms regularly. The center support is held in with spring pins so we can remove it when we take the curtains down, but honestly, it isn't in the way and we usually leave it up unless we will be using the boat for several days with the side curtains down.


This is the top with most of the curtains removed




This is the boat with the curtains in place. This one was taken after a long weekend with the curtains rolled up and right after the boat was washed. The wrinkles fall out of the curtains overnight. Note that all the supports are hidden behind the zipper facings in the side curtains so no stand-offs are needed.




Here is the interior support system. We needed a mid support on the side to shorten the unsupported distance in order to keep the structure from being flimsy and moving about in seas. The 450 is a beamy boat so it takes 3 longitudinal supports to keep the top from bagging so it will drain. When all the load is hung off the back edge of the arch, any motion in the top can weaken the attaching points at the arch. We chose to place the one side support where it becomes an additional hand hold for climbing out onto the deck.






The one thing I can offer in designing an aft enclosure like this is that every boat is different and every location is different. The support system used on a inland lake boat will not work in a location where you get some tropical storm force winds, what works on a 450DA may be over kill for a shorter, less beamy boat. What we have is a perfect fit for us. It has added to the safety and utility of the boat and the top in these photos has been thru at least 3 Cat 1-2 hurricanes with the top in place.

 

[carterchapman]

I'm having mine done as we speak. Similar to Frank's: A 4' extension with sloping isenglass windows aft. They have finsihed the top, and will install the sides on Nov 8 - I'll post some pics then...

 

[rondds]

Mine is not as long as Franks ;-)
But one of the POs had the aft section extended beyond the OEM one.

 

[Z-Worthy]

Here are a few photos of the aft enclosure we had made for our 450DA. ...

Frank, what diameter stainless tubing did you use for the frame?

 

[fwebster]

Most of it is 7/8" heavy wall.