Full Enclosure

[March]

Our enclosure is rolled up in a "sausage" (using the cover for the folded biminin) at the foot of the rear berth. It may be taken out and zipped to the bimini which is always up in a matter of 10-15 minutes. It takes a little time to figure out which of the 7 pieces goes where, but it's mostly logical fun. Most of the time, we set it up when at dock--I don't like to sail in the rain, if I can help it. When docking, we use the side of the boat to get on and off, so raising the seat or using the back-door entry is not an issue. No restrictions at all once it is in place and it makes the cockpit seem much larger.
The only problem would be when I grill, because it interferes with the grills in the back; but then again, I don't like to grill in the rain. There's always the galley origo stove for backups.
In the morning, before leaving, the panels may be stretched out to dry on the dock. Easier to roll them up, too, and get rid of the dew and raindrops.
The enclosure is an excellent addition and I am so glad it came with the boat

[yukonbob]

First time drilling all the snaps etc takes under an hour (if you already have the bimini and the dodger in place) once thats done going from bimini folded back, dodger in place to fully enclosed is around five minutes on the water or at dock. Pull bimini forward throw in mid-connector, front side windows, side windows and back windows. The back windows are three piece so you can leave them in place with the bimini folded back and roll them up to the top and secure them with provided straps at your leisure. We usually leave the two stern quarter windows in place and if we are requiring more breeze in the cockpit we'll roll the middle one up. This also provides easier access in the transom.

[Tomfoolery]

How long does it take to put the enclosure up as I have never had one but I am thinking of getting one.

Less than an hour if starting from scratch, and probably more like half an hour, but that's with the bimini and dodger hoops in place (I leave them in place even without the canvas). Maybe 15 minutes to add the side panels for a full enclosure, once I remember how to do it. Figuring out which goes where, and the best sequence for the zippers, is most of the battle. I do take the canvas off for trailering at highway speeds and/or long distances. I just fold it up for short rides around town, like to the canal from home.

Also do you find when it is down that it restricts your movement in anyway or in any spot on the Mac?

I don't know what you're asking.

Is it harder to get off the boat out the stern?

Never tried myself, but my enclosure is very high in the back, so there's full standing room (and then some) in the stern. My youngest son wakeboards off my boat, and he's almost 6 feet. I don't recall him having any issues climbing up the boarding ladder.

I can think of at least two times where having one of them would had been awesome and one is to do with rain and the other is to do with way too much sun and almost getting sunstroke.

That's where they really shine. The standard arrangement for me is what's shown below, though the bridge is removed when actually sailing, as the main sheet obviously needs to reach the helm.



When staying on the boat, the full enclosure is the cat's arse, and virtually doubles the space (or so it feels), especially when the weather turns bad. Bug screens in the openings allow plenty of air flow without loading up on deet (I hate the oily feel of bug spray, at least the types that actually do any good). I have a small panel that covers the opening under the helm seat, which I suppose was part of the Dowsar package, but don't know for fact.



The full enclosure was a major selling point for this boat. As I said, I don't use the whole thing often (couple of times per season), but when I need/want it, it's worth it's weight in gold.

[yukonbob]

How long does it take to put the enclosure up as I have never had one but I am thinking of getting one. Also do you find when it is down that it restricts your movement in anyway or in any spot on the Mac? Is it harder to get off the boat out the stern? I can think of at least two times where having one of them would had been awesome and one is to do with rain and the other is to do with way too much sun and almost getting sunstroke.

Just to clarify Tony, the full enclosure will help with rain and cold, but unless you have AC you will cook inside with it all done up. The bimini, dodger and connecter and a bunch of sunscreen might be a cheaper option for heat/sun.

[Tony E]

OH Okay. MY question about it getting in the way is kind of around what happens when it is down? When you are not using it do you just take it totally down and store it or is it like a Bimini top and it just folds up forward or back? They look fantastic for bad weather but i love the openness when its nice weather or even when I am fishing and I have my rod out the side while trolling. So does it come totally off or fold up?

[yukonbob]

Assuming the BWY enclosure is similar to the all three back windows dodger and bimini can stay in place with the bimini folded back, but you have to take out the side front, and side windows (4 total) then your cockpit is 'open' again. At that point you can roll up the back windows if you'd like; we leave them in as you can enjoy the sun and still maintain some breeze protection.

On the fishing note, I usually troll with the bimini in place (for rain protection) all side windows out and when I hook something I can easily trow the bimini back to reel it in. I would not fish with the side windows in or mid-connector in unless you have different priorities than me

[DaveC426913]

It takes a little time to figure out which of the 7 pieces goes where, but it's mostly logical fun.

I've labelled my canvas with little swatches of tape in the lower corners.
► Port side, pointy end of boat.
■ Port side, blunt end of boat.
► Stb side, pointy end of boat.
■ Stb side, blunt end of boat.
The moment I pull out a panel, all I need to do is find a corner, and I know instantly where to carry it to.
Reduces confusion and brain cycles to zero.


I keep bimini and dodger up year-round, so full enclosure is 4 side panels and one top panel. Takes me maybe 45 minutes. This is mostly due to sticky zippers and because my enclosure has shrunk so it's a pretty tight fit. I bought some snap-extenders, which help.

[yukonbob]

Sticky zippers: I've been throwing a shot of sailkote along them but thats only because I haven't been able to find a stick of beeswax to rub on them

[seahouse]

It takes a little time to figure out which of the 7 pieces goes where, but it's mostly logical fun.

I've labelled my canvas with little swatches of tape in the lower corners.
► Port side, pointy end of boat.
■ Port side, blunt end of boat.
► Stb side, pointy end of boat.
■ Stb side, blunt end of boat.
The moment I pull out a panel, all I need to do is find a corner, and I know instantly where to carry it to.
Reduces confusion and brain cycles to zero.

Good one Dave.

I used a dressmaker's pencil (a white one on my blue canvas, a blue one for white canvas) and labeled "P" for port, and "S" for starboard on the inside front corner of each panel, mostly hidden by the cross bars once installed. The fewer times per year you do it (our dodger and bimini pieces stay up all season), the more valuable this is, because you are less familiar/ experienced with it. Saves lots of time and trouble, especially on my neighbour's, who put his connecting piece up backwards in a rain storm one time. His are labeled like mine now….