Tonka needs a Top 2017 EC21

[PatO]

While Tonka is fast asleep in her winter storage, I am on the hunt for a bimini top. Found a picture of one I really liked, but when I contacted King canvas discovered that the frame had been custom made at a local fabricator, and King Canvas made the cover.. and Yikes it was expensive!!. So fellow Tugnutters.. any suggestions?? Tonka will be headed for summer moorage on April 15th. Tonka currently resides in Forest Grove, Oregon, just west of Portland.

Thanks
Pat

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Heck out my pictures it may give an idea for a frame and canvas work. Nothing wrong with a custom frame, you get exactly what you want. For me I wanted a rigid frame that could withstand someone falling against it or using it for support moving around the boat in rough weather. I wanted an integrated roll bar to support a solar panel. I wanted a frame that would support a gear bag supported from the frame over the engine. I wanted welded bars on the rear that would both support th canvas and act as hand hold when climbing the swim ladder. I wanted a frame that was canted over the outside of the boat to make as much room inside as possible. I wanted the roof bars to be curved to allow rain to run off and not puddle. Each bar was located to facilitate not only the integrity of the enclosure but assist in moving around and entering and exiting the boat from the sides and back. This is not possible with the standard pipes and clamps used by canvas shops. So I had a frame made and welded in place, strong enough to support any load due to shrink wrap and snow load. The main bar is 2” and the rest are 1” tubes. The 2” tubes are fitted with led lights to illuminate the rear table and provide a conduit for the solar panel wires. It is mounted over the two rod holder that were removed. The frame stays in place all year. The canvas shape then made a custom set of panels to fit. They snap to the stainless rub rail to provide max interior space. The rigid structure keeps the canvas drum tight.
Any way just my ideas. We cruise with our tug for 8 weeks each summer and anchor out most weeks. Only spending a few days in a marina each summer. We have put on close to 1800 nautical miles in the three year we have had the boat. The systems we have implemented seem to work well for us.

 

[PatO]

Thanks so much.. your idea's and photo's have helped a lot. drew up some plans on what was wanted and am taking Tonka to a local shop that says they use stainless steel pipe for the frame. I really liked the way you connected the cover to the back of the cockpit. if you have more detailed pictures. I would love to see them.. it looks like a u shaped channel that fabric with a zipper was attached.. tell me about that, material used.. how attached?? Again.. thanks for the idea's and pictures.

Pat

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Across the top of the cabin and down the sides the fabric guy at precision canvas used a track that fits a bolt with a strip of webbing attached. He sews the zipper to this webbing. It should be standard fabrication parts. Sailrite calls it flex-a-rail. This it the best way to attach the canvas as it keeps out all the water. Along the bottom edge they removed the screws from the stainless rub rail and replaced them with snaps that have #10 long screws, instead of the normal short snaps. It may not be seen but the welded bar that comes out from the main roll bar and supports the solar panel bar also gives me a place to hang my aft fender from. The enclosure is made with 40 guage plastic in place of the more standard 20 guage Windows. Better clarity. The canvas is sunbrella Cadet Grey, YKK have zippers that match this colour. There are also other color combinations that match. It is nice to have everything the same color. I choose a light color to not heat up with the sun. Very bug proof as is but I found some find their way in from the lower snaps. After setting up the canvas for the summer I stuff a length of 1/2 inch foam backer rod round the perimeter.Home depot or Lowe’s for a few dollars for 25 feet. For the back panel and the front sides I have to put it back in place each night before the bugs come out.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Also the track is attached with screws and when he had access he used small bolts and put cap nuts on the end that show in the cabin. He applied some double sided tape first to make the seal water tight.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Also don’t forget to add any hanging loops just inside the cockpit. String a line to hang gear to dry, and a hole lot more uses.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Added a few more pictures.

 

[PatO]

thanks so much, have an appointment to take Tonka in. Will let you know what they come up with. 😀

 

[Two killicks]

I had a bimini top before and when we wanted to get a full enclosure too. On ours, we have the bug screen, clear plastic flaps and and privacy flaps too. We left a part of the the rails on the outside of the enclosure to be able to move the fenders more easily when we are in a marina. Check out my modification album to see what I mean.

Bottom line, we love our enclosure, on a rainy day, the whole boat is dry, and at night, we get to spend the evening without the rain, the bugs and we move all the luggages in the cockpit to make more room in the cabin.

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Thought about the fender issue and opted for more room in the cockpit. So all canvas is attached to the outside to the rub strip. We hang our utensils holder from the inside rail when at anchor. The rear fender is attached to the stub that supports the solar panel arch by a carbinner. The aft end of the top extends two inches past the vertical give a bit more interior space around the rear seat. The roof panel right behind the cabin is removable if a lot of light is needed. We found that with the cabin narrower than the cockpit any wind is funneled into the cockpit. If you are going to anchor out at all power is going to be an issue. I changed out all the factory batteries and replaced with AGM batteries. All group 27 two on end in the engine compartment and two more in the aft storage area. That gives three house batteries. Fridge can now run all the time. The solar panel puts out 5 to 6 amps and is adequate. A 100 watt panel would be more than enough. We spend 3 to 4 days at each anchorage without running engine.
So the enclosure and all other modifications depend on how you plan on using the boat. For us room and storage is essential thus the gear loft and solar stuff. We spend two months out. Only in a marina for one night at a time every 10 days. So we have replaced the anchor gear with a custom mooring bit and roller. I anchor with a 13 pound Rocna and 30 feet of chain. I use a 10 pound Kellet to assist in reducing the tendency to swing. A spare 11 pound bruce with 10 feet chain is stored in the rear as a back up for storms. I carry 2x100 for lines in a bag for shore ties I feel needed,although I prefer not to tie to shore. Bow rodes are stored in anchor bags that I made on the deck. I had the factory delete my anchor pipe and locker drain. I did not want to put wet rode into the boat since the locker is not isolated from the cabin. I did this with a previous boat too and found keeping moisture and dirt out of the boat important. I increased the size of the anchor locker port with a bigger access port and use it for dry storage.

 

[PatO]

Wheww. thought I would never get the boat back.. I have some beautiful pictures of her new top.. but cant figure out how to post pictures.. !!help!!

 

[Bruce Moore]

Wheww. thought I would never get the boat back.. I have some beautiful pictures of her new top.. but cant figure out how to post pictures.. !!help!!

Getting a User Photo Album for your Ranger Tug is easy but it requires submitting a request from within the site structure.

1. Sign on to the site, if you aren't already.

2. Select the User Control Panel link from the upper left corner of any page. Note: On the home page, this link is in your user menu in the upper right.

3. Click the Usergroups tab, then select the radio button next to the User Albums group.
Scroll down, choose "Join selected" in the drop-down menu, and click the Submit button.

Once you do this, an email is automatically sent to the administrator (me). That message will trigger my ability to approve your request, and you'll receive an email indicating your membership in the User Albums group has been activated.

I'll watch for the message, and look forward to seeing your pictures.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[PatO]

After a lesson in how to post pictures.. take a look in my Album. Carols Custom Canvas in Portland did a great job and so happy to have her back.. I recommend them, with one caveat.. Don't be in a hurry.. perfection takes time. This 4 day weekend will be spent in dewinterizing Tonka, cleaning her up and next weekend she will be in the water at Mcuddy's landing at Scappoose. It will be so exciting to not have to hook up the trailer each time taking her out..from now on it is leave work on Friday and head for the boat!! While picking up the boat today, noticed that the Columbia is high and fast. its getting the spring melt. Glad it was decided to anchor in Multnomah channel.. the flow will be less turbulent. More pictures to follow soon.

 

[PatO]

I added some additional pictures of Tonka, I think she looks great.. the addition equals shade and no bugs. No bugs is always a plus!! spent this weekend dewinterizing her.. discovering both batteries were Dead. I discovered a blurb somewhere about how the onboard charger wont work below 10.6, another mentioned 9.5 Pulled both and charged them overnight.. its a wonderful thing, when you turn the house power on and you have lights, radio, GPS. Equally delightful to hear the sound on the bilge pump while you are washing to the boat. So she is all ready for the marina next weekend. See you on the water!!