Wanted: Folding Dodger / Pram Hood / Cuddy for Orkney Longliner

[rubberwellie]

I'm on the lookout for a folding pram hood style cuddy for an orkney longliner. I would also consider a removable fibreglass cuddy. On the off chance that anyone knows of anything lying about feel free to drop me a pm.

Cheers.

[rannoch raider]

Hi, I was on a hunt for the same for a while bud. Rare as rocking horse sh!t and very expensive too. I ended up making my own frame and mounted it to the boat just where I wanted it. I had it covered by a couple who have set up a wee business in the Glasgow area and I'm delighted with the result. Far stronger and roomier than the Orkney one.

If you end up going down that road I can give you contact details for everyone I dealt with from buying parts, having them bent to shape and cover fitting.

[rubberwellie]

I know they're quite hard to get a hold of, just thought I'd try on the off chance.  That looks like quite a good job, did you make the poles yourself? 

[rannoch raider]

Yeah, I bought two lengths of marine grade stainless tube and the fittings, end plugs, hinges, deck fixings from a wee firm on the web. Had to take the tubing to a specialist metal fabricator to have then bent to the shape I wanted. Seems they have to be rolled rather than 'bent' to shape. It works well, I fit it at the beginning of a trip and leave it down until required. It pulls up and fastens into a decent shelter in a matter of seconds. It really is just like a pram.

[fergie]

That looks like a nice job .

I will ask around Sean.

[rubberwellie]

Aye it does look like a good job! Not that cheap to get done either I bet but worth it. I know a couple of places that will do the cover but one is pricey (£250 approx) and the other is a guy who's a nightmare to track down! As fergie is aware...  :roll:

Did you just give the guy the tubing and the measurements RR? How much are you talking all in to get the whole thing made from scratch? I might give that a go if I can't get a hold of a ready made one.

Cheers fergie!

[fergie]

Hi, I was on a hunt for the same for a while bud. Rare as rocking horse sh!t and very expensive too. I ended up making my own frame and mounted it to the boat just where I wanted it. I had it covered by a couple who have set up a wee business in the Glasgow area and I'm delighted with the result. Far stronger and roomier than the Orkney one.

If you end up going down that road I can give you contact details for everyone I dealt with from buying parts, having them bent to shape and cover fitting.

Do that couple do normal boat covers . If so could i have their number 

[rannoch raider]

Hi Fergie, yes they do covers. You can contact 'Linda' on 07796 205539 to discuss. They will give you a choice of materials and fastenings and work out a price. They are based in the southside area about 500 yards from the M74 so very handy for Glasgow.

Hi Sean, I received the tubing as 2 x 3 metre lengths. I knew from my design that neither tube would need any cutting. Both tubes required 'forming' to the contours of the boat . I found a firm called Morrison and McDonald who are sheetmetal workers / fabricators based in Murray Street in Paisley. They asked me to bring the boat down to them with the tubing so they could make a template to work from. They didn't need to keep the boat.
They took the template on Friday afternoon and gave me the tubes back on Monday morning. It cost me £15 per bend. There were four bends and six gentle curves. The work cost £60 and they done a fantastic Job.

I bought the tubes, hinges , end caps etc from a company called Martex Marine who can be contacted via their web site www.martexmarine.com They have a very straightforward online catalogue showing photos of the parts and prices for each. There is also a contact number for owner Terry Cross who took the order by phone. Everything I ordered arrived the following morning. Fantastic service from a very helpful bloke.

I assembled the frame and attached it to the boat. I then took it to 'Linda' and partner who are tradespersons just made redundant from a coachworks. I was asked to pick material from a range that they recommended. I showed them the position I wanted the canopy to be in when opened and closed and they did the rest. I was able to collect the boat about three days later , Job done!
The price is obviously dependant on size, shape, amount of windows, choice of fittings, material, breathable or PVC etc, etc so better to get your own quote when you know what you are after.

I've owned a longliner myself and I can tell you that you will probably get away with two tubes and no cutting too. I can send you a couple of photos of how my frame is fitted if you like? Send me a mobile number or email address and I'll get then to you as soon as .

Cheers
Jim   

[fergie]

Thanks jim.

[rubberwellie]

Hi Jim,

Well done, you obviously thought it out well and got exactly what you wanted.  I reckon I'd probably be after something slightly different to what you've got but it sounds like it wouldn't be too much trouble to get one made up.  It would be useful to see a few pics so I'll drop you a pm with my email address.

Cheers
Sean