26S Pop Top Cover

[JohnH_V25]

I've agreed to buy the '92 26S I looked at the other day. But when running through the equipment list from the owner's eBay posting he told me he doesn't have a pop top cover, which he had in the listing. It was an option when the boat was new. I have one for my 25 and can't imagine overnighting without it. The cabin is shorter in the 26 with the pop top down and the midwest is insect heaven.

I called BWY who the Macgregor factory told me is the official parts supplier for older boats and they say its not available. Anyone have experience getting one made or have one they want to part with?
Thanks,
John

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I have the stock Mac poptop cover, I do not consider it bug or weather proof. If you want to use one I would have a good one made, or consider making it yourself. It will be much better than the original and probably not much difference in price.
Bob

(picture of a custom cover on a Mac in our club)

 

[walt]

I had a jib sail bag made by Oreana123 (John S) and have been very pleased with the design, material and quality.

John S, if there were two or three people interested in having a cover made similar to the original (ie, vinyl windows, etc), would you be interested in publishing a price?

(assuming all of everyones money isnt gone @ 5% a day - remember the good old days when we would only lose 2% of our life savings each day?)

 

[JohnH_V25]

That is a nice looking cover. Looks expensive, too. Thanks for postiing the pics. They will give me something to show someone if I look into having one made.

Thanks,
John

 

[Bob 04 H260]

another problem with the original poptop cover design is that when the poptop roof moves forward to the mast the back of the cover must slope down to meet the companionway. This is not a good design, you loose a lot of space and it does not work well in the rain.
Bob

 

[walt]

The 25 pop top fold back and the cover has a better looking "sloping back" front window and also better utilizes the space in the back.

The 26C pop top folds forward up against the mast and the cover is very "blocky" in the front and has wasted space as Bob pointed out.

Ive been thinking about modifying my 26C pop top to fold back like the 25 but then it would be a complete custom deal and I would pretty much either have to sew something myself (hence the question on sewing machines earlier) or give the boat to someone for a while while they made something. Trying to have it done on something very custom with just drawings, I would be afraid off it not fitting well.

So its a bit of a dilema for me - but I know John S has made one for this exact boat and does nice work so I think that option is very interesting (but dont know what the interest level is).

The first picture is from the 26S brochure. The second picture is a custom job which allows the boom vang to be used

 

[csobalvarro]

I really like that modified design! Would love to have something like that!

 

[walt]

Yup, very nice in both looks and function. Looks like it has some sort of internal frame to extend it in the rear. I mentioned "wasted space" in the front just behind the mast because of the pop top folding foward but when we have camped in the boat before, "stuff" always had to be moved around and the "wasted space" would make a nice large shelf.

The only thing I wonder about is having the main sheet go "through" the enclosure in the rear. If the boom is swinging even a little on a breezy night, seems like there could be issues to work out. I would probably not extend the enclosure that far so the main sheet could remain outside.

 

[Blake]

original pop top cover

My boat came with what I assume is the original cover. It doesn't even have snaps to attach it to the deck. Just ropes on four corners that I assume are to be tied to the rails. I agree with Bob - not bug prooof and I wouldn't trust it in anything but the lightest showers. We have dealt with the bug problem by draping a bed-size mosquito net over the pop top and securing the bottom to the boat with clothes pins. Not pretty but it works. If it rains we clothes the pop top. We recently purchased a tent that is made to be set-up in the bed of a pick-up. It has no floor and drops down to cover the tailgate. I am hoping to be able to modify it to wofk as a pop top cover but I haven't had time to mess around with it yet. Always looking for a cheap fix!

 

[cscott]

!993 26C Origanal Pop Top Cover

I quess my wife and I are the odd balls, but we just spent 4 weeks in the San Juans and Vancover Island, July & Aug, and used the origanal Pop Top Cover every night in nice and bad weather. We were very happy to have it, and had no problems even in the rain. The sloping back went over the back bulkhead and kept the rain out. The flap to enter the cabin was pinned to the bimini top and kept the rain out. Even though the sides had no snaps, the rain stayed out. Yes there are some mods that could be made, but I doubt they would be worth the price. I admit that there are no bugs in the area, so I can not comment on bug proof. If I did not have the cover, and could get an original at a good price I would buy it. I would not sell mine. We liked the fact that the front went to the mast, as it gave us a nice shelf to store things, even the laptop.

That is my two bits worth.

Chuck