WoW, a thread about BOATS! (canopy boats)
 

And not *****ing about IB or the debate or any other political mess:party-smiley-004:

After seein vids and pics of Delo's new ride on Grand, it got me thinkin about who else owns a canopy boat that isn't a full-on racer. I think itd be cool to run around in one, even if it wasn't the fastest on the water or the most convenient, it'd still have a lot of 'wow' factor.:drink:

They seem to have gobs of storage, A/C, comfortable seating and you wouldt have to worry about the weather as much as an open boat.

Those of you that have them, do you keep the hatch on all the time or do you take it off and enjoy the sun?

Speak up if you've got one or had one and what you liked/didnt like about it. Seems like itd be a total hassel to tie up or trailer because of the limited sight on them..

but still, "WOW" factor..:ernaehrung004::cool:

Not a full canopy, and not built to Lavin specifications, but nice to be out of the rain or cold. Hot in the summer, so we added a 5000 btu air conditioner that runs off of two group 31 batteries and an inverter. With the engine off, it will run for about 1-1/2 hours. Since the top is only partial, you can stand up in the back to handle docklines, etc. Visibiity is very good, but this is a small and unconventional boat. I definitely like the styling of mine versus the open Batboats. It's hard to come up with a windshield style that looks good on them.

Photos by Tom Newby - The best. RIP.

Ive driven several canopy pleasure boats they have their pros and cons...its great to go out and when your done you don't feel wore out.. AC is always nice when its 95+ out...but i think they give a false sense of security..and to me its not boating the way it should be you know getting sun and wind burnt!!!

I ran in XXX, pyburns 47, Factory Billet.,and now Digger. Its nice not to have the sun beating on you all day long the ac is great your nice and cool when you get to lunch or where ever your going and its quite enoough that you really dont need headsets to hear. I think we took the hatches off XXX the 47 once. to much wind noise. As far as docking neither boat has a rubrail so its all hands when comming in to dock.You get use to the limited vision after a while like anything else

ya, i can understand the use of the boat in an open-water environment but our lake is only 1/2 mile wide at some of the widest spots.. I was hoping for some input from someone that does more than just race or poker run with it.. Not tubing or waterkskiing or anything, but actual rafting up and runnin around a smaller lake.. and i looooove factory billet!

Waterboy, I know this thread was to get positive input but instead I thought to get a birds-eye view of true canopy boating, maybe we can talk Delo into installing a "REAR VIEW Camera" so we can get true insight from Cat-killer/casher/beater/eater!!!!!! Maybe for fun, we can see if Delo has any photoshop/editing ability to see what it is like from a side view(we may have to just do one from an idle because I think Delo is better with joints/bones/tendons etc than a computer, no offense intended OU)!!!!!:ernaehrung004:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFhss6P94zY

from inside golddigger 120 to 160mph

Cool Vid !:ernaehrung004:

Pros: No wind, safe, looks great.

Cons: Very loud, hard to see docking, hot, wife hates it.

I just cut the top off for a full pleasure conversion.

Maybe you dont have to be the fastest but if your gonna put a lid on it it better be dam fast or people are going to be talking about you. :grinser010: :drink:

It takes a bit of getting use to around the docks and tight quarters. Hatch open/heads up and spotters on deck if ya got 'em. You mentioned rafting above and it will matter how you view the raft up scenario. In a group of other boats you will never be the social center, in other words people will hang out on boats with cockpit space. But . . . . you will be the "cool" boat they are talking about:drink:.


I always thought a cat light would be a great pleasure boat. Maybe something like Paradise but with milder power. Only reason i say that is i'm a big fan of the reliability of the 525's and it still moves pretty good.

Actually Delo's does have rear facing camera, and it is cool but no recording capabilities, YET.:evilb:
Like everyone else has stated, there are pro's and con's.
The biggest con many don't realize, is the noise. Much louder that an open cockpit boat, at least compared to one with a wrap around windshield. I remeber an interview with JT, and his comparison was to putting your head into a drum and beating on it. Epoxy boats are really loud. :food-smiley-007:

I think Zastrow has the right idea with his removable canopy. Best of both worlds.

I didnt think about how loud it would be inside the cockpit. Never been in one. I can only imagine that unless the cockpit was sealed away from the rest of the boat and carpeted, itd be LOUD in there.. Good point. With the group that we boat with, we all pile onto bubba or delo's cruisers anyways !

I rather see women hot sweaty and just going nuts just my 02 cents:ernaehrung004::drink:

they are alot quiter with full interior such as the outerlimits has leather or sude wraped side panels and roofs it acts as a noise insulator And jim does use Billet in chicago for pleasure at the play pen

do farts dissipate or do they recirculate until you get used to the smell?

LMFAO.
You wouldn't want to be in there when Delo has the sour belly.:ernaehrung004:

i can tell you one thing when you flip over it gets dark in their very quick:eek:

I dont like bein on the DOCK when hes got sour belly, lol..

always lookin out for you bro! :cool:

I have both. I like the Canopy. They both have their pros and cons it all depends on the type of boating you want to do for the day.

Can you amigine if you broke open Mashers head what would fall out. JESUS I like that guy,

These two boats aren't FULL canopy but they could be.
The pros are that you don't get any hot or cold wind in your face, you can wear a hat and not worry, and it looks cool:drink:
The cons are that when idleing around on a hot day it will get hot in the cockpit and visibility isn't as good as a fully open cockpit.
It realy just depends on what you like and what your going to use it for

Laveycraft 28' EVO
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...2/_W2Z7980.jpg

39' EVO
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...08_PR_0247.jpg
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k..._PR_0236-1.jpg

That 39' EVO rocks !!!

I am in the process of a full conversion vs the half conversion we did in 2006. The noise is unreal in my carbon fiber epoxy full canopy boat. You must wear headsets to talk and to not go deaf from the noise. I had my fun with the race boat look, now I want a different boat so I cut the top off.

1st photo full top with removable top on
2nd photo removable top off
3rd photo SAWZALL!!!

If you are going strictly weather protection and versatility, Nor-Tech has got it right with the retractable hard tops. My friend Jim has got one and it is a sick ride.

Canopies can be safer if you do it right. If you haven't taken a dunker test , don't get in one. I always thought ok now I can't get thrown out but wait a minute I can drown. Full time air was a must too.

cool ride, brad. Thanks for the input. I like the way yours looks with the full top removed!

ssm-v1 the Factory Billet is #1 to me. Does it have an interior? Or is it set to race. any pictures? Thanks Jo

have any of you guys tried using one at night? Is there enough room to stand up and drive during docking or is it "all hands on deck"

Good luck getting out in a emergency.

I have both, never felt safer...

Wow-- what a transformation. You should start a thread on the process.. I would like to see the finished product!

hatches removed and no seatbelts shouldnt be much different than havin your legs tucked deep under a console and a big lifejacket on...

I have heard the cockpits do give a "false sense of security" but without a/c i doubt id have the hatches closed!

I called Jeff Camire and told him how much I liked the EVOs. That 39 just REEKS of class and power. One of the most beautiful paint jobs I've seen.

Joe it has full interior and a cabin with opposing lounges and a toilet and the cockpit is completely done "side panels, led lighting, kick ..s stereo and full scuba and 5 point harness.

Waterboy you lose the sense of speed from the lack of wind in your face wouldnt say a false security

as far as pics this is the best I got

Poker Runs America ran an article on it either this year or last.

That"s what I'm talking about Skater bro!!! Tops blow off at 110mph. Looks like they just jumped out of a plane. Kind of funny looking at that point. See you in Key West!!:ernaehrung004: