DIY Full Enclosure

[Zoran]

Hi,
I have narrow dodger for my X that came with the boat and part of it are two "wings" that run from the side of the dodger, around the stanchions and bowed pipe at the front of the cockpit. With this addition my dodger gives me wind protection of full size dodger, but when it rains I still have only narrow dodger. I also have stock bimini and there is a piece that connects it with the dodger. Well I decided to build full enclosure and the first thing that was on my way was the backstay, it goes through the cockpit so I built the arch. I designed it to give me standing height behind the wheel. New backstay is one line going from port side over the arch to the top of the mast through the block back to the starboard side (over the arch again) and now it is adjustable. I attached bimini to the arch and it is also allowing me standing height behind the wheel. I shortened the bimini and now it is completely aft of the boom and it should allow me sailing with the bimini up..
This of course made my connection piece obsolete and now I am in process of designing full enclosure. I am planning to incorporate my "wings” into the enclosure which will give me plenty of space. But...I never done this before so any advice you can give me, how to measure, how to build the template etc, will be very welcomed. When finished my enclosure should look similar to Dowsar, but it will go more forward over the winches and definitely at least 18“ further back thanks to the arch.

Zoran

[waternwaves]

Zoran,

I am building a similar full enclosure for my H40, and I have one on my X boat.......

by a cheap grey polyethylene tarp duct tape and pvc pipe for your cutting out your mockup.
Windows go in later, , mark your seams. tape the clear windows to the blue poly for fit.

Buy or rent the sailrite walking foot machine and have fun.

[restless]

Hi
We just bought a ton of material yesterday for this purpose, so lets keep in touch!
Zoran, how about you put some photos up?
cheers

[The Mutt]

If you don't mind keeping me in the loop as well, we will be putting together a full enclosure ourselves after a few other projects are complete.

Glenn

[Zoran]

Sorry guys, I was away from the site for a while and I am back now. Hopefully I will be on the boat on Sunday and I will take pictures of my arch and dodger and post it in the mod’s page. I just got all sumbrella I need so hopefully I will re-start this weekend. Thanks for tips. I will share my (hopefully successful) experience here.

Zoran

[nedmiller]

We are wanting to do the same type of thing...put in a Dowsar style tall bimini on, but attached to the arch and minimize the number of metal side supports. I've even thought about some kind of T-top or slide out bimini like on some of the Cobalt boats. I don't have anything but the arch at this point and don't even have it finished yet, so I'll be behind you guys in this mod. I will just buy the dodger, but haven't decided which one to buy yet. This is my big summer project and would like to finish by fall...and still not miss any days to sail!
Keep me in the loop too!
SILK

[The Mutt]

You are ahead of ne at the moment SILK, before the head gasket went on our tow vehicle I was installing two 20 litre drums, pump and taps as well as modifying the icebox to accommodate our 45 litre Engel fridge/freezer.

I'm looking at fabricating traveller supports to connect where the rearmost posts are on the cabin roof, then use the underside of the traveller as part of a support system for a dodger, I have a few ideas for the arch, I might tack together a mockup from scrap timber before making the real thing.

Glenn

[Zoran]

As I promised I added the pictures of my arch and new location for the factory bimmini to a mod section. I shortened the bimmini and it is now fully extended clearing the boom for about 1". I hope I will have some time to continue sewing and finish of full enclosure.

Thank you all for your help

Zoran

[The Mutt]

Your arch looks good Zoran, I find welding stainless a PITA, you've done well, looks like you have the start of a dodger over your hatch already.

Glenn

[Zoran]

Yeah, dodger is already there, came with the boat. I started connection piece dodger to bimmini, but this weekend I have ham radio contest and will have no time to work on it. Hope to be done with it by next weekend and when I try it I will post the pictures (if it is good only).

Zoran

[Zoran]

I know this project is going really slow but I was too busy these weeks. Good news is i completed my connection piece between my dodger and bimini. Unfortunately I could not take any pictures that will be representative as there is a last thing to do which is to cut end pieces and final sew around. The hardest part which was measuring, fitting and sewing zippers is completed. Believe it or not it took many hours to fit it. I am very pleased with the result. My cockpit appears twice as big as before. The reason is because now connection piece extends to the very front (windshield of the dodger) and the aft is moved back for almost two feet thanks to my arch and moving of backstay from the cockpit. This weekend I will be sailing a Freedom 38 from Seattle to Point Roberts and next one I will be able to go back on my boat and post some pictures.

Zoran

[Zoran]

For all of you that are interested I posted new mod with few pictures of the beginning of my full enclosure. My cockpit is huge now. It realy made a big difference.

[Zoran]

Latest update...I need help. I experienced first rain with my new top. I have 2 spots (where side zippers and front zippers meet) I expected it there and I will have to improvise something. But more interesting is that I have raindrops on the zippers and everywhere I have sewed two of something together, right where the thread is. It is not leak but the drops are forming after a while and are just standing there, so on bigger rain I might have a leak. So question for everyone is, how I can seal this. Any glue for sumbrella that I can use? Other than that I am very happy with the product of my work and I can see full enclosure there soon.

Zoran

[Sumner]

......I have sewed two of something together, right where the thread is. It is not leak but the drops are forming after a while and are just standing there, so on bigger rain I might have a leak. So question for everyone is, how I can seal this. Any glue for sumbrella that I can use? Other than that I am very happy with the product of my work and I can see full enclosure there soon.

Zoran

Ruth wants to know if you used basting tape and/or did you reinforce the seams by using seam binding.

Basically how did you join the pieces together, what kind of seams did you use?

Did you use the right size needle for the thread you were using?

Did you use the right size (length) stitch to hold the pieces tightly together?

Looks nice and we look forward to seeing the side pieces. Are you going to do anything across the back?

If I remembe right from my camping days they sell something to help seal tent seams. You might check into that.

c ya,

Sum

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[Hamin' X]

Yep, seam sealer. Just google "tent seam sealer". I've used it on tent repairs and it really works. Don't remember the brand, but I got it a REI.

~Rich