Com-Pac 23 sunbrella top cover

[belybuster]

A few people were interested in taking a look at the sunbrella top cover I have for the boat.  I said I would post a couple of pictures.  Instead I just made a video and posted it to youtube.  You can take a look by going to the youtube site and searching for "1990 Com-Pac 23' cover".

[Bob23]

Ingenious, John...thank you. Can you leave the top cabin board out when the cover is fitted? You didn't happen to make a pattern did you? Does it stay on in high winds?

[belybuster]

Thanks.  I can not take credit for it because it came with the boat when I bought it.  I usually leave the top hatch board off, the front hatch cracked open and a porthole window open for ventilation.  It does keep the rain and weather out even with those open.  Believe me, we do get fierce wind and rain here in north Texas.  I do not have a pattern for it but I could go down and take some measurements if that would be helpful.  Also, I am impressed with how the exterior teak has held up.  It has never been oiled or varnished.  I think the fact that it has not, along with the sunbrella cover, have kept the teak looking new.

[Bob23]

Thank you and yes, measurements would be helpful although I'm not in a hurry. Here in NJ it's 29 on this sunny Thanksgiving day! I'm sure covering the teak will add years to it's life. I've done mine in Cetol with the gloss top coat and I get good life out of it but your cover idea will keep add to it's life eve more! Thanks!!
Bob23

[brackish]

Thanks John, some good ideas for mine.  I was particularly interested in the method used for splitting the cover at the mast.  The twist snaps probably the best, would last the longest and be more trouble free when compared to a zipper or heavy Velcro.  I had them on a hank on jib bag on a past boat, lasted sixteen years and were still good when I sold the boat.

Mine will be shorter, not covering the cockpit as I don't have teak on the coamings and I'll probably make it with a front and back panel that are shaped like the cabin trunk fore and aft sections.  I'll skip any bungee in favor of cinch straps, I get about a year out of bungee when constantly exposed to UV.

Thanks again for taking the time to make the vid for us.

Hoping to do this cover, one for the sprit and one for my custom hinged fuel locker cover that will get me away from so much work on the teak.  Covered any coating will work or no coating at all.  Without cover, nothing is truly effective without a lot of work.  My skiff has Epifanes on all the teak and it is as good as the day I coated it after three years.  But it is covered.

[Gerry]

Great video and a good idea.  Question:  How do you keep the cockpit part of the cover from filling with rain?  Can a person put a pole in the sunbrella  to make a peak?  Did I miss something in the video?

[belybuster]

Thanks for the comments.  Gerry, keeping the cockpit area of the cover from sagging with rain is a problem.  Probably could do it with a pole like you suggest but I just can't cope with one more pole to mess with.  I usually string a 15' (or so) dock line around the back cleats and criss-cross them up to the winches and that seems to work pretty well.  Most times I just leave it and empty the rain out of the small bulge that the rain creates.  I would imagine that the cover does spill into the cockpit in a heavy rain, but just to the floor.  I will take some measurements for everyone interested.  Glad no one is in a hurry for the measurements because, just like the rest of us, I know I'm going to have to make a big production study out of it.  Maybe like a lofting? Hmmmm.  Thanks for a fun website!

[PrudenceCP23]

Awesome cover and thanks for the video! To help with the "rain puddle" over the cockpit, what about sewing in a webbing loop in the middle top over the cockpit portion and then bungee to the boom?

[belybuster]

That is a great idea!

[Gerry]

Prudence - you are a genius.

Gerry