extending shorestation canopy to accommodate tower

Greetings CC fans.

I was hoping someone here could offer up their experience on extending (raising) a traditional shorestation canopy to accommodate a tower.

many thanks for your input!

See in the pic, it's like 5 or 6 holes from the top. The pole at the wheel is shorter, thru bolt up high.

I had this problem last year with my shoremaster 50120. I got the 2008 super air 210 and thought I would be able to raise/lower tower myself...No freakin way...too heavy. I spent lots - i think few hundred and got extra long canopy legs from shoremaster. Now I can go in and out with no worries, no moving tower. But beware that fixing one problem creates another.

I had to cut a tarp in 4 foot by 20 foot section and hang from sides of canopy to shield rain/sun from boat. It works ok. Does look quite odd though. This year i am replacing regular tarp with mesh tarp that i think will not catch wind so much. should allow better air movement/drying and still shield sun about 70%.

http://www.tarpsplus.com/blue-mesh-tarps.html

Have you tried raising the canopy to the highest point with the stock legs? You did not say what boat/tower you have but a 206 with FCT clears fine and the canopy could still go up higher.

You will want to also be sure your legs/feet are at the correct height for the depth of water you are in, carriage bottomed out should be just deep enough to float on/off.

Tower can be a bit of a pain to fold but it certainly isn't that hard, even with 80lbs of speakers on it I can do it myself NP. Tower will not fold will floating under canopy, u need to do it before pulling in.

You should definitely be able to raise the canopy high enough with standard posts to get under it tower up. Just pull the bolts and push it up as explained in my earlier post. May take a couple adjustments, ideally the tower will come up tight to the underside when the entire carriage/boat is just out of the water.

When I bought my big lift for my SAN, I bought leg extensions. I had a canvas company make a tarp that covers both sides, and the front. I use thin rope to hang from the grommets that are evenly spaced to the crossmembers of the canopy. I also have grommets on the bottom and screwed eyehooks into the dock to tie it down. Resists wind very well, no sun or rain to speak of. I would guess I spent around $350-400 total.

Drive in, drive out.

WakeSlayer wrote: When I bought my big lift for my SAN, I bought leg extensions. I had a canvas company make a tarp that covers both sides, and the front. I use thin rope to hang from the grommets that are evenly spaced to the crossmembers of the canopy. I also have grommets on the bottom and screwed eyehooks into the dock to tie it down. Resists wind very well, no sun or rain to speak of. I would guess I spent around $350-400 total. Drive in, drive out.

Slayer..that is JUST what I need! where does the canvas cover attach? on the underside of the canopy frame? could you provide me their name? I suppose I could have them ship one, if they'd do it.

turningpoint84 wrote: Quinner and SLayer you're both on the MW chain right?

??? Chris is in Illinois and Mike is in Minnesota!!!

wakeslayer, do you know how high your canopy frame sits from the water surface? I measured 8'2" from the water surface to the main side tubes of the canopy frame.

it also looks like I could drill an additional hole to get another 6-8" of height if need be.

the real test will be just throwing the boat on there...but I'd like to know well in advance if possible.

Sorry, was out of town.   I really don't know what the height is. I can go measure my boat on the trailer and give you an idea of what you need to have. I could also measure my lift and roughly where the water lines are on the legs. I will try and do it tomorrow. Shorestation sells extensions, too. I had a canvas shop make the side tarp. Anyone could do it. They use the stuff semi trailer tarps are made of. Grommets are spaced to your crossmembers on the canopy frame. Same on the bottom. I just leave the rope on the lift and rehang it every season.

thanks, Slayer. love that paint scheme. any reason you elected not to have the canvas extension go around the transom and swim step as well?

thanks for the additional pic as well!

Thank you, Slayer. looking forward to setting this up.