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Conquest 305 Custom Cockpit Shade Project
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ContinuousWave Whaler Moderated Discussion Areas
ContinuousWave: Post-Classic Whalers
Conquest 305 Custom Cockpit Shade Project
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| Author | Topic: Conquest 305 Custom Cockpit Shade Project |
| SouthFla |
posted 03-15-2010 09:59 AM ET (US)  
Thought I'd post the end-result of a project that I worked on last year. I wanted to wait to see how the project held up with a full season of boating and fishing before determining if the project was successful. A brief background: I have a pretty severe problem with skin cancer as well as a pretty severe need to be on the water as much as possible boating, snorkeling, fishing and diving. Obviously the two don't go together well lol... So I wanted more shade on my boat, a 2005 Boston Whaler Conquest 305 with pretty good-sized cockpit, but I absolutely hate bimini tops. I don't care for the way they look, hate all the hardware that gets in the way when fishing and diving, yadda yadda. So here's what I came up with: a removable-shade sunbrella top that slides under my hard top when not in use. I've seen commercially-sold tops which are sort of similar, but they're ridiculously expensive... Using Stainless Steel hardware made for bimini tops, I created "rails" underneath the hardtop, with stops at the front for the rails to secure with quick release pins. Here's what it looks like fully stored: http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0139.jpg http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0138.jpg http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0141.jpg http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0140.jpg Here's a brief closeup/diagram of how it's anchored at the forward end: http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/closeup2.jpg To "deploy," you simply pull out the quick release in the front, slide the frame out: http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0142.jpg Then quick-clip in the supports (the support seen here are anchored via bimini hardware that is attached to the t-top via stainless hose clamps. I've since removed hose clamps, tap and drilled into the aluminum top frame and screwed in SS bimini hardware directly to the TTop for a cleaner look. Also not pictured is one additional support which extends from the hard top's center rod holder to the middle-back of the frame. It's quick-clipped like the side supports, and was added to provide support to the canvas while running at 40mph with the shade deployed. http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0144.jpg I purchased a swatch of sunbrella and thread online, had my wife triple-stitch the fabric (a bit difficult due to thickness of fabric), then I installed SS grommets in the canvas and used bungie balls to attach to the frame. http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0147.jpg http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0152.jpg Here's the relatively unobstructed view from helm: http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0154.jpg And the finished look: http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0149.jpg http://imagesbyjda.com/Web_Photos/IMG_0150.jpg The whole thing takes approximately 2-3 minutes to fully deploy by myself. When not in use the three stainless steel support rods simple stow in an under-gunwale fishing rod holder, and the canvas gets folded up and stored in the cabin. The big pluses are no hardware installation anywhere on the boat except under the hard top, and there's nothing to get in the way when fishing. I can run WOT without issue with the top out, and we haven't had one problem yet with the design or function. I HAVE NOT kept the shade up in a more-than-drizzle rain and don't plan too, as I don't imagine it would do well at all in that scenario. It's a sun-shade, not a water-one I also every 3 or so months spray a little teflon on the rail hardware to keep them sliding smooth... Here was the approximate cost for the project: I'm really pleased at how this has worked out, and the difference with fishing in the shade without obstruction is remarkable! I hope these ideas may allow someone else to do the same! Thanks for looking, John |
| TRAFFICLAWYER |
posted 03-15-2010 12:30 PM ET (US)
Interesting idea, but a bit complicated, I would take the same sunbrella using bungees to fasten it to the road holders or outriggers than just get to extendable boat poles., the kind used to hold up canvas where the rain would push it down, and put the poles in the last 2 rodholders with a grommet to fasten in the pole end. Simpler. |
| SJUAE |
posted 03-15-2010 02:36 PM ET (US)
SouthFla Very nice I've been toying with something similar but for a forward doger on my 210 Outrage The problem I have with a tubular T-Top is finding nice looking clamps to attachh the 1" bimini Tubing to my 11/2" tubing on my T-Top This is a ready available product Regards |
| number9 |
posted 03-15-2010 03:19 PM ET (US)
John, Thanks for sharing this with us. Great design, really like the way the frame retracts. In my eyes better and more attractive than the T-Top Extender. Bill |
| SouthFla |
posted 03-15-2010 03:38 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the kind words guys... STEVE, I actually looked at the "T-Top Extender" when I was looking to buy something like this. My problem was I couldn't find one that really looked sturdy enough to put up, leave on all day, run at speed in 40+MPH plus with strong winds, etc. I could be wrong, but the commerical designs sure don't look like they could do that just by their design, and if I have to take it down every time I get on plane then I'll probably never use it... Plus I just like building my own "personalized" stuff :-) |
| Buckda |
posted 03-15-2010 03:50 PM ET (US)
I really like this project. Great work! It has a very nice, clean look to it - and probably makes apres' boating drinks at dockside very pleasant while the catch of the day roasts on the nearby marina grill. Congratulations on a successful concept - I think I'll work on something similar. Dave |
| SJUAE |
posted 03-16-2010 02:31 AM ET (US)
SouthFla Agreed the "T-Top Extender" is a poor second compared to your works :). I guess it took a few beers to drill the first holes in to your hardtop I actually contacted "T-Top Extender" several times they were very helpful but the cost to ship here was almost the same as the purchase price. The centre pole is a good addition especially if it sleeves/attaches to the Sunbrella fabric and keeps the tension on the Bungees near the rod holders. I only have 2 requests, congratulate your Mrs needlework and can you clean my boat yours looks immaculate :) Regards |
| Brian7son |
posted 03-16-2010 03:50 PM ET (US)
John, I think your set up is very nice. I like it, looks very durable. I did what Traffic lawyer said to my boat about 2 years ago. Here's the pix. http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Brian7son/?action=view& current=c2.jpg http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Brian7son/?action=view& current=c3.jpg http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Brian7son/?action=view& current=c5.jpg http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Brian7son/?action=view& current=c7.jpg http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/Brian7son/?action=view& current=c1.jpg I had a canvas guy make it custom so that there are holes that line up with the rocket launchers to install it. It's very easy. They are not shown in these photos, but later, I made two poles that I mount in the rear rod holders on each gunnel that help keep the canvas tight while running or in windy conditions. All I did for that was cut pvc pipe to size, then jammed a wooden dowling rod that fit very snugly into the pvc pipe and soaked the ends in sealant. Then I cut slots in the bottom end so that it locked into the rod holder. The dowling rods take the flex out of the pvc pipe. |
| TRAFFICLAWYER |
posted 03-16-2010 05:24 PM ET (US)
Nice, shazam!Foshizzle! |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 03-17-2010 06:36 AM ET (US)
John, I think your design is just incredible. I tried to do something like Brian7son did and I was not very happy with the results. I have a 1991 27' Walkaround with a Bimini top and radar arch. I jst have to figure out how to attach the mounting for the poles when I have them retracted. Thanks again for sharing your design. |
| WisED |
posted 03-17-2010 08:13 AM ET (US)
SouthFla, kudos. The top looks OEM! |
| Ricky |
posted 03-17-2010 09:22 AM ET (US)
Great job Southfla. Just great. Showed my wife now she wants one also. I purchased an Anchor Shade (commercial product which looke like a large umbrella that has ties to support and a center post) a few years ago which works reasonably well except wind is the enemy. No way to cruise with it up. Also saw your led spreader lights. Very cool. Do the bungees fall out during assemble or disassembly or are they "squished" in enough to prevent that. I have exact boat and year model as you, also in South Florida (Delray Beach). Be interesting to compare notes sometime especially as I begin my thought process on repowering. Rick |
| Brian7son |
posted 03-17-2010 10:30 AM ET (US)
If I had to choose, I'd go with John's design. It is far more OEM looking and certainly no issues with rain water accumulating in a sagging section of canvas. He did a great job. ..and John, when you said : "I HAVE NOT kept the shade up in a more-than-drizzle rain and don't plan too, as I don't imagine it would do well at all in that scenario," I have to diasgree with you. I think your design would not have any problem at all if it got rained on. It looks very sturdy. |
| SouthFla |
posted 03-17-2010 11:12 AM ET (US)
Thanks again all for the kind words guys. After fishing all weekend, I CANT BEGIN to tell you what a difference it makes to fish in the shade and not have all the bimini-top crap in the way (not to mention having a sturdy shade in 25+knot wind :-D ). And for those summer sweltering days offshore when fishing for dolphin in the big ocean lake, the shade is better than a cold beer-seriously! RICKY, I do get one or two bungies that inevitably fall out of their holes when folding and packing up the canvas top when not in use. It hasn't been big-enough of a deal to try and correct, and I'm not sure how I would keep them from falling out?!? If you have any suggestions let me know and I'll try 'em out! And you are repowering already?!? How many hours do you have on the verados?? I would LOVE to put twin 300hp Verados (I "think" the hull's rated for 600hp?) on the back of the Conquest 305. I do think with the twin 250's it's a bit underpowered. I think this boat levels out and rides SO MUCH BETTER at higher speeds, at which I rarely run due to fuel consumption. We were cruising all weekend in 20-30mph steady winds and very rough chop, and when I ran WOT around 42mph into the wind and waves, the boat just cut through all the choppy crud. BUT I was burning 50-some GPH ouch! |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 03-17-2010 12:25 PM ET (US)
John, I am currently in the process of addapting your design to be able to work on my boat. I noticed that your canvas portion does not make contact with the piping, I'm guessing that is because you need the gap to be able to keep the bungee's taught. What I'm wondering is what measurement for the stand-off did you use to keep the bungee's tight? |
| SouthFla |
posted 03-17-2010 01:21 PM ET (US)
27BD, to keep things easy and professional looking, try this: Once your frame is complete, measure the inside frame dimensions for the canvas. Make the finished canvas size 1/2"-1" or so smaller than the frame all of the way around (don't forget to reinforce the circumference by folding-over/doubling the canvas all around the border for added strenght). I "think" I made my canvas 1" smaller all around than the frame. Then to get a taut canvas and perfect fit, you just adjust the bungie-cord length! To get in the ballpark with your bungie cord length, say if you have a 1" gap, you'll need a bungie that'll stretch around 2" (the bungie ball goes from grommet, 1" to pole, than back 1" to ball). But it's easy to tighten the bungie cords if it's not tight enough... Here's where I got the Bungie Balls: http://www.mytarp.com/search.aspx?find=BCB-06-50 And the stainless-steel grommets (same company): http://www.mytarp.com/search.aspx?find=SSGP2-doz And here was the Ebay guy I got the sunbrella (don't forget thread!) from http://shop.ebay.com/brokerman.200/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=& _trksid=p3686 |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 03-18-2010 06:36 AM ET (US)
John, Thanks for the info. I will post pics of the finished product. |
| NewportMe |
posted 03-24-2010 01:15 PM ET (US)
Southfla, Try a "washer" on the opposite side of the grommet from the ball. Feed the bungie through the washer and snug the washer to the grommet. My Brother in law has a tarp and frame that uses similar attachment and these work great. The "washers" in his set up are black plastic. The holes in the "washers" are small enough to be tight but the bungies can still slide through the hole. Bruce |
| SouthFla |
posted 03-24-2010 04:14 PM ET (US)
Bruce that's an AWESOME tip, THANK YOU!!! |
| jollyrog305 |
posted 04-27-2010 04:52 PM ET (US)
Not to rehash an older topic, but I stumbled on this today if anyone is interested – http://blog.sureshade.com/2010/04/manual-sunshade-system-cruises-to.html |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 04-28-2010 10:15 AM ET (US)
John, I looked into the SureShade product that jollyrog305 had mentioned and although it appears to be an excellent product I do believe that it is going to cost alot more that the shade you put together. What were your material costs, if you don't mind? |
| jollyrog305 |
posted 04-28-2010 12:52 PM ET (US)
I personally like John’s solution much better. I think it looks cleaner and would also like to know the material costs. I was fortunate enough to meet with some (senior) members of Whaler’s design group a few weeks back to discuss likes/dislikes about the Conquest line. Forgot how the topic of a sun shade came up, but I suggested to the Whaler folks that they review this thread and take a look at John’s solution because it was “slicker than (you know)”. We got to discussing if this would be a nice option to have on the Conquest, like the one available on the new Outrage 370. Myself and the other participants liked the idea, but not as a $7,000 option like on the Outrage 370. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 04-28-2010 02:33 PM ET (US)
jollyrog305, I just finished ordering all of the stainless fittings and tubing that I think I will need and so far I have spent about $260.00. I estimate an additional $150.00 to $200.00 in materials. I will post a full materials list when I have completed all purchasing. |
| SouthFla |
posted 04-28-2010 04:10 PM ET (US)
$7,000?!? Yowza. While that Whaler Outrage shade design is wicked-slick, I can't say I'd be too thrilled with paying that kind of money. But I guess if I'm buying that boat, another 7K probably won't even matter lol... My only "issue" with the SureShade is that its a bit ugly, bulky and sort of "sticks out." I think that mine really blends in well when collapsed under the hard top and doesn't look so much like an "add on." Although having the shade roll in/out like they've designed is pretty slick. But it's so fast and easy for me to put my fabric on/off that it's really no biggie. I want to say my materials were between $300-$350. If you order the stainless hardware on line (Sailrite and Overtons) you can pay `$6-$12 ea, compared to easily triple that at most other places. I also had a great "cheap" local source (River Marine Supply) of the 7/8" aluminum tubing, I think paying around $2-$3 a foot for the tubing. We're going on year #2 with the original design, and we use it a ton and love it :-) My only change from the original post has been to replace the "hose-clamped" plastic bimini hardware on the hardtop frame with Stainless hardware which I tapped and screwed in. It's a little more professional looking. |
| home Aside |
posted 04-29-2010 08:21 AM ET (US)
Jon, Kudos on a job well done, I don't have the hardtop on my Revenge 22 WT to make your system work, summer before last I had a camper back made for my Revenge so that I could enclose the whole back end while boat camping, it includes a sort of second bimini that attaches to my original Mills Flytop, so in real sunny weather I take off the side curtains and aft curtains from the camper top and run with the full bimini, it really works well keeping me out of the sun. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/HomeAside/North%20Channel%2008/ ?action=view¤t=DSCN2163.jpg http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/HomeAside/North%20Channel%2008/ ?action=view¤t=DSCN2011.jpg Here are a couple of more simple products by Taylor Made for attaching to T-Tops, the first one is nice for an outrage that doesn't have a forward shelter... http://www.boatcovers.cc/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=318 http://www.boatcovers.cc/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=317 Pat |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 05-28-2010 07:47 AM ET (US)
Well, I just recieved all of the hardware for my shade project. I, too do not have a hardtop like John's but I think that I have come up with a design alteration to John' design that will work with my bimni top. I will take photos as I progress and post them. |
| Thirsty Whaler |
posted 05-30-2010 10:26 AM ET (US)
Snap,just when I thought I had the boat done, I read this thread! As a nodular melanoma survivor, I am now obligated to act on the excellent ideas and plans you folks have covered. B-reak |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 05-31-2010 01:37 PM ET (US)
Not quite a thousand Thirsty Whaler. I am expection to spend around $350.00. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 06-01-2010 10:52 AM ET (US)
I can't believe that I spelled 'expecting' wrong. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 06-14-2010 12:17 PM ET (US)
I just finished putting my new hard top on my 27 Walkaround. I will now have to figure out a way to attach the sliding shade to it now. http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/jedgerly/New%20Hard%20Top/NewTopC.jpg http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/jedgerly/New%20Hard%20Top/NewTopB.jpg http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/jedgerly/New%20Hard%20Top/NewTopA.jpg |
| Marlin |
posted 06-14-2010 09:29 PM ET (US)
Nice, Justin! |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 07-30-2010 12:49 PM ET (US)
I got all of my parts and am starting to figure out how to mount it. When I complete it I will post pics. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 09-07-2010 12:00 PM ET (US)
Bump |
| SJUAE |
posted 09-07-2010 03:29 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the bump but where's the pics :) Regards Steve |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 09-13-2010 04:43 PM ET (US)
Still working on the mounting design. Will post pics soon. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 10-02-2010 08:07 PM ET (US)
I will be mounting the frame this week. Stand by for pics. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 01-21-2011 03:25 PM ET (US)
Well between work and the holidays I have not been able to get back to my shade project.Now that all those crazy days are past us I expect to start working on the BlackDog within the next two to three weeks.When I ordered all of the parts befoe I thought that I had everything but I was wrong, NOW I do have all the parts needed and hope to get started soon. |
| SJUAE |
posted 01-22-2011 01:55 PM ET (US)
Great, good news look forward to seeing your project Regards |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 01-26-2011 12:11 PM ET (US)
Well Mother Nature has struct again. Here in Stafford VA another winter storm system is moving in which will put off my intended start on the project.I will keep you all posted as to when I can start up again. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 06-09-2011 10:25 AM ET (US)
Current work load has slowed down to a point where I can accutally start this project. I have all the parts and am starting this weekend. Will post pics. |
| SJUAE |
posted 06-09-2011 10:01 PM ET (US)
Still waiting :) Now you need the shade as it's June lol Regards |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 06-10-2011 01:38 PM ET (US)
Thats what my wife said. |
| Tates |
posted 06-19-2011 11:24 AM ET (US)
Nice Job , It will keep you and guests fishing /crusing with less sun fatigue. |
| 27 Black Dog |
posted 06-20-2011 06:21 PM ET (US)
Well I finished the great sun shade project and we were out all last weekend on the Potomac River and I must admit I did a great job. The wife and daughter are very happy with the shade. I will be posting pics within the next few days. |
| Buckda |
posted 10-12-2012 05:41 PM ET (US)
Sorry to bring this back to the top after two years of dormancy, but where are the photos?!! Would love to see the other adaptations. |
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