[C320-list] Cost for Winter Cover

[Jeff Hare]

Yes, very strange indeed.  A fellow boat owner in my yard (non-Catalina)
couldn't get them to budge on that either 2 or 3 years ago.

Maybe they're just moody.  :)  Should have had a pan of brownies in my hand
when I asked.

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Caryl
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2013 4:07 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Cost for Winter Cover

We find it strange you could not get access through the stern from
Fairclough.  We had stern access for our 380 which we had the cover for 15
years.  We purchased a new cover in 2012 when we purchased our 320.  We have
access through the stern.  Did not seem to be a problem having it put there.

Caryl
#818
Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 15, 2013, at 12:27 PM, "Jeff Hare" <catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
> 
> As another reference point, I've had both a Fairclough cover and a TopShop
cover.  
> 
> The TopShop Frame, Cover and especially the service are superior to
Fairclough.  The price was much better as I recall also.
> 
> Specifically:
> =========
> Frame:  Thick walled aluminum tubing with gentle curves are *much* lighter
to carry and easier to assemble.
> 
> Cover:   Doesn't allow snow to blow in anywhere.  Winter entry is much
easier due to the design of the zippered aft section that fully seals in the
boat with a nice curved tail rib overhang.  TopShop uses seat belt webbing
to reinforce zippers and all along the bottom edge forming the loops you use
to lace the bottom tight. 
> 
> Fairclough uses cheap grommets you have to thread rope through.  They tear
if you pull too hard.  They would not put a door in the aft section for us,
in the side (which is useless for us).  When we asked them how much to
modify it with zippered access to the swim platform they said they wouldn't
do it for us.  Generally not impressed.  We have to put a tarp under the
cover to keep snow from blowing in the lace up aft section.   Next year I'll
modify it to add extra material and zippers to seal up the aft end.
> 
> So, having had both, I'd go with TopShop and never look back.  They're
also advertised in Mainsheet and know the C320 pretty well.  As I recall
they were less expensive than Fairclough delivered. 
> 
> Also as a tip:  TopShop didn't require any additional horizontal
strapping.  Fairclough requires you to use a couple rows of wooden 1x3
strapping on top of their frame to keep the cover from sagging.  That's a
pain.  I purchased a 2100' spool of the 3/4" wide shrink wrap webbing to use
instead.  (
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OR1CGG/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00  )
This year, I cut six 45' pieces of this webbing and wound each one around a
dowel and used this to tightly create support for the cover between the ribs
(From the stern rail, looping around each rib and ending on the bow
pulpit.).  This saved a lot of time when stringing it and resulted in much
tighter support.
> 
> Last year it held up really well, no strapping to carry/store/attach and
saved time.  One spool should last me longer than I'll probably own the
boat.
> 
> My opinions / anecdotes of course.
> -Jeff Hare
> #809 (2001) - Woodbine II
> 
> ---- BairdRJB at aol.com wrote: 
>> The canvas repair shop somehow has lost or misplaced our mast-up 
>> winter cover for our boat (2001).  And so now I am going to have to 
>> negotiate a price on a replacement.  If you have recently purchased a 
>> new  winter cover, I'd be eager to hear what you paid.
>> 
>> Thanks.
>> 
>> Bob Baird
>> Star Dust, 2001, hull 784
>> Whitehall, Michigan
>