Good thought Reel. I had initially thought of sliders, but I wasn't sure whether to fasten them inside or outside the opening. If outside, there is plenty of space forward of the doors for them to slide open. If inside, the fuel fill hose would be problematic on the starboard side of the boat.

The hinged doors in the picture appear to have only been covering about 1/2 of the opening, so the doors would not be all that heavy. All in all though, I think the canvas would be simple, relatively inexpensive, would never rattle and would look pretty nice matching the bimini top.

Ok, having convinced myself (probably) to go with the canvas, any thoughts of trimming out the opening with starboard or teak and then attaching the canvas curtain to that, or would you just go with the canvas curtain right into the gunwale an inch or two outside of the opening?

Thought about that...only problem w/goin' directly to the gunwale is water intrusion...not that there should be much in terms of boat use, but more in terms of major intrusion as well as smaller amounts over time...I don't know how you've sealed the insides of the openings...for instance, can water get past the carpeting you've laid in?...if so, and there is a major intrusion (ask MJ), will water find it's way inside the hull?...if what you've done keeps water outta the hull, then snap it directly to the gunwale...

I never see the owner of the boat. I have been keepin an eye open for him just to ask him how it works out. The water issue is something I thought of also, even with his setup.
If you are going to use canvas would you want to use one of those pull through channels to help with water issues up top? The snaps down the sides and along the bottom.
Canvas seems like a nice idea too

If it was me, I would put the top under some teak or frame, this would stop water from the top.
No snaps for me, they just get craped up from the salt, then hard to undo and then you going to rip and replace later.
I would use Velcro for the bottom and sides, peel off and on like nothing! And when closed looks neat and clean!

as for water, what reel is getting on about is I took a 10 foot wave and got swamped!! The less places for water to get in the better! But when you take water to the gunnals it really don't matter any way!

I don't think I ever showed these to you guys. I have had these neat channels over my rod boxes for about 17 years. They can be used for fishing rod holders, tank holders for diving, additional cleats... they have been great. Everything just slides down the channel. I bought them cause they hold scuba tanks awesome. I sometimes have eight tanks, four per side. No problems. The rod holders work well and you never have enough cleats.

This pic was a horrible shot of my first mate, but the channel and the rod holder show up well.

I don't remember where I got them from or even who sells them. I saw them on a dive boat in the Bahamas and when I got home called there and tracked them down.

I will have to check my receipts, but they would be nice above the canvas as MJ described and be functional.

I found this link, looks like the newer and updated version. Might be the same company I bought from. You get the idea....

http://www.ecpdb.com/rollcontrol.htm

I have Ideas now!! Thanks!

Great stuff!!...good idea...:beer: