Does anyone have pics of weather cloth on their CD's?

[Doublebecket]

I have a local canvas shop in the Philippines that can fabricate some canvas weather cloth for the cockpit at a pretty reasonable rate, but before I commit I was wondering if anyone had some pics with them installed around their cockpit. Also how do you like them? It would be nice to stop having waves and spray coming into the cockpit.

[Paul D.]

I sewed these up from some leftover cloth a long time ago. Simple, but work really well up here on the cold Lake Superior big weather days. The weather cloths follow the line of the stanchion aft the gate aft to the stern push pit and from the lifeline down to about 3/4 inch above the deck at the rail. Wanting to avoid adding holes to the deck at the rail for tie down pad eyes, I made fast some polyester line to the bases of the stanchion along the rail, tied it tightly and fixed the bottom of the weather cloth to that instead. The weather cloths have kept wind and spray out for the most part and have kept more than one winch handle from going in the drink. Let me know if you have any other questions and good sailing to you!

[Jeff and Sarah]

I plan to remake my weather cloths soon- mostly to change the color, but also to make a few adjustments to accommodate accessories added over the years (outboard engine stand, grill, lifesling, etc). I didn't even realize I had them until well after I bought the boat. I don't think they had ever been used. I finally got around to putting them up when I had kids. Now I leave them up for the whole season- they definitely offer a level of extra security in the cockpit- both for kids and coffee mugs alike. I attach mine with zip ties because it seems to be faster to install them and take them down than it does with paracord. I suggest lots of grommets. I keep meaning to add some pockets as well.

[Doublebecket]

Thanks for the pics guys! I see both of you have the cloth going the entire length of the cockpit. Does the headsail sheets pass under the cloth? And if so, have you had any problems with that?

[Paul D.]

My genoa sheets run forward of the weather cloth. If you zoom in on the second photo I posted you can see them going under the lifelines just forward of the gate. In light air or if I reef the Genny I run the leads forward some. But then I need to re run the lazy sheet and move the genoa sheet car forward of the gate. Not ideal but For cruising it works fine.

I have thought of adding a block on a car so I could keep the aft block leading the sheet to the winch and the forward block would be able to move fore or aft as I see fit. The sheet would run aft from that block along the rail to the aft block and then to the winch.

[John Danicic]

Here is a shot of mine from the inside. Mariah has two solar panels outside the weather cloth on a rail. The cloths hide the back of the panels effectively.



i have the two blocks on the track for the yankee sheet that Paul was talking about in addition to an aft turning block that runs the sheet forward to the winches inside the cockpit.The top block is for the Gennaker sheet.

[Doublebecket]

Here is a shot of mine from the inside. Mariah has two solar panels outside the weather cloth on a rail. The cloths hide the back of the panels effectively.



i have the two blocks on the track for the yankee sheet that Paul was talking about in addition to an aft turning block that runs the sheet forward to the winches inside the cockpit.The top block is for the Gennaker sheet.

That's a great setup! thanks for the pics.