Galetea Make Over Project

Iverson’s Design

This project is a complete cockpit enclosure on a sailboat, including a dodger, bimini, connector panel and sunshade mesh enclosure panels. All components of this enclosure are removable, allowing for many variations during use. It is outfitted with many features such as side grab rails, back grab rail, integrated storage pockets, overhead flashlight pocket with flashlight, forward rigid strut grab rails over the companion-way entrance, back strut grab rails for entering and exiting the cockpit, 1-¼-inch diameter stainless steel frame and window covers.

The purpose of this cockpit enclosure is to provide the crew with protection from the elements while sailing or just relaxing at the dock. Our client was very concerned about the aesthetics and wanted to make certain that our design would enhance the overall appearance of his sailboat.

The complexity of this project comes from a variety of features that were unique to this particular sailboat design. The shape of the cockpit on this boat is unique as it is wide in front but tapers significantly toward the stern, creating a perfect arch. Our bimini design had to reflect this shape and be conducive to the addition of the enclosure panel system. Also, this boat had a boom crutch (a harness for cradling the boom from the main mast) over the area where the dodger was to be constructed. We had to incorporate the boom crutch into our dodger by meticulously crafting cut-outs for the legs. Also, because this boat was a ketch rig, it had a mizzen mast in the middle of the cockpit which is where the enclosure was to be constructed. Our design had to accommodate this mast and be as watertight as possible.

The results of this project were a complete success. We were able to enhance the lines of this classic ketch sailboat with our enclosure design and provide our client with the ultimate protection from the elements. Through our use of complimentary colors and the integration of different materials that we used, the aesthetic design of this enclosure system became an asset to the boat’s classic style.

Project details

Location: Olympia, Wash.
Size: 8 to 11 feet
Fabrics: Sunbrella by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC from Tri Vantage LLC, Top Gun by MarChem CFI from Rex Pegg Fabrics Inc., Makrolon by Bayer from Keyston Bros., Sunbrella View by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC from Tri Vantage LLC
Design and Project Manager: Jason Iverson, Iverson’s Design
Fabrication: Kyle Sigman, Hayes Oneil, Jason Van Hoose, Initech, H&H Fabrications
Installation: Kyle Sigman, Hayes Oneil, Initech, H&H Fabrications