Jump to content

Ideal Pram Hood design


jddevel

Featured Posts

I hated the idea of having a pram hood and when the cruiser stern boat we bought had one I was going to get rid of it especially as we live aboard. But I'm so glad I didn't. It's a cumbersome pain to take it down and re-erect it but so useful for taking off wet clothes in and towelling down the dog before entering the cabin, hanging washing in, working on the engine when it's raining, keeping the rain from entering the bilge and a bit of extra insulation especially when it's windy.

Being a cruiser stern it's a large area but I only keep a few bags of coal in there as using it as a store room defeats the object somewhat because we never cruise with it up so would have to remove stuff each time we went out. We are out cruising for most of the summer so in April I completely remove it and put it back on in October/November. Then for the occasions we go out in winter which are usually for only a few days at a time I leave it in-situ and just collapse it when we go out.

As for keeping dry when cruising I have one of those umbrella holders that attaches to the tiller because even when wearing decent wet weather gear the rain can still make your clothes feel damp as well as getting in your face/eyes (and made worse because I wear glasses) and it at least keeps some of the rain off. At low bridge holes it can easily be swung to one side whilst going under and swung back when through the bridge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, Ray T said:

Would the boats normally be clothed up if carrying coal?

With the volume of water I could see accumulating in the bilge in some wet conditions the cover I could see as being helpful. Out of curiosity how would this water be removed? If coal carrying I would have thought that the bilge water would have contained a great deal of dust making pump wear -assuming they were fitted -a continuous problem

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, jddevel said:

With the volume of water I could see accumulating in the bilge in some wet conditions the cover I could see as being helpful. Out of curiosity how would this water be removed? If coal carrying I would have thought that the bilge water would have contained a great deal of dust making pump wear -assuming they were fitted -a continuous problem

The boats had a hand pump at the back boards, by the engine room bulkhead, the lowest point of the hold. On the port side of the boat.

004.jpg

Admiral.jpg

Edited by Ray T
  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

42 minutes ago, Ray T said:

The boats had a hand pump at the back boards, by the engine room bulkhead, the lowest point of the hold. On the port side of the boat.

So would this pump have been a leather valve or was rubber used?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 30/09/2017 at 23:16, RichLech said:

We've had one made for our semi-trad. Wouldn't be without it. Gives us an extra room when we moor up for the night and with two dogs that is important.

Couple of things that we specified to make it convenient. Firstly, front screen can be completely zipped out so that with side screens removed as well, it just provides a canopy for shade or shelter from showers. On wet days on the Thames (where bridges are higher) we can cruise with the canopy up.

Secondly, to ensure that the stainless steel hoops do not obstruct access to the boat, the hoops are on sliding rails on the sides of the semi-trad. Hence when the canopy is laid down the hoops slide forward, keeping the whole thing clear of the access hatch.

Ours in canvas. more flexible for folding down.

When we moor I can have the whole thing up, screen and sides fitted and water-tight in about 5 minutes.

Ours was made by Tim at AM Marine Trim, based at Windsor Marina. 

 

 

Couldn't agree more, ours sounds like the same design with the sliding rails and we use it as you describe. The best thing we ever bought for the boat, just replaced the cover after 10 years service. Ours was made to give me standing headroom (6ft) so we had it made a little bit longer to keep the proportions right.

  

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20171004_091154%203_zpsf5zewxsr.jpg

This came with the boat and we love it.  As a semi it protects the cockpit especially when moored up.  We tend not to use it when travelling as some bridges are a little marginal.  In terms of dropping and putting up - its  a matter of seconds as all you do is undo the side poppers from the inside and down it goes.  We found out the hard way when we came across our first low bridge!!!

 

Edited by larryjc
get piccie right
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, larryjc said:

<a href="http://s228.photobucket.com/user/larryjc/media/20171004_091154%203_zpsf5zewxsr.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee310/larryjc/20171004_091154%203_zpsf5zewxsr.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20171004_091154 3_zpsf5zewxsr.jpg"/></a>

I beg your pardon?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm confused - I posted a piccie of my pram as the OP asked for ideas and I was trying to be helpful.  Not used photobucket for a while and so copied the wrong link into my first reply.  I edited within seconds and all I've now had is two silly replies.  Why don't we just try to help the OP - isn't this what the forum's for?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, larryjc said:

I'm confused - I posted a piccie of my pram as the OP asked for ideas and I was trying to be helpful.  Not used photobucket for a while and so copied the wrong link into my first reply.  I edited within seconds and all I've now had is two silly replies.  Why don't we just try to help the OP - isn't this what the forum's for?

I don't see a picture, just a photobucket msg saying 100% something or another. Not being critical, just saying I can't see it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, system 4-50 said:

I don't see a picture, just a photobucket msg saying 100% something or another. Not being critical, just saying I can't see it.

That's weird because I can see it on my forum page - the post above the one with the gobbledygook entry.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, larryjc said:

That's weird because I can see it on my forum page - the post above the one with the gobbledygook entry.

 

Post #36 says: "Please update your account to enable 3rd party hosting" "100% 3rd party hosting usage". To me at least.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, system 4-50 said:

Post #36 says: "Please update your account to enable 3rd party hosting" "100% 3rd party hosting usage". To me at least.

Hmm - obviously things ahve changed with the recent updates to the site.  I've been all the way through my account and can't find any option about that.  All I used to do was copy my photobucket link into the post - any ideas??????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, larryjc said:

Hmm - obviously things ahve changed with the recent updates to the site.  I've been all the way through my account and can't find any option about that.  All I used to do was copy my photobucket link into the post - any ideas??????

I am not a PB user and can't help, but I have seen a lot of other pics that no longer work and some comments that imply PB has changed the way it works and not for the better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, larryjc said:

Hmm - obviously things ahve changed with the recent updates to the site.  I've been all the way through my account and can't find any option about that.  All I used to do was copy my photobucket link into the post - any ideas??????

It’s not this site that’s changed, it’s Photobucket. You can no longer link to Pb images with a ‘standard’ account. Folk all over the internet are moaning about it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, system 4-50 said:

Post #36 says: "Please update your account to enable 3rd party hosting" "100% 3rd party hosting usage". To me at least.

Com'on, let's be accurate. The gauge shows 101%. Doesn't tally with the wording. Is it 100 or 101%? PB looks a bit imprecise to me.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/1/2017 at 08:18, mrsmelly said:

Its not possible to be constructive they are things of the devil which serve no purpose ....................for instance

If its raining right minded people are moored up and/or in the pub, life is too short to boat in the rain

As an extra space to keep " stuff " again useless cos where do you put the " stuff " when you have lowered the silly thing?

If you feel you need more " space " then buy a whole boat and get rid of the silly 57 footer you bought to " go anywhere " on because its probably like most going nowhere anyway 

Pram hoods are for babies carriages hence the name " PRAM Hood " ;)

Think this has got to be the only thing me and Tim have ever disagreed on :)

 

On 10/1/2017 at 08:18, mrsmelly said:

 

 

On 10/2/2017 at 19:29, Barroca Grande 2 said:

I had Kinver Canopies put a hood up on my boat for my son when he was living on the boat for a year and this August and September was the first time I have cruised with it.  It does get in the way when single handing locks etc as I can no longer step up onto the roof so easily but I could sort this by finding a way to lock my hatch lid open.  Then when I stand on it it wont move!

 

But I have loved having it.  When it rains you can cruise with it up so long as you have rolled up the front 'window' (looking through when it is down and raining is impossible).  And by having a useful length of string around the back hoop means you can push it down before a bridge and hoik it back up again afterwards.  To facilitate this you do have to flick the press studs down each side before setting off.  When you have moored up again it is a quick drop of the front and back windows, zip and push press studs back on.  Excellent for drying your washing over the warm engine.

 

It keeps the boat a lot warmer and if you are in a poor signal area you can put your laptop on the hatch and do some work even if it is raining as I have had to do on two occasions.  You can work on the engine in the warm and dry.  I call it my conservatory.  It is hideous but I wouldn't be without it now.

P1030098.JPG

As has been said they are useful in so many ways .... I am currently in the process of re ringing my engine and have a dry comfortable workspace to do it in undercover with heat coming from the cabin, so invaluable, but in normal use as i have a large cruiser stern i love it , i am changing to new this year going to canvas ... there is a local company in staffordshire that i am waiting for a quote from that are apparently far cheaper than kinver etc. so will let you know ...

My current one clears some bridges not others , i have cruised with it up and jut lowered the central loop on low bridges, but it currently has about 7 1/2 ' of headroom in the middle ... gong to get the new one made to the same airdraught as my chimney as that goes under everything and will still give me over 6'3 also going to go for a zip out front screen.

 

Rick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, dccruiser said:

Think this has got to be the only thing me and Tim have ever disagreed on :)

 

 

As has been said they are useful in so many ways .... I am currently in the process of re ringing my engine and have a dry comfortable workspace to do it in undercover with heat coming from the cabin, so invaluable, but in normal use as i have a large cruiser stern i love it , i am changing to new this year going to canvas ... there is a local company in staffordshire that i am waiting for a quote from that are apparently far cheaper than kinver etc. so will let you know ...

My current one clears some bridges not others , i have cruised with it up and jut lowered the central loop on low bridges, but it currently has about 7 1/2 ' of headroom in the middle ... gong to get the new one made to the same airdraught as my chimney as that goes under everything and will still give me over 6'3 also going to go for a zip out front screen.

 

Rick

Rick................I luv cruiser sterns whats not to like :D 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.