if you have bought the cockpit enclosure ? was it worth it ?

[bahama bound]

Bought my x ,bought my tandem axle trailer got the etec 90 ,got the Honda generator and air ! I keep thinking the next purchase will be a cockpit enclosure ,but a bwy enclosure is still a chunk of boat bucks !seems like it would make the boat alot more livable ! Are those of you that have bought them pleased with them ?

[RobertB]

Seems we are on parallel paths.
I upgraded to a second axle, just added air conditioning, and this past week bought the Honda EU-2000 generator.
What AC system did you install? I posted my install recently - a dual hose unit. Have yet to test out officially (maybe this weekend).

You do have me beat with the ETEC90, I am one of the underprivileged ETEC60 crowd

I have stayed away from the full enclosure. It would be nice to have protection from spray when motoring in rough conditions but it seems this enclosure would really limit access. When camping overnight on the boat, I usually rig a nylon tarp aft of the mast and over the bimini.

Have you considered a Dometic cooler/refrigerator (I have the CF50)?

[Wind Chime]

Besides; electric water, 19” TV/DVD, stereo, autopilot (with below deck remote), cockpit VHF-mic, curtains, etc, etc. the best mod we did was adding the full enclosure.

We use it a lot. Half the time for inclement weather, the other half when we want shade or to stop the wind and warm it up for a sundowner cocktail party.

It really makes the boat larger. We have been socked in with fog and not able to move for three days and having the enclosure made the experience much more pleasant.

Many different design options to consider what is right for you.
- we designed ours with a complete low profile. No extra height at stern to stand.
- the lower overall profile allows the boom to swing over top of the bimini, and allows for the largest size bimini.
- eight piece system. (2 per side + 3 piece back + bimini connector)
- 3 piece stern with center section that matches the stern seat for walkthrough transom. (also allows this middle section to roll up for condensation)
- allows us to sail with it almost fully enclosed (just from connector section open for mainsheet)
- we have an X so we did not want the backstay to go through the bimini (it goes behind) - but we cannot stand up.
- wanted it to be lowerable in such a way so we can still use the downriggers when fishing.
- all pieces store in a mesh hammock under the port rear seat area above the berth.
- the bimini frame also has rear supports so it stands by itself when not in use.

[yukonbob]

Got ours a couple of years ago. Its for an M with more headroom at the back and encloses the stern rail seats as well. You can sail with the connecter and two side windows out and we're still very protected. Holds heat on colder days when you need it but condensation on the windows can be a PITA. Gets really hot (in black as well) when the sun comes out. Just as stated it doubles the useable space on the boat. We eat most meals up there, much better views and with two dogs I can't remember how we did without it.

[Tomfoolery]

I have the full enclosure from Dowsar in Canada. Has screened panels in back, plus a screen for the front of the bimini, so flow-through ventilation can happen.

These two pics are from the listing when I bought it.





You can see the new, unweathered version on Dowsar's web site. I put a hole in the bridge section so I can extend the mast crutch up through it for use with the mast down, like in the Erie Canal. The bimini is plenty tall enough to stand under without stooping, and stops short of the main sheet so it stays up while sailing. The backstay goes through it.

My last boat had a full enclosure, and since I had been used to having that for inclement weather and bug blocking while overnighting, it was a selling point when I was looking for an X or M.



It's pretty easy to get spoiled with a full enclosure with screens (with solid panels for when you don't want the breeze).

Whether it's worth it or not is not something anyone can tell you. It's a boat, so it's nothing but a big pile of cost in exchange for enjoyment on the water. If you have the boat bucks, and if you think you'll actually use the enclosure (the admiral was made a LOT happier at the MMOR when I doubled the available interior space by putting up the full enclosure), then go for it.

[DaveC426913]

Only downside to the full enclosure is that you cannot sail with it. Unlike other, larger boats, boom comes below the bimini so you must take out the transitional piece between bimini and dodger.

[Wind Chime]

Hi Dave,

Our boom actually goes "over top" of our bimini.

This is a benifit of the lower profile enclosure design. You can have a larger bimini. Our bimini is the same height as our dodger.
We still need to remove the connector piece (between bimini and dodger) for the mainsheet to connect from the boom bail to the cockpit pedestal.

Darry

Only downside to the full enclosure is that you cannot sail with it. Unlike other, larger boats, boom comes below the bimini so you must take out the transitional piece between bimini and dodger.

[SENCMac26x]

What about docking? How much of a pain is it to get in an out of the boat with the enclosure up when docking?

(I always drop my bimini when I start my dockng procedure)

[Erik Hardtle]

I have the Blue Water Yachts enclosure and it is WORTH EVERY DAMB PENNY! Here is why:

1. The dodger itself will keep you, the captain from getting soaked with waves and wind sprayed water.
2. For any kind of foul weather it is a must!
3. I can sail with the head sail (150 Genoa jib on a furler) with it up.


(This is at Charleston, SC just before a major thunderstorm)


(this is my youngest daughter motoring with full enclosure up in the lower Chesapeake during a rough storm... high wind and 4+ feet waves)

PS: Go with an Engle fridge, it rocks. http://www.enctrader.com/hardtlefamily/ ... .htm#frige

[March]

Ours came with the boat. It's an excellent addition. It zips to the bimini in 5 minutes, and can be removed, rolled up in a sausage, and stored conveniently (zipped in the bimini cover) at the foot of the sleeping berth, under the engine well.

We use it only when docking in the rain: it's much easier to mount or remove, if you can spread the pieces on the dock, next to the boat. No need to sail with it. The spray seldom reaches the cockpit, and we're in no hurry. We used it occasionally at anchor, too, but we tend to stay at the dock in inclement weather anyway.

We leave one panel unzipped, so you can easily get out on the dock. The lifelines along the cockpit have pelican clamps, and they also come in handy to attach the boom to one side and out of the way. It makes the boat feel bigger, and also cozier.

I was thinking about making several interchangeable panels with mosquito nets (most of them have transparent plastic windows) but that's not really necessary. When at anchor, with only the bimini up, we cast a large mosquito net over the bimini. Works pretty well.

I second the Dometic/Waeco 50 liter fridge. That's another excellent addition. It's much more economical than the Edgestar,lighter, fits under the starboard seat (we had to raise the edge of the well with some stiff foam). Now we keep the Edgestar in the truck, as a backup, but I hope I'll never have to use it again

[Wind Chime]

I think it depends on your docking technique .

Our technique is; always approach the dock as the speed I am prepared to hit the dock … dead slow, nice little bump if anything, step off, no jumping. But if the enclosure up, that usually means the wind is up as well … so sometimes a little bigger bump

Assuming a nice docking is anticipated, the enclosure poses no real hazard accept for reduced visibility and a little increased windage. We always open the window on the front of the dodger to see forward better, as well as the front half of the side curtain of the enclosure, and also peal back one half of the bimini-dodger roof connector. Stern lifeline is easily passed around the outside of the enclosure. (we have open ports in the enclosure for the dock line cleats).

What about docking? How much of a pain is it to get in an out of the boat with the enclosure up when docking?

(I always drop my bimini when I start my dockng procedure)

[waternwaves]

YES.

The number one passenger comfort modification.

Extends your season, pleases the spouse, keeps you drier.

Went from the BWY narrow dodger to BWY wide dodger and full enclosure. Highly recommend it.

[Wind Chime]

Another advantage of a full enclosure, and a biggy … when on the water in bad weather it makes the crew feel safer.

Those big ugly waves (with snarling white caps getting blown off the top) and swells so deep you can reach out and touch them (or they can reach in and touch you), are still the same distance away - but somehow they do not seem as scary with the piece of plastic between you. We feel safer, and don’t have to yell at each other to hear.

Kind of like having a little wire fence between you and the lion at the zoo

[Wayne nicol]

been looking at the full enclosures- but really need to sail with it up- hearing that might be possible with the lower enclosure.
I installed the dometic CF110- needed a bigger fridge for the week long commercial trips that I run with the boat
its opp the head- close to the galley when prepping food- and I don't have to dislodge folks when I need in.
its in the third pic down on the link
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =8&t=23361

if it were just me, then I would use the smaller one.
I am building a hanging wet locker that fits in the cooler space of the rear bunk.
when I am under power I set the cooler to a lower temp- to get it cooled down in a hurry, but once on the trip, I set it for about 0 celcius- and that's how I will keep it for a week at a time- at anchor, or sailing- running off the second battery- and no solar panels- odd bit of motoring occasionally.
awesome added feature to the boat.

[mastreb]

Seems we are on parallel paths.
I upgraded to a second axle, just added air conditioning, and this past week bought the Honda EU-2000 generator.
What AC system did you install? I posted my install recently - a dual hose unit. Have yet to test out officially (maybe this weekend).

Robert, is your EU-2000 able to start the AC unit? Mine was unable to start the AC on the R/V we rented, so I've held off until I identify an A/C unit that the EU 2000 can certainly drive. I'm not interested in trying to carry a larger generator.