Association Forum - Pop-top Conversion??

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Pop-top Conversion??

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jduck00
Captain

Member Avatar

USA
313 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/03/2013 : 16:59:30

So I'll start by saying I love my Catalina.... but there are definitely things I want to change.

The poptop is a big one. With the top down I need about 2" more to stand up in the cabin. I've been staying on the boat most weekends that the weather is above freezing. The wind is good, but the temps are not so great. That being said, the poptop has stayed down.

Getting to the question, has anyone ever built a dog house to sit down in place of the poptop? I'm looking to take the poptop off and build an enclosure that fits down in the same location that would give another 6" of headroom or so.

So assuming that the fiberglass, wood work, and the actual modifications aren't enough to deter me, is there any disadvantage to having the top 6" taller? wind load?

Thoughts?

Jeremy Duck
The Lucky Duck
1980 SKSR Hull # 1850

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2402 Posts

Response Posted - 12/03/2013 : 17:45:54

Of course this idea comes up occasionally. The simple answer is get an '89 it has two more inches of head room. The fiberglass happy solutions are really a very bad idea since there will be nothing to support lateral loads which will usually be the body of an adult being tossed against the side of the dog house in a seaway. The best idea was from a gal we miss, she took several of the foam float noodles people use and placed them around the edge and let the top down on them e voila 2 more inches and then toss them in the quarterberth when you go sailing.

Edited by - on

jduck00
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 12/03/2013 : 18:14:31

Hey, that's a freakin awesome solution. that would leave just enough of a gap at the door to get a little fresh air and the heater could probably still deal with that.

Yeah, I'm all in on this hull for now. If I get another boat, I'm going bigger.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2013 : 22:00:40

How about removing the cabin sole, so you can walk around in the bilge?
Or maybe add a few inches between the hull-deck joint - "yeah, that's the ticket"!
I scrunch.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2013 : 06:44:20

What about the canvas dog-house that came with the boat? If yours doesn't have one, people here sometimes sell theirs, and Catalina Direct has them...

This way, when you go sailing, you have the top dogged down for sight-lines and safety.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/06/2013 06:46:57

Ape-X
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2013 : 07:17:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 What about the canvas dog-house that came with the boat? If yours doesn't have one, people here sometimes sell theirs, and Catalina Direct has them...

This way, when you go sailing, you have the top dogged down for sight-lines and safety.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

2nd that! The wife LOVED the poptop, it was a must as first priority once reaching the dock. Even when sleeping on board, the extra sense of space helped. Ours never snapped, but was still effective in keeping out rain and wind.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2013 : 17:53:27

If anyone has one for an '89 I'd be interested in buying it if it's in good condition.

Edited by - on

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

814 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2013 : 11:04:04

We use some 2x4 chocks with notches cut in them to get some extra head room. Since your handy with wood, perhaps you could make a wood frame that you could insert under the edges of the top. Heck, you could even make it look nice that way - kind of like a teak stripe on the house.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2402 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2013 : 11:14:44

The '89 is different than the older ones, good luck finding one.

Edited by - on

jduck00
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2013 : 16:46:21

I do have a pop top cover, but its in rough shape.

Thanks Seth. An insert under the poptop might be the easiest way to go. Shouldn't take a whole lot to add a 3" insert. I'll have to add that to my todo list. Right now the boat has about foot of snow on it. Think I'll wait till next fall to tackle it.

Edited by - on

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2013 : 08:35:22

Gary,
I have a poptop cover for my '88 that has never been used. It has sat in the lazarette in the arizona sun since it was new and has shrunk just a bit so the snaps don't reach. It might fit your '89 loosly since your poptop doesn't rise up as much as mine..... just a thought, don't know if it would work and just how 'different' the cover needs to be for your-vs-my boat. If you bought new snaps for the deck to relocate, it might be a good cheap solution...
Cheers,
Scott

Edited by - on

Ape-X
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2013 : 10:22:28

snap extensions would work too sdpinaz

Edited by - on

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2013 : 16:36:45

I don't foresee using the cover. In arizona we sure don't need it, and any trips to baja or southern California will hopefully be in nice enough weather not to use it, or not pop the top, I am the only one who can't stand up in the boat.....

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2013 : 17:57:21

How much are you asking for it and do you have some pictures of it?

Edited by - on

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2013 : 21:12:09

Gary,
Sorry it took me so long to get back here, work always seems to get in the way of life.... Anyway I will get the poptop out and take some photos tomorrow. It pretty much looks unused and it has been folded up and in the lazarette for a while. It is white, just like the photos posted here and on CatalinaDirect. I have no idea how much it is worth... I can send it to you and you can see if it will work on your boat or not before you buy it...

Guys.... how much would a used poptop cover in good condition cost???
Cheers,
Scott

Edited by - on

Ape-X
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2013 : 04:58:09

sdpinaz: foregoing the cover, others have used camp netting as bug protection.....just a thought

I bought my used top for $350 in excellent shape. Half of new price in excellent condition usually represents a good deal on both ends....$684 on CD for new, so in-line with what I paid.

I did a search and found cat22 covers on strictly sail for 200-450. no 25 covers for sail. Hope that helps.

Edited by - on

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2013 : 07:55:22

350 seems like a reasonable price. I will take some photos as soon as it warms up enough after lunch...

I like the camp netting idea. Arizona doesn't have too many bugs, but other places I sail do- in all of AZ there are maybe three or four bugs, no wait... I remember killing one last year, so less than that.

for Most of my sailing, the trick is to try and stay cool enough so popping the top is more for airflow than headroom. A boom tent is what I am thinking will provide the best shade and airflow. I am picturing a large one with bungees that attach to the stantions and extends from the transom to forward of the mast somehow, maybe attaching to the open forward hatch?

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2013 : 09:03:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sdpinaz
 
I like the camp netting idea.

for Most of my sailing, the trick is to try and stay cool enough so popping the top is more for airflow than headroom. A boom tent is what I am thinking will provide the best shade and airflow. I am picturing a large one with bungees that attach to the stantions and extends from the transom to forward of the mast somehow, maybe attaching to the open forward hatch?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A long while back I made a Pop-Top cover made of mosquito netting with cloth edges and ties sewed to it to attach to the handrails. It seems to work great for the mosquitoes on Galveston Bay, and also here in Florida, and lets the breeze come through.

I have a bimini, but at anchor I prefer a sunshade. I made one that goes from the mast aft to the backstay, with three aluminum poles in pockets in it that run athwartship. The size is about 9ft wide and whatever the distance was from the mast to the backstay. I also put a loop in it for the main halyard to pull up the middle pole to give better headroom. I also have "sun curtains" that I can move along the edges to block the sun but not the breeze. It rolls up nicely and stows on deck beside the spinnaker pole.

Chuck

Edited by - cshaw on 12/12/2013 09:05:15

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2013 : 09:16:51

your sunshade sounds like just the ticket...

Edited by - on

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2013 : 10:44:45

Whew!! so I finally got some photos this morning of the PopTop Cover. Let me know what you think. $350 plus shipping. If it doesn't fit you can send it back to me...
Cheers,
Scott

[url="https://www.catalina-capri-25s.net/cgi-local/MBR_gallery.cgi?Album+2706+155"]

[/url]
(Photo is a link to the album with several photos.....)

Edited by - sdpinaz on 12/14/2013 10:45:44

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2013 : 07:09:22

The cover seems like a good solution to Lucky Duck's problem, basically pop the top but keep the cold breeze out. I can't recall, are the "windows" made of screen or isinglass clear plastic? The companionway gap may still be an issue but that probably can be "patched" with a piece of material and enough duct tape...

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2013 : 09:27:19

The cover on my 1984 Catalina 25 had clear vinyl windows and did cover the companionway. It didn't allow any wind in when it was fully deployed.

I don't know that all of them are identical.

Edited by - on

sdpinaz
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
193 Posts

Response Posted - 12/29/2013 : 16:07:56

On My poptop the windows are clear vinyl. They do not open. the rear end of the cover completely covers the companionway opening and has a vertical zipper in the center to enter and exit from. It seals up really well.
Cheers,

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.