Ron and Mary Blaul, Center of Effort, #121
I have always had "waist curtains" on all my boats to break the wind and spray when going to weather and to add a little privacy and wind break to the cockpit when at anchor. So as soon as we brought Center of Effort home, I commissioned some curtains for her.
(Click on picture for full size)
This left the question of an enclosure. I debated isenglass all the way around but have been on some boats where it gets quite hot in the cockpit with glass enclosures. Also we wanted some screens across the stern for those afternoons in Catalina when the sun low on the horizon, is right in your eyes and beats into the cockpit.
So we came up with a design for a set of close weave screens which attach to the bimini on top and the stern pulpit on the bottom and zip together to form an enclosure. This design allows us to completely enclose the cockpit or …
… (more frequently), only have the ones needed to block wherever the sun is and have the others detach at the bottom and rolled up out of the way against the bimini.
Since it's screening material, we can see outside perfectly and the cockpit stays cool against the sun and warm against afternoon wind. When we are underway, everything comes off for sailing and rolls up and stores below. It has the added advantage being a close weave of keeping the cockpit dry in those little rains that are not wind driven.
Unlike previous boats (C42 MKII and an old C30), I decided to leave the area under the stern seats open for a little breeze and line handling.
All in all a great solution for us and adds privacy and comfort at anchor to the use of the cockpit.