Alternative Wet Weather Hood for Can Am
Discussion
This is how it fits together, to drive completely enclosed, or to leave parked up overnight.
FINAL PHOTOS OF HOW THE CAR LOOKS AESTHETICALLY WITH HOOD UP WILL FOLLOW LATER TODAY....
.... & I THINK YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT JUST HOW LITTLE THE FINAL COST WAS TO HAVE THIS MADE AND FITTED! ....
FINAL PHOTOS OF HOW THE CAR LOOKS AESTHETICALLY WITH HOOD UP WILL FOLLOW LATER TODAY....
.... & I THINK YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT JUST HOW LITTLE THE FINAL COST WAS TO HAVE THIS MADE AND FITTED! ....
I did ask my chap if he would do some more, as they are already drawing interest, but he is so overwhelmed with boats, he unfortunately just hasn't the time. I've endeavoured to post as many photos here so others can copy the design - you might even be able to tweak and improve it still!. In any case, each Ultima is individual and tolerances may vary very slightly, as does each driver and therefore the lower height of the main hood may need to personalised to suit.
I'm more than happy to answer anyones questions and give assistance where I can.
If you are interested in duplicating this hood, I would suggest contacting a couple of local(ish) boat canopy/canvas makers, or similar tradespeople to see if they are capable of giving you a quote.
I'm more than happy to answer anyones questions and give assistance where I can.
If you are interested in duplicating this hood, I would suggest contacting a couple of local(ish) boat canopy/canvas makers, or similar tradespeople to see if they are capable of giving you a quote.
You've actually got a possible valid idea there - keeping the rear screen in place around the roll bar with detachable top, might just stop some of the heat being drawn into the cockpit. However, I must admit I prefer the hood off in its entirety.
This is very much a suck-it-and-see project, although I'm pretty confident it's going to exceed the job that I want it to do.
This is very much a suck-it-and-see project, although I'm pretty confident it's going to exceed the job that I want it to do.
Took the Can Am for it's first test drive with the hood up today for about 25 miles of motorway driving. I had only the main hood up, with the additional side screens off. Perfect - no noise or flapping, in fact better that I thought. It was no problem at a steady 70mph and I'm sure it would be good to considerably more. Visibility was unimpaired and with the white lining, you almost forget its there.
I reckon you would hardly ever use the additional screens, even in rain. The wind doesn't blow in at all. You get a slight depression on the side edges above 60mph, so in heavy rain a few drips may come in, but there is a drip channel sewn around the edge.
Another interesting fact - cooling was unaffected and if anything, it helped by a few degrees! The 25 miles with it up, the temp gauge read a steady 75 degrees at more or less constant 70mph. The return journey with the hood off, the temp gauge read a steady 78/80 degrees. Perhaps the shape of the hood forces more air into the clam intake, as there's probably less turbulence.
I reckon you would hardly ever use the additional screens, even in rain. The wind doesn't blow in at all. You get a slight depression on the side edges above 60mph, so in heavy rain a few drips may come in, but there is a drip channel sewn around the edge.
Another interesting fact - cooling was unaffected and if anything, it helped by a few degrees! The 25 miles with it up, the temp gauge read a steady 75 degrees at more or less constant 70mph. The return journey with the hood off, the temp gauge read a steady 78/80 degrees. Perhaps the shape of the hood forces more air into the clam intake, as there's probably less turbulence.
Thought I'd give you all an update - as I used the car for the very first time in rain yesterday .... and it wasn't just any rain - it was for over an hour in yesterday's persistent deluge of heavy rain, whilst on the M3 (the so-called remnants of Hurricane Bertha!). Absolutely brilliant and first class - you don't even need the side screens on!!
I took part in the weekend's Supercar run to Wilton House, starting from Brooklands, early yesterday morning. The heavens opened on the M3 just as left Fleet Services. Our next stop was over an hour's drive, some 60 miles away at Gurston Down Hillclimb track in Dorset. The weather was hideous all the way, not stop rain and spray. I decided to drive down the M3 without the side screens on and NO water came in at all through the open section, even when passing large lorries chucking out volumes of spray!
I found the only time I used the separate side screens was when parked up in a crosswind with driving rain coming directly at me from the side. Even then, this was when I was at the exposed top of the down at Gurston, having just done my first run in the wet. I'm really, really pleased with the performance of this custom roof - quite extraordinarily brilliant!
At speed on the motorway, it didn't 'lift' or threaten to un-popper itself, even if you 'accidentally' exceed the limit a little ...
One word of warning though - Since the front screen is interchangeable for the aero one, there is no sealant between the frame and the body - something I had completely clean forgotten - which should have been obvious really! I had an unpleasant constant drip of water over my ankles and feet, coming from behind the dash - however, this will be easily rectified now with some silicone sealant around the base of the front screen frame.
To say 'I'm pleased' is an understatement. This soft top roof had far exceeded what I ever thought it would do and is well worth every penny. I can't recommend it enough to anyone with a Can Am, who has no intention of swapping their screens - get yourself a quote and then get a copy made!
I took part in the weekend's Supercar run to Wilton House, starting from Brooklands, early yesterday morning. The heavens opened on the M3 just as left Fleet Services. Our next stop was over an hour's drive, some 60 miles away at Gurston Down Hillclimb track in Dorset. The weather was hideous all the way, not stop rain and spray. I decided to drive down the M3 without the side screens on and NO water came in at all through the open section, even when passing large lorries chucking out volumes of spray!
I found the only time I used the separate side screens was when parked up in a crosswind with driving rain coming directly at me from the side. Even then, this was when I was at the exposed top of the down at Gurston, having just done my first run in the wet. I'm really, really pleased with the performance of this custom roof - quite extraordinarily brilliant!
At speed on the motorway, it didn't 'lift' or threaten to un-popper itself, even if you 'accidentally' exceed the limit a little ...
One word of warning though - Since the front screen is interchangeable for the aero one, there is no sealant between the frame and the body - something I had completely clean forgotten - which should have been obvious really! I had an unpleasant constant drip of water over my ankles and feet, coming from behind the dash - however, this will be easily rectified now with some silicone sealant around the base of the front screen frame.
To say 'I'm pleased' is an understatement. This soft top roof had far exceeded what I ever thought it would do and is well worth every penny. I can't recommend it enough to anyone with a Can Am, who has no intention of swapping their screens - get yourself a quote and then get a copy made!
It will be interesting to see what other fixing method your sailmaker can come up with for fitting to the front screen. The poppers are so quick and easy - and you can partially open it for ease of entry/exit. Admittedly, I'd prefer not to see the poppers, but it works so well. I have been thinking you could always get them anodised black before fitting. Vinyl was chosen as it is so lightweight and takes up little space for storing. I've made a black polythene bag/tube to roll it in, which then stows behind the seats, making it more or less invisible if taking it out with you.
2nd Update:
Went to Beaulieu Supercar today - as you know, in the most atrocious of conditions! 8 hours of non-stop heavy rain, so the Can Am was really put to the test!
Okay, so we did get a little water in, despite carefully sealing the front screen, but no where near as bad as before. It still managed to find its way in somehow, with water occasionally dripping onto ankles - god knows where from though, but can only assume it may be from the wiper arm fitting!
The soft top roof performed really well again, but this time we did get a small drip from the edge of the screen frame behind the front edge of the perspex side windows on the doors. The rain was really heavy all day and it was the worst that nature could throw at us. I reckon a small bead of black silicone running down the very edge of the lower part of the frame to form a small channel/barrier, should do the trick and cure this though. Having said that, we drove there and back without the side screens on, only fitting them once parked up.
Another problem we found was that water got in both doors, so when you lifted them up, the bottom had about 1" depth of rain water! Again, this was nothing to do with the soft top, it can only be coming in through the door locks and wing mirror mounts. A simple drain hole in the bottom of the door would be the solution.
It seems waterproofing a Can Am is a work in progress, but it has to be said we were out all day, in a huge amount of rain, but we're getting there ...
Went to Beaulieu Supercar today - as you know, in the most atrocious of conditions! 8 hours of non-stop heavy rain, so the Can Am was really put to the test!
Okay, so we did get a little water in, despite carefully sealing the front screen, but no where near as bad as before. It still managed to find its way in somehow, with water occasionally dripping onto ankles - god knows where from though, but can only assume it may be from the wiper arm fitting!
The soft top roof performed really well again, but this time we did get a small drip from the edge of the screen frame behind the front edge of the perspex side windows on the doors. The rain was really heavy all day and it was the worst that nature could throw at us. I reckon a small bead of black silicone running down the very edge of the lower part of the frame to form a small channel/barrier, should do the trick and cure this though. Having said that, we drove there and back without the side screens on, only fitting them once parked up.
Another problem we found was that water got in both doors, so when you lifted them up, the bottom had about 1" depth of rain water! Again, this was nothing to do with the soft top, it can only be coming in through the door locks and wing mirror mounts. A simple drain hole in the bottom of the door would be the solution.
It seems waterproofing a Can Am is a work in progress, but it has to be said we were out all day, in a huge amount of rain, but we're getting there ...
Understandable logic, but no, we don't have air con. Everytime we turned right or left, or braked, water dripped on our ankles. Need to get wifey with hose trained on screen whilst I'm upside down under dash to see where it's coming in! The rain was particularly heavy today and relentless, so it hopefully it should only happen again or repeat itself in unusual circumstances.
V8Dom said:
smoke machine..hahahahha ok... first gear. dump the clutch at 3k and stand on the brakes... i d like to see a smokey burnout youtube video on here with the comment looking for water leak...hahhahahahahahahhaha
we use windscreen company.. they have ultra sonic testers...
you might find said water is sitting ontop of heater and only running off on corners or check wiper arm seals where it does through body work?
ive been using mine alot recently...is it only the south getting all the rain?
Dom
My same thoughts, Dom - it's possibly the wiper arm seals as tbis was only fitted for the first time a couple of weeks ago, just before Wilton.I'll get the hose out this weekend and hopefully discover where its coming from.we use windscreen company.. they have ultra sonic testers...
you might find said water is sitting ontop of heater and only running off on corners or check wiper arm seals where it does through body work?
ive been using mine alot recently...is it only the south getting all the rain?
Dom
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