Canvas work

[sunnyshine]

I'm a liveaboard debating having an enclosure made for our cockpit. We've got an estimate of $2k depending on options and already have a bimini and dodger.

I'm a little leery of the expense since we might only live on and own the boat for another two-three years and we paid about $17k for the boat in the first place (late 70s Cal34). So I don't know if we'll get enough out of it to really justify the purchase.

Ditto for the $550 we got quoted to have our jib covered.

Any opinions?

[sailingdog]

A cockpit enclosure does give you a lot more living space on a sailboat. A quote of $2000 is pretty low, given the cost of decent canvas work in my experience. If you don't think you'll get your money's worth out of it, then don't get it. It would help if you said where you were located. If you're up in the Pacific Northwest, it is probably less useful than if you were located in Maine, or down in Florida or Southern California, where the more extreme climate can make a full cockpit enclosure very worthwhile.

As for the $550, is that for just adding a sacrificial UV protection strip to a roller furling headsail? If so, that sounds pretty high. Of course, if the sail is fairly new and in fairly good condition, and you're located in a sunnier clime, then you'll probably be wise to get a good UV strip added.

[AdamLein]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

If you're up in the Pacific Northwest, it is probably less useful than if you were located in Maine, or down in Florida or Southern California, where the more extreme climate can make a full cockpit enclosure very worthwhile.

Good ol' Pacific Northwest... never gets cold and never rains

[sunnyshine]

Thanks for the input. We'll be in New England and the $550 is just for the UV protection canvas for the jib.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by sunnyshine

Thanks for the input. We'll be in New England and the $550 is just for the UV protection canvas for the jib.

As I said, that sounds a bit high.

In new England, a full cockpit enclosure can help extend the season quite a bit.

[treilley]

We live aboard in Maine and I cannot imagine not having an enclosure. The biggest advantage is just being able to get in out of the blowing rain before going below. It also allows us to extend our sailing season from April to December.

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

Having a full enclosure has been a real plus for us. We are liveaboards and even when we spent the winter of 09-10 in the Florida Keys we had the whole enclosure up most of the time. Occasionally we take the back two panels down if the weather is great or if we are doing a lot of sailing. We are in the Chesapeake this winter and with the snow we have had and all the WIND couldn't have done it without the enclosure. As to the cost, ask about grades of clear used for the windows. Sheet clear is always more expensive than roll clear and roll is OK for the sides and back in my opinion. I have worked in a canvas shop off and on for the last 10 years and I think the average cost to fabricate an enclosure is about $900 - $1000 per side. Saltwater Suzi