We have a Panda 40, but my recollections of cockpit layout and size make me
think that the two boats are very similar.
Our solution to sun was a stainless steel "ring" over the wheel - it took
the same curvature as the stern pulpit, then crossed the cockpit about a
foot aft of our dodger. It is supported by curving tubing from the
sternrail and is tall enough to allow us to stand on the cockpit benches and
look over the dodger (important in going thru tight passages, rivers,
docking in strange marinas). Then we stretched a piece of sunbrella across
it to complete the shade. The whole thing can come down in about a half hour
if motivated (like because of an approaching hurricane). The bimini also
gives us a place to put our 260 watts of solar panels, in the sun and out
of our way. Will try to turn the crank on taking digital pictures and
posting them again, as words are difficult to use to describe it.
On REALLY sunny days at anchor, we extend a cloth from the bimini to our
boom crutch (gallows, arch, whatever) to close off the entire cockpit.
We used 1" s/s tubing and bent it in a vice with cardboard to protect the
rail. The result was curves that matched the boat horizontally and
vertically. You wind up with little tiny chatter marks every six inches or
so where it was in the vice, but you save a considerable amount by not going
to the "pros". The marks are also eventually covered with cloth, so you have
to dig around to see them. The ends are attached by ordinary bimini hardware
- the little cups with set screws in them. The result is not asthetic -
nobody can make it look like it came from the Ta Shing yard that way - but
it cuts down on the wear and tear of human beings...
To also keep sun out, we have hung Tectra screen cloth around the sides to
keep down glare but still allow visibility and breeze. One could also use
nursery cloth. We set grommets on the edges of all the cloth - top and sides
- and tied it in with 1/8" dacron line (seen it at Worst Marine in 50' rolls
for about $4) to the rails. This line even keeps our solar panels attached
to the boat - it's pretty tough stuff and has done this duty in Mexico for
about seven years without a problem.
An alternate solution we have seen on a Tayana 37 was to build a radar arch
on the stern - with the aft supports actually going down to the hull and
bending in to attach, rather than coming down straight on the stern combing,
allowing a wider arch span - with sunbrella-like cloth tied from arch to
boom gallows.
On the previous topic, prop spurs, we have backed down on our dinghy while
anchoring and fouled our prop and shaft with the dinghy tow line. We were
partially anchored, the engine was stopped by the line, and the dinghy was
floating off in the direction of Hawaii. This was all self-inflicted and (so
far) has only happened once in fourteen years of cruising. (Like the idea of
polypropalene floating line to prevent that). We have never "engaged" crab
pots or long lines either, hopefully because of the keel and rudder, so we
would weigh in on the pass side of spurs. Unless, of course, they are
already bought, and then, what the heck, put 'em on!

Michael & Elizabeth
S/V Cambria
Mexico

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Received on Mon Jun 19 20:02:01 2006