Windscreen and Cockpit Covers

[MartinCopp]

We've owend our Sunrise, "Coppercat" for 4 years and keep her berthed in Largs, Scotland. This Winter she will be having numerous enhancements made to her such as Microwave, Generator, New oven etc. The major mod will be to fit a fixed windscreen and folding cockpit cover. Has anyone out there designed/ fitted their own screen and cover? If so would you be willing to share your ideas?
Incidentally, even though we've had numerous cats for 25 years, we've still not managed to figure out how to sail the Solaris upwind correctly in the 8-12 knot wind range. The addition of a Saturn Sails Gennaker (30% more total sail area) on a moveable sprit has helped but still the iron topsail gets used too much. She also seems to carry a lot of weatherhelm even when sailing with just the Genoa. Has anyone got any recommendations how to sail the Solaris upwind and reduce the weather helm?

[Roger]

Not designed and fitted by me, but I do have  a fixed screen and folding cover and can certainly get you some photos and measurements of my setup for ideas.

My cover is due for replacement and have been pricing this up recently, but the frame etc is fine and works well giving various options between fully covered, fully open, sidewindows only up etc etc .

[MartinCopp]

Roger,

Some photos would be very useful. Thanks for the offer.
We've go inmast furling and twin mainsheets which is complicating the issue a little bit. Do you have a similar setup or do you have a proper Mainsail?

I'll post some photos of Coppercat this week so people can see the Gennaker/ Screecher set up. It has made a huge difference to light airs performance.

[Roger]

Standard main with slab reefing here. The mainsheet is from the back of the boom and down to 2 eyes, either side of the cockpit.

I should get some more pictures at the weekend but there is one attached for starters (The aluminium pole at the bottom is a boathook and nothing to do with the cover!)

[Roger]

Right, I apologise for the delay and also I didn't get any measurements  - but there are a few more photos at   http://www.solarissunrise.co.uk/images/cover/ which show the cover and the sheeting arrangements I have. Hopefully they will help to give you some ideas.

You will also be able to see why my cover is due for replacement as well!