camperback windows

C

caw

New member
For those of you with camperbacks, we were wondering what you do with your windows when they aren't needed. We just got a camperback, so need suggestions. Do any of you have straps to roll them up, but still zippered in place at the top? And do any of you roll them up, all together, when they are not on the camperback? Were told to store flat when not in use, but seems an awkward way to handle & transport. Thought it might be handy to be able to roll up in both instances, but don't want to damage the plastic. Your thoughts?
Charlie (caw) & Melle Lee on My Lee
 
I have tried different things, but the best, most predictable has been to buy some of those floating "noodles' and cut them to match the width of each window. Then get some fleece blankets, not regular blankets, and roll the windows up in them using the "noodle" as an internal cushion.

If you want to protect the plastic from the top zipper, cut a slit in the noodle and insert the top zipper into the noodle before laying that atop a spread out fleece blanket and roll that up with some of those velcro tie straps or tape here and there. Do not use elastic ties since they will deform the window and create weak fold patterns.

Then, I lay them up against the front edge of the TomCat's forward bunk and they form kind of a cushion there when not in use. you can put them along the sides if you want some insulation from the cold water in the winter too.

There is no way you can fold them without creating some damage.

If I need them up and out of the way for a fairly short time, I flip them completely up and over the top and use those small plastic spring clips to clip them in place up there. This works well unless there are very high winds. You could tie them down witth something stronger.

The common thing you see in tents and such, where they roll up and are tied in place would allow the plastic to rub on itself and crimp where the straps are tied.

Also, I put that black foam pipe insulator on the vertical supports using tiny black tie strips so the metal does not rub and discolor the clear plastic or abrade the material. I leave the camper windows on most of the winter since it's nice to have a wind break, but I have to flip them up to use the charcoal or gas grill.

John
 
Those things are great but a real pain to store. I roll mine up and take them off at every opportunity. Put them in the bunk. If I didn't need the windows but wanted to use the screens I have straps with snaps that hold the rolled up window up on the panel in place. Someday I would like to have a pvc tube, or tubes, on the roof to slide them into when not in use. I hate laying them up in the v-berth. Maybe even an attachment to fasten to the top of the bimini.
 
We usually just role them up most of the time. We used to unzip and remove them but found it just takes too long to reattach before heading home. We always tow the boat with the camper back up, recommended by the upholstery shop that build and installed them; never had any problems.

If you use Aerospace Protectant (also recommended by the upholstery shop) on the vinyl it will stay pliable and looking like new. After we unroll and button down the sides any wrinkles disappear from the windows in a short time.

http://www.303products.com/shop303/index.cfm
 
We do just what Dr. John said, with the swim noodles and fleece blanket pieces. In addition, Joan made a Sunbrella bag in a matching color to store the rolled up pieces in. When cruising and we don't want the camperback on, we store it on top, tied to the radar arch. While towing, we put it on the floor under the table.

We are careful to put the blankets between each piece, but only use one piece of swim noodle to roll the whole works up. No deformation or scratching of the windows in nearly 4 years of very regular use.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Thanks for the "noodle" suggestion! That sounds like it would work very well.

We roll them up in sheets to keep the plastic protected, but will give the fleece blankets a try, too.

For storage a large duffel bag works well, makes it easier to tie down on top, store in the dock box, v-berth, etc. Keeps them together, well bundled and clean. Does make for a fairly large bundle, though, which is sometimes more than you want in the v-berth.

When we first got our last boat we found the camper canvas folded up, unprotected under a bench in the v-berth. It had never been used and after about 13 years the creases in the plastic from having been folded up caused permanent damage. After a couple of years of fairly regular use, it started to discolor and crack along the worst of the creases.

The suggestion to protect the plastic from the metal frame is also right on target. I see boats down here in the desert with the plastic fried brown, dried out and cracking from the hot stainless tubing used for the bimini frames. West Marine sells white plastic snap-on pieces you can put on the frame to keep the plastic away from the tubular frame.

The key to long service life is to roll it up smoothly with no creases or folding, use the sheets or something to avoid plastic on plastic, and keep it clean.
 
We have straps on the inside of the camper back, and roll the windows up there. If you put old sheets between the layers, it will help to prevent scratching.

On our larger boats and other C Dories when we would put the sides down for a period of time, we had "sheaths" made of towel material--these would hold two plastic windows in each pocket--and 3 layers of cloth. These can be laid flat under the bunk.
 
In moving Levitation home from the canvas shop in April and later to the marina (32 miles) I opted to leave the new camperback up... Carefully towing with one eye on the mirror I went as fast as 50mph and did not see any problems, shaking, billowing, etc. Don't know how fast one could go and probably won't experiment... I suspect that when we start traveling (which seems like a mirage on the horizon) I will opt to take the canvas down so I can run faster and not hold up traffic...
 
breausaw":n8cfsw5a said:
... We always tow the boat with the camper back up, recommended by the upholstery shop that build and installed them; never had any problems.
...
Click to expand...

I find it interesting that different shops have different opinions about towing with the top up. Bentley's here in the Portland area recommended never towing with the top up unless it was short distance and low speeds.
 
I tow w/ the sides/back removed/stored and the "bimini" portion rolled up and in the boot. It wobbles on the frame back there, but no more than bouncing around in seas IMO.
 
Thanks for all the feedback on the camperback windows. I was interested to hear about using fleece blankets instead of sheets or towels. Does this not add extra bulk to the rolled up windows? And what a great idea to cover the support pieces. Breausaw-are you saying you have Sunbrella sleeves OVER some type of foam sleeve? Thanks for the link to the 303 protectant. We will get some. Is a 32 oz bottle large enough to last awhile? One other question-we had rain right after installation of the top & there was some leakage. Someone said this will stop after it has been wet a few times. True? Do we need to put tent sealant on the top where there are stitches? We picked up some swim noodles at the Seattle Boatshow, so now we're go to go with the idea to roll the windows up on them. Thanks again for the great ideas.

Melle Lee on My Lee
 
Wandering Sagebrush":3126a3vc said:
breausaw":3126a3vc said:
... We always tow the boat with the camper back up, recommended by the upholstery shop that build and installed them; never had any problems.
...
Click to expand...

I find it interesting that different shops have different opinions about towing with the top up. Bentley's here in the Portland area recommended never towing with the top up unless it was short distance and low speeds.
Click to expand...

I would venture to guess 30 years of experience in fabricating and installing boat tops has provided Buster’s Professional Upholstery here in Anchorage the necessary knowledge and expertise to produce a superior camperback. Going into our third season, 15 to 20 times each summer we make the 100 mile round trip down Turnagain Arm to Whittier traveling at 55 to 65 mph with head winds gusting to 30 mph; not a single flaw in our Camper back.

If the upholstery shop tells you not to tow with its camper back up, this would indicate the shop doesn’t have a lot of confidence in their product.

With the zippers zipped you shouldn’t be able to snap the snaps, if you can the fit is too loose.
 
I tried other, thinner padding, but prefer the bulk of the fleece blankets to make a more gentle rolling radius. Also, the fleece seems to shed sand and dust with just a shake, but the towels we were using held the sand and dirt unless you washed them.

I use separate noodles for each window so I can pick and choose which ones I use. I boat all year long and in the Winter I like to leave the two forward side windows out and sometimes the aft window when grilling.

I sleep and sit sideways in TomCat forward bunk and the rolled up windows fit nicely under the gunwale offset and provide some back support and some insulation from a cold hull in the winter.

Everyone has their own way of using a C-Dory, so there are many different ways to customize your own setup.

Like Jim, I unhook the pivots on the main overhead frame and just use shock cords and parachute line to tie that to the aft cabin wall/radar arch area when doing a lot of fishing or towing long distances.

Over the last 3 years, I think the camperback has stretched since it can be unhooked when zipped now. However, in the Winter, it is tough to get everything installed correctly below freezing temperatures.
 
During the winter when the boat is not in use do people leave the Camperback pieces rolled up in their storage bag in the boat, bring the bag inside the warm house, or unroll the pieces and store them flat for the winter. Right now I have mine still rolled up in their storage bag in the boat outside in the cold.
 
Although we travel with the clean vinyl rolled up, (with cloth between the layers, we lay them flat for storage in the house. I doubt it makes much difference. But they are safer in the house, than in the boat.
 
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