I once designed a removable cabin top for an Enterprise, so that the owner could race, slip on the coachroof and so have a cruiser in miniature. In the Autumn of 1962 a friend and I purchased an old Snipe and decided to do the same thing - it is here I must disagree with the Editor who said in the last Bulletin that a leaky old tub could be got for £80 **. Maybe - but surely there are better craft about for that money. Our Snipe, now named “Vero”, was old but in good condition and cost us £35 complete with sails. Repainting etc. some new halliards, sheets and the removable cabin top came to another £20. Being a boat builder by trade I got all at trade prices of course, but the amateur should be able to do the same for about £30.

Roughly the cabin idea is as follows, the same idea should be practical on any type of craft. My cabin top is about 4 ft. long - the sides being of ¼" plywood glued on to fore and aft members which were laminated to follow the curve of the deck, this being important as the structure must be rigid when removed. The top has a substantial camber amidships, also a slight camber fore and aft, this takes away any "box" look - again, the beams for this were laminated. A 7" brass port was fitted either side, with ⅛" perspex. The after end is closed with a canvas flap secured with tapes and press studs. The base of the cabin has rubber strip glued on all round and the structure is then clamped to the deck with wing nuts and bolts through the deck beams - this makes it quite watertight.

I consider that when cruising or pottering about it is essential to keep dry - this small cabin top keeps a lot of water and spray out of the boat and away from the crew. It also holds a fair amount of gear - and keeps things like cameras etc. safe from spray but where they can be got at quickly - charts can also be spread out in safety where the crew can see them. In harbour an awning can be put over the boom to cover all the boat in.

"Vero" thus fitted up has yet to be tested in rough conditions we hope to have a short cruise around Donegal Bay and Coasts this summer which should give it a good testing and show up any faults - however if she is as well behaved as she is under normal conditions we shall have nothing to worry about.

(** This was not what the Editor said: the £80 referred to a superior tub! Ed.)