Association Forum - Pop Top Enclosure

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 Enclosure

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Rollins
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
50 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/21/2003 : 21:25:24

Does anyone have information regarding an enclosure for the Pop Top? My 1989 C25 did not come with a pop-top enclosure, so I don't have the snaps I see others write about. I looked in the Catalina Direct catalog. I found a pop-top curtain w/o windows (?) in the parts list (no pic) for $453. Is that it? If so, that seems a little pricey.

Has anyone made one who could share the pattern? Has anyone ever made a set of solid inserts with windows (sure, a Cat25 Deck Salon, it could happen!).

Anyway, if anyone has pics of what it looks like and how it attaches, I'd appreciate it. Surely I could get a canvas shop to build one cheaper than $453!

Suggestions appreciated,

PS, this forum is GREAT. I log on every night and read through the postings. I've really learned a lot about my boat.

Mike Rollins
"Wind Walker" Cat25 SR/WK #5947

Edited by - on

Bruce Ebling
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2003 : 21:38:05

Mike: I too have an 89 WK without a poptop, if you could keep me posted on anything you find out I would appreciate it. Have you talked with anyone who has replaced the plexi windows, I have one that is cracked?

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

Members Avatar

Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2003 : 21:53:22

This isn't a "deck salon", but somebody here used foam "noodles" (swim toys from Walmart or somewhere) inserted lenthwise between the pop-top and the cabintop to raise the top a couple of inches, allow a little ventillation, and (I think) to be able to sail with the top in that position. Sounded cool to me--but at 5'10", that's all the additional headroom I'd need. (The Admiral can walk around in the boat.) I may try it some day...

BTW, ours came with the snaps, and now they're falling out. I keep pasting them back in with whatever is handy to keep moisture from intruding in the holes... A PITB. I don't think any owner has even unfolded the enclosure!

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - Dave B on 05/21/2003 21:57:23

Edited by - on

NuNees
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
125 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2003 : 22:03:17

Mike, Bruce,
Try this link to the Tech Form...the posting includes photos and a measured drawing....The 'Camper Top' as I call it snaps on over a raised Pop top...Keeps the rain and snow out of the cabin...it's madi of vinyl covered canvas and is pretty tough.
Mike if you are slipped at West Access stop by 'D6' this week end and I'll show you mine.
Elsewhere on the Tech Tipe was the posting about slicing 'Noodles' to support the PopTop while under way. I could noy find it just now...but it seemed like a good idea. Sports aAuthority hadd two sizes...Good Luck.

Bill Jaworowski
Moonbeams
'85 C25 SR/SK # 4953 Lake Carlyle, IL.

Edited by - on

ddlyle
Captain

Members Avatar

302 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2003 : 22:54:44

I wish I could email you pics of my pop-top cover snapped in place.
It looked really cool and practically original.
I had painted my bottom and cleaned her up nice and my wife were spending our first night on the boat.
I took a bunch of neat photos.
And later realized I didn't have film in my camera.
My boat came with a pop-top cover in nice condition (white vinyl with vinyl windows) and the snaps even reach and snap shut.
I hope you find a source.
I think you'd like it. I think you could replace the snaps in your deck okay.
But I kind of doubt if you would be money ahead to have one made at a canvas shop.
It may not fit as well, and may cost nearly as much. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Cap'n Dave
Sailing The Blues
1986 C25 sr/sk #5413

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 01:43:32

Mike:

Maybe someone on this forum who never uses their poptop enclosure would be willing to sell you their's.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> I don't think any owner has even unfolded the enclosure!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

It's interesting that use of the poptop and/or the enclosure is not necessarily dictated by the size/height of the the owner. My friend has a '78 FK/SR C25 and is about 2" taller than me and easily 50+ lbs. bigger. He and all previous owners, like Dave, have never used his poptop enclosure and I've never seen his poptop up. I (at 6'1"), on the other hand, usually immediately raise it upon opening the boat up at the slip or reaching my destination (although it's always locked down while underway).

If with my family, I almost always put the enclosure up at mooring/anchor. It's kind of a pain, but certainly no less than all the other family obligations which go along with cruising with young children, and it greatly increases privacy and inside storage space by the shelf created along the handrails. If not with the family, I usually put the poptop up without the enclosure.

Here I am with the poptop and enclosure up (white jib UV cover) and my friend without either up (blue jib UV cover) -- Little Harbor, Catalina Island.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3db00b3127cce88392f2f72620000001610" border=0>

Here's a closer view (with assorted kid supplies) -- Avalon Haror.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf07b3127cce926b784b6aae0000001610" border=0>

My cover is still in pretty good shape, but I make sure to wipe it clean and dry the dew off it before removing it at each use. However, the hatchway zipper has never worked -- but I have a separate Sunbrella fabric "door" which snaps over the hatchway for privacy or rain (somewhat rare around here).

When I refinished the exterior teak recently, I noticed the original screw-in snaps are brass, not stainless like replacements I've seen at Boaters World, West Marine, etc. They pollished-up real nice with a Dremel.

Edited by - RichardG on 05/22/2003 01:50:06

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 10:24:16

Mike...someone was selling just such a cover in the swap section about a week or two ago. Asked $150/$175 and it may still be at the bottom of the list there.

Val on Calista # 3936

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 10:59:37

I'll email you regarding selling mine. It's had very little use.

Mark L.
Cat 25 SR/SK #549

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 12:22:17

If anyone else has one they might want to get rid of, please let me know....I might consider making a reasonable offer.

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1595 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 13:14:42

I had a pop top enclosure and sold it. I didn't use it much. 150 dollars is a very good price if its in fair condition. If you think a good canvas shop will make one go for it but be prepared for sticker shock. Simple dodger is 1200 to 1500 dollars so what would a pop top be ???

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 14:01:23

the pop top enclosure is great - if you have a family on board and it's even slightly cold or wet - it doubles the effective size of the interior.

It goes up or down in under 5 minutes. You can fold it up into a small package and store it in the quarterberth.

It is very well made and is waterproof. No way could a shop make you one for less than $500. If your very good with a sewing machine you could make it for probably $200.

The boat is very warm with it up. Perhaps too warm!

Indiscipline 1978 FK #398

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 15:55:06

I just sold one last week for $175.00 and it was practically brand new.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 18:37:57

We love our pop top and cover. We were in San Fancisco a while ago with nice and cold nights. The first night we had no heater and it was quite chilly. The next day we took a stop at west marine and picked up a cheap heater. Great investment. The cabin was nice and toasty. I like to be able to stand up in the boat and the top gives a nice secure shelf to store stuff at night. It's also a good place to do contact lens stuff

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2003 : 19:06:46

I used my pop-top cover a couple times last year while we were cruising. With the cover on, it makes a nice shelf to temporarily store stuff

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cda349f4f0000001610" border=0>

This photo has been cropped a little but you can see the cords for two fans that we put up on the shelf and right in the center is a 13" color TV.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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.