Message 16 of 17
Posted by member Clive ffitch on Wednesday 8 September 2021

Hi Joanna,

Hope I'm not too late with any comment! You have likely noticed there are two "styles" of canopy that boats seem to have - one much like yours, with a heavily sloping aft panel, and those with a "fuller bodied" shape which gives better standing headroom and space within - especially as many canopies stay up throughout the season (especially with this last season's weather!) and effectively extend the living space considerably. I would definitely recommend the latter style, much as with Michael's canopy, and the one on Adele that we have (see photo).

Additionally, I would recommend the canvas style material, rather than PVC style.

Ours just has the single stainess steel frame on sliders, but is fully tensionable. For added reference if you need it, ours was new when we bought Adele, and is still going strong. It came from Dorset Trimming 01305 771708 if they are still about.

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Message 14 of 17
Posted by member Michael Herridge on Tuesday 17 August 2021

CJ marine near Chichester make a very robust and taught cover using two s/s hoops. This one is over 15 years old and hadn't been cleaned for a long, long time. Gives full headroom etc. Sorry I haven't a better pic.

More recently I have had it cleaned (yes it is blue!) a couple of small holes patched and windows replaced, they were very brittle and cracked in cold weather. I reckon it has a few years life left in it yet.

Regarding repairing windows, I found that Gorilla tape to a clear tape, use it on both sides of the cut/crack and it appears to last well.

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Message 12 of 17
Posted by member Nick Askham on Thursday 12 August 2021

Hi Joanna - the hoop for the canopy on my Pilot is held in any one place by large screws through the sliding fixture at the end of the hoop. Obviously for the hoop to remain in one place it has to be able to be fixed. I'm sure that a competant engineer would be able to fabricate something to do the job easily.
Regarding the replacement canopy at Nauticover, my understanding, having spoken with them on the telephone in the past, is that they have templates certainly for all the smaller Hardy boats including the Pilot. They would only use one's original canopy as a template in the absence of their own.
Regards, Nick.

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Message 10 of 17
Posted by member Joanna Bryant on Thursday 12 August 2021

Yes we have put new bungees on and have it as tight as possible. The frame is on sliders but doesn’t have any stays or wing nuts to keep it in one place. Nauticover will only make an exact copy using the current covers as the pattern.
Thanks for your advice.

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Message 8 of 17
Posted by member Nick Askham on Thursday 12 August 2021

Hi Joanna - your canopy looks rather loose in places and I wonder whether you have the hoop fully upright. I'm not quite sure of the technical terms so please forgive me if I'm incorrect in my terminology.
The hoop can be moved along the runners; certainly on my Family Pilot I sometimes have it forward slightly to give a bit more slack in the canopy, whereas right back toward the stern tensions the canopy more. The other thing I would look at is the ball bungees as they certainly help tension the canopy; they seem to get tired over time, I guess that they just stretch.
Finally regarding a new canopy, it would be a pity to buy from the same seller and have the problem once again, albeit your canopy may have stretched over time. A number of Hardy owners have, I believe, puchased a canopy from Nauticover and have been satisfied. You can find them at: www.nauticover.co.uk and on their home page is a Hardy Pilot (I think) resplendent with new cover.
Hope this helps,
Regards, Nick.

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Message 6 of 17
Posted by member Regent on Monday 2 August 2021

Dear Joanna,
I have all the original manuals/paperwork for my Pilot SE, including for the SMEV cooker.
Yours looks the same as mine and looks like the Serie 2000-2500 (see image of the cover of the brochure from my files).
Kind regards,
Martin.

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Message 4 of 17
Posted by member Johnny Talbot on Tuesday 20 July 2021

Hello Joanna,
I've just had a new canopy for my Bosun made by Arun Canvas & Trimming - an excellent job. Cost was £1600 which may be a little expensive but you get what you pay for. Looking at the Social members list, if that is you at Christchurch, you're obviously more than welcome to view the canopy up here in Chichester.
Johnny

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Message 2 of 17
Posted by member Simon Papendick on Monday 19 July 2021

Hi Joanna,

They are part of Shetland Boats Ltd now and if you google them you can call them about getting a replacement

Kind Regards
Simon Papendick

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