Bridge Enclosure

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:13 am

My current bridge enclosure was installed with the had top in 1996 by J&J Marine Fabricators. It has been up 24/7/365 uncovered ever since. It has been great, but it may be time to replace it. Before I start shopping around I was wondering if anyone here in the northeast has recently had an enclosure made and what your experience has been. I realize there is quite a range of quality and price out there, but some broad estimates of price would be helpful. No need to mention vendor if you don't want to. I have a fiberglass top, so I need a four sided enclosure. Thanks, Ron

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:55 pm

Good topic Ron. My enclosure was made by Oakum Bay in '96. It still looks good and they do good work when I have sections repaired, but I know that I'll have to do something in the next few years. Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:30 pm

When I had my hardtop done back in 2004 I had him do a 3 sided enclosure as well. The work was done by Fastech in Plymouth. http://www.ttops.com/products.html The guys name is Brian Woods. He is always at both the New England Boat Show and the In Water Boat Show. The hardtop is fantastic. He does really good work and I would recommend him to anyone in our area looking for a hardtop. Aside from the diesels it has been the best money I've spent on the boat. For the enclosure, I had him use strataglas and goretex thread. I also had him make the panels so they could swing up and snap to the underside of the hardtop so they don't need to be rolled up (and scratched). While he did everything I wanted for the enclosure and it still looks great, the enclosure work is so so. Its my own fault though. When I first contracted him to do the hardtop and enclosure, he had someone else that did the enclosures. By the time the hardtop was done, the seamstress had left the company. He said he could probably do the enclosure himself, but gave me the option of having someone else do the work. Unfortunately, the hardtop was not complete until late July 2004 and I wanted the enclosure done for my vacation in early August. Since there was no way I would find anyone else to do the work on such short notice, I let him do the work. Again, while there's nothing wrong with it, it could be better. The 3 sided enclosure was $3K. That fall, I had Mark Hood in Merrimac Mass do the back piece. It was $1800 just for that, but he does good work. When the time comes to re-do the whole thing I will probably have him do it. http://www.hoodcanvas.com/ Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:09 pm

Ron/ Rick, My boat came to me with an enclosure made by Oakum bay that was about 10 years old and starting to fail. I figured that since they did it first, they should be able to do it again, besides the work was very nice. Well I made a mistake. The old guy that used to be there has died and now you get Dave, a very nice guy but he makes the patterns and by the time the help in the shop get it done, it's not so good. I also waited about two years and when it finally was done, the back section wouldn't work at all , so he took it back to redo it and I haven't seen it or him since(two years this spring). I also still have ill fitting panels and a zipper that was put in backwards, but maybe it was just me, so if you feel lucky, try Oakum Bay. They have not worked at making me a happy customer.

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:43 am

Thanks guys. The variability in quality and price is amazing in this business. Hopefully the two variables are directly correlated. I am going to start with J&J now in Somerset and see what they have to quote, then the guys you recommended, minus Oakum bay. I knew the old guy, sad to hear the business has gone down hill.

No Yacht Yet · Post by **No Yacht Yet** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:06 pm

Doug, Did Fastech do your work inhouse? I need the front Strato Glass replaced on mine and I want to have a piece of sunbrella for the front and fly windows on the house. There is a canvas guy in Plymouth that has been recomended to me. He gave me a price of $450 for the Sunbrella. I was curious as to it might have been the guy that did your work. Also I saw an interesting product in the back of Yachting Mag. Sea View Insert, it is a glass insert with a wiper motor on it. Has anyone seen one of these? Regards Brian

Post by **dougl33** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:22 pm

Brian, Brian Woods (owner of Fastech) did my enclosure himself as his canvas guy had left the company by the time the hardtop was done. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]