Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

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Jwood1
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Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by Jwood1 »

I'm planning on having a local canvas shop custom make a rear cockpit enclosure but I would love to see how others are designed. Does anyone have pictures of their enclosures?
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Serenity
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by Serenity »

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fpfMqv3B3f6WbAfq9

We inherited this enclosure from our boat's previous owners. When the enclosure is on, the aft winches and aft seats are barely usable. However, it does make the cockpit into a dry cozy space on a rainy day at anchor. Let me know if you would like better pictures/details of any part.

-Dennis
Serenity 1998 PDQ32 #34
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by Jwood1 »

Thanks, that helps a lot. I like the way it is angled back to the edge of the raised deck area. This means you can open the top hatch as well as the cockpit hatch in the stateroom when it is raining, big advantage IMO. I am hoping to design my install to allow me to roll up sections when sailing to allow better access to the winches, etc. If you get a chance, I would like to see a detailed picture of how it is attached along the bottom. Are those snaps or twist studs?

Thanks again!
Terrapin
1997 PDQ 32 LRC #26
Punta Gorda, FL

http://terrapinsailing.com/
danhaun
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by danhaun »

Here are some pics of our enclosure.

We enjoy the enclosure in the cooler months. One thing we would consider changing would be to roll up entire sections at the rear instead of using 'u-zip roll ups'. This would open the back better for using the bench seats. We went with all vinyl edging. The buttons to fasten to the deck are Tenax which are kinda pricey but work so much better than ordinary snaps. Panels fasten to the top with Keder welt and track.

BTW, I you sew, the enclosure panels are the easiest thing that I ever assembled. The basting tape sticks so well to the vinyl. I don't know if using sunbrella edging would be as easy. There is a great youtube video on fabrication techniques. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLoKbyHRnUo


I hope that this helps.

Dan

TomKat PDQ32 #11.
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thinwater
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by thinwater »

I considered it, but quickly realized that an enclosure would convert it into a non-sailboat, and that was not my interest. Too much agility is lost for serious consideration. You won't be using a genoa or spinnaker, and the mainsheet and jib sheet are going have to share a winch. I also don't like the way the boat sails with the self-tacking jib either, so that wasn't really an option for me anyway. I only used the self tacking jib a few days in 12 years.

What I did that helped on rainy days was made fabric side wings that would retract forward in seconds. They kept side rain out of the cockpit. If you stay on-board in marinas a lot and sail more rarely, an enclosure could have value.
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amytom
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by amytom »

We made a very nice rear enclosure for our boat and used it one winter. It's been in the attic ever since. Several hundred dollars of cloth and dozens of hours labor wasted.
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by Serenity »

Jwood1 wrote:Are those snaps or twist studs?
Twist studs. They make the deck a bit spikey. I would put the twist studs on slanted surfaces (aka: the painted stripe) if you can, so the aft deck is easier to walk/sit on.
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by Jwood1 »

Drew
I hear you about compromising sailing ability. Unless it was really nasty, I probably would not be using it while underway, and I would try to avoid sailing on those days anyway. What I found on my first year on Terrapin, was that at anchor on a rainy day, often it was windy enough to blow rain into the salon if the slider was open, even though I have a good dodger extending aft to the sides even with the helm seat. So, we would be somewhat trapped in the salon with the slider closed. Even if it was not raining, the dew point in Florida in the winter was such that everything would be wet in the cockpit at night and even in the salon if we didn't close the slider. So, I envision an enclosure that I could easily deploy when at anchor on rainy days or at night.

I would be interested to read more about your fabric side pieces. Do you describe that on your blog?
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http://terrapinsailing.com/
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by Jwood1 »

Amytom
I'm curious why you don't use it while at anchor? Is it just too much of pain to put up and take down?
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http://terrapinsailing.com/
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thinwater
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by thinwater »

Re. side curtains, this is the only image I could find. It was raining pretty hard. They attached to sail slugs in a track at the top and were secured with elastic and hooks to pad eyes at the bottom. When not in use they were pulled forward and secured to the pose with Velcro straps. I'm sure the design could be improved; this was just something I threw together from scraps. I didn't feel I needed it often, so I never perfected it.

I intentionally kept it short enough that I could use the forward winch. Otherwise, it's not a sailboat.

The thing is, at anchor rain doesn't blow in from the sides. How could it?

Image

Perhaps someone could say how long it takes to install the enclosure. I'm thinking long enough you won't want to take it on and off more than twice a year.

Clearly, there are two schools of thought. I would have used it in the winter here (Maryland) if I were live aboard, but not if I had an intentions of leaving the dock, not even in the winter.
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Re: Rear cockpit enclosure for PDQ 32?

Post by amytom »

As Drew mentioned above the rain doesn't blow in while at anchor and it is a bit of a pain to put up and take down.
I over did it though, three layers screen, clear vinyl, and sunbrella supreme cover. Too heavy and bulky to just leave in place rolled up.
If I lived on board at this point I would probably put something lighter in place.
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