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I ordered my new Mills Canvas for the 18. I am getting the fly top and side curtains but I had a question about the Aft Curtain. If I don't order that, how much wind sneaks around the side curtains? Is the Aft Curtain really necessary for keeping warm at speed? I purchased the canvas because I want to use the boat earlier in the spring and later in the fall without depending on global warming.

Mills is having a 10% off Whaler canvas sale until 11/30

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Kamie,

On my Revenge 25 the aft drop curtain makes ALL the difference in the world. It is not so much that it stops air flow (which it does to some extent) as the heat it retains. Even if the front canvas blocks all the wind, the temperature in the boat will remain at the outside ambient air temperature.

Once the drop curtain is in place, the temperature starts to climb. Here on Puget Sound I can boat in freezing or near freezing temperatures and operate my boat with a tee shirt or light sweater. The interior within the canvas acts as a greenhouse to raise the temperature that much. It is amazing.

The other benefit of the aft drop curtain is it will cut engine noise dramatically. I know that sounds odd bit it is true. With the drop curtain in place on my boat I can hear the sound the the bow cutting through the water in spite of my twin old two stroke 150s on the transom.

The aft drop curtain will make your boat very cozy.

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I concur with Tom on the aft curtain. One more attribute I noticed is that if I button her up with the aft curtain, I do not have dew all over everything in the morning. The glass windows of the Revenge might help heat it up more that the cavas on your 18. John

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Thanks for the info. I use a mooring cover so the drop curtain is strictly for cold weather. I am currently thinking that I will save the money and put it toward a new mooring cover. The other potential issue is the raised stern seat, while Mills doesn't believe it will get in the way they aren't quite sure. My stern seat is raised 3+ inches from the normal height. I might be singing a different tune come march when I want the boat in the water.

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The Aft curtian has greatly increased my days on the water,warm,dry,and decreases noise. My boat is kept in a slip I keep the full enclosure up till mid-May then use a Drop curtian that zips to the Foward Shelter providing complete coverage.

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You could save money by having your existing mooring cover altered Kamie. Mills would do it, but you might be better off having a local place do it if you can bring them your boat.

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The mooring cover fits, just barely. With the stern seat the cover is still long enough but not really wide enough to fit down over the sides of the boat. Since I rely on bungie cords to hold it down either to the trailer or to the jetdock it's not that big a deal. I have not tried trailering with the cover but since I don't trailer that often it's not really necessary. I do need to send the cover to Mills at some point and have new cord and the seams restitched. I just can't find that window of time when I want to be without it.

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Kamie -

I think that is the best idea. If you find it is still too cold in March without the aft curtain, and you will ONLY be using the curtain in cold weather like that, I'd recommend using a DROP CURTAIN from the aft portion of your flying top. This should drop just behind your leaning post to the floor like the REVENGE system, instead of the sweeping drop back to the splashwell. This will cost less, and it can be made by a local canvas guy (or even you or your spouse if you are okay at mending things!) The aft curtain is nice if you're sleeping aboard because it gives you some extra room to move around or store coolers from the bow area, etc. at dock or anchor...

Good luck,

Dave