Taylor Made Systems has announced that two major U.S. boatbuilders are now offering the FastBack pop-up boat top as factory-authorized accessories this year.
“Regal and Wellcraft have joined the growing list of boatbuilders specifying this unique pop-up boat cover with their new boats,” said Mike Oathout, vice president, sales and marketing for Taylor Made Systems. Chaparral added the FastBack to their accessory list for several models earlier this year.
The FastBack will be offered as a standard accessory with the Regal 2650 and Wellcraft’s 24 Martinique and 26 Martinique.
The FastBack is a lightweight, flexible “boat tent” that converts an open cockpit into an enclosed living space with more than six feet of headroom. Inspired by mountaineering tent designs, the FastBack consists of a waterproof fabric cover that stretches over flexible fiberglass battens, so that it holds its shape regardless of wind and weather. Unlike traditional snap-down boat covers, the bubble-shaped FastBack provides ample headroom and walk-around space in the cockpit.
FastBack more than doubles the usable living space in a typical express
cruiser, and it can be installed by one person in under five minutes with no special tools, without leaving the safety of the cockpit. When not in use, the FastBack cover and battens stow neately into a 48-inch bundle for easy storage, leaving no hardware fixtures on deck.
Oathout noted that the FastBack is initially being marketed as an OEM
product to boatbuilders. “This year, we will also introduce universal
mounting kits that will permit easy retrofit on existing boats,” he said.
A member of the Taylor Made Group, Taylor Made Systems, based in
Gloversville, New York, is the world’s largest manufacturer of marine
glazing systems and the acknowledged leader in framed glass windshield
technology for powerboats. Other marine product lines include hatches,
doors, window systems, portlights, canvas boat tops and upholstered
furniture. The company also supplies glass products for a variety of
architectural, agricultural and industrial applications.
Headquartered in Gloversville, New York, the Taylor Made Group has 93 years of experience as one of the recreational marine industry’s largest, most diversified manufacturers and suppliers. Other companies in the Taylor Made
Group include Taylor Made Environmental, Taylor Made Products, Taylorbrite
LLC and SeaLand Technology, Inc. The group has 17 facilities in the United
States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy, Australia
and New Zealand. Employing over 1,100 associates, its products are marketed
through a worldwide distribution network.
