Bow slider - water intrusion eliminated ?
 

The design we came up with should be done this coming week.

Heavy duty blue with snaps, reinforced edge, rubber flange and tucks under the windshield so water can't run down and in from the windshield.

Designed to eliminate water intrusion from waves over the bow, heavy spray, and rain, but be easily removable and stowable too.

I plan to provide pictures and post.

Very curious to see this..

Indeed, me too.

I've been talking about it long enough through this post and others ..... members probably bored of reading about it.

This week is the target for final completion and checking it out - plus the other pieces.

I'll take the pics - it's the pic posting that gave me some issues prior.

B - if all else fails send the pics to me and I will post em for you.

p.s. I might need to get one of these bow slider cover things from your canvas man for my boat!

Ditto

No problem guys. Got the call to come check it out so I'll be there at some point tomorrow.

V21 owners know exactly what this is all about - dry cuddy - never mind the weather conditions.

Bow slider cover results so far

1. ......washed the boat as usual including the bow and hosed off including the windshield - then found the cuddy to be dry, not damp, dry.

2.......light rain overnight - then found the cuddy to be dry, not damp, dry. Had the full boat cover off just to see what happened.

So far good results with the bow cover. The outer edge rubber flange makes solid contact with the bow deck, so that accounts for most of the needed coverage - front and both sides. The rear section fits under the center windshield, so that area is essentially water proof. The only allowance for water intrusion can be at two very small outer edges of the cover as it curves out from the windshield, and that would/ should steer water into the track that goes down to the deck floor. Think I've got this accomplished. More to report when I encounter prolonged heavy spray and such.

Sounds good Greenie...but.......:thre:

You been sleeping!! The pic's are here, scroll down

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=18203

B - but the real question is, does the slider cover keep fish blood out of the cabin? :haha:

p.s. Blue is jealous of your recent striper fishing success, btw.....congrats on that!

Naaa...saw them already MJ... I was talking more in the range of some close up pics of the cover and of the attachment system, the gasket(s). How it's made, etc. The engineering part of it.

Sam at Dynamic Upholstery kept the layout and can make more of these easily. He build it heavy duty to my spec's - made to last a very long time.
Then all you guys do is lay it out on the bow, screw the bottom snaps in and snap the cover on.
As I mentioned, the rear section of the slider cover fits under the center windshield, so when the windshield then gets closed, it forms a waterproof seal in that area.
The windshield still closes easily as normal.

We also re engineered it slightly, so it's 2nd edition. We moved the cover snaps closer to the rubber flange to increase the flange pressure against the boat, and therefore provide greater water barrier force. It's therefore essentially a continuous, water resistant barrier along both sides, the front, and under the front windshield. The only area where I see any potential for water instrusion is at two very small sections, left and right of the center windshield where the cover comes back out from inside the windshield to the bow. That might account for maybe 1% of the coverage ? From what we see though, if water got in there, it's lined up with the channel that moves water down onto the deck floor, not back inside the cuddy.

It's a very well constructed piece. The snaps are strong but easy to do, and it really seems to have worked out as the easy solution.
At this point I'd say it will reduce water intrusion by high 90's %.... which was the goal, near 100%. Will know for sure after caught in heavy rain, heavy spray etc at sea.
As I mentioned in earlier post, washed the boat as normal and left out once in light rain - cuddy dry, bone dry.

I'll take some more pics - closer up but it won't be for a few weeks based on work, travel, incoming storm Sandy.

I keep the entire boat covered with a tarp, held to the trailer with bungee cords.
This V21 really gets babied - never wet unless in the water or being washed but hey - this is my V21 - there are many V21's like it but none exactly the same !
Assume you've all seen full metal jacket - quote close enough.....

Passed the next test:
Left my boat UNCOVERED all day yesterday - in the rain - and cuddy still DRY !

So, this bow slider cover we designed is working as planned.

For the $ 250 cost I can now run in the rough, rain, wash it, and trailer while the cuddy keeps dry......and importantly, maintains the integrity of the boat ( no rot )

You guys with V21's should call my contact - he saved the pattern so can make more and ship it to ya....