Deteriorating Dorade Cowls

[Canuck Sailor]

Deteriorating Dorade Cowls - solution

Since we left Vancouver, Canada on Icicle on September 2000 we have had to replace almost all of our six Dorade cowls at least once. One we lost overboard in a blow while at anchor but that was human error. The main problem we found with them is the continuous deterioration of the vinyl by the suns rays to the point that they just won’t clean up any more, ours would turn yellow and generally look yucky. We did have some luck using NapiSan in New Zealand but that didn’t last either. The southern sun just took its toll.

During a recent refit in the Philippines we got to know a young fellow that made a living working with fibreglass and we contracted him to make us a set of three inch fibreglass cowls. We had a brand new spare vinyl one in the box that we hadn’t used and he made the mould from it. The finished job is fantastic. He made them out of biaxial cloth that kept them lighter than the vinyl and somewhat flexible, although not as crushable as the vinyl. He used two part epoxy polyurethane paints and they clean up very easily. We know that this type of paint will last 15 to 20 years before needing any work and naturally they can be painted again way down the road if they have to be. We anticipate that the bright red paint on the inside of the cowls should last a lot longer in the sun, will be just as easy to clean and look good for us for a long time.

The problem of loosing one overboard in a heavy blow has been taken care of as well with a small tab in the base of the cowl that I tie a thin line to and attach it to the inside of the Dorade box. We are very pleased with the look and feel of the new cowls and have attached pictures of them and our new fibreglass Dorade boxes that we had the yard make. I would be pleased to share any further information with anyone interested in these cowls. Contact Cliff at icicleone@hotmail.com or CFL3504@sailmail.com.

[Blue Stocking]

Great work--a real compliment to the boat

[Eric M]

Very Nice! After loosing one of ours overboard last weekend (human error) I would be interested to see a detailed photo of the keeper line you installed.

[Canuck Sailor]

I have some pictures of the 4" cowls this fellow made up and sent to NZ for two other boats. It shows the attachment that is on my 3" cowls as well. I don't have a picture of the line but you can figure that one out. We just have a hole drilled in our Dorade partition that the line goes through with a knot to secure it at that end.

[S/V Alchemy]

Really nice work. I wouldn't mind something like this for my steel boat.

[Canuck Sailor]

Dorade Boxes would be easy to build on a steel boat. These would be nice on top of them.
Cliff

[Finistere]

Had the same problem painted them with Krylon spay bottle paint several years ago. Still look good and clean up easily. Also used Krylon for intererior red.

[James S]

Clean looking work....nice!
I would be very interested in seeing the molds he made.

[Canuck Sailor]

James:
You would not believe how the molds for these look. I have seen the mold that made mine and was astonished he could produce the parts we have on board. I have some knowledge of molds and how they are made but they don't follow it here. Like a lot of things that were done on our boat. Mostly hand tools that have been made.
Cliff

[James S]

Cool.