Canopy

We have always chosen not to have a canopy on the Anthony Rucker. There have been days of 100 degree temperatures, or cold driving rainstorms when I wished we’d had one. But in the overall scheme of things, we continue to think the con’s outweigh the pros although many of the boats are currently equipped with them. A canopy makes walking around the boat and seeing from front to back or side to side much more difficult. A canopy also is a problem if you plan on skirting under the trees and around islands or under a low bridge or two on the river. Also, if you have a stiff breeze blowing upriver it is difficult to keep a boat without a canopy going downstream, one with a canopy is that much more difficult as you have basically a sail. If you are planning on having a canopy, you might want to discuss pros and cons with other boats which have them. However, you will definitely want the canopy to look period and not detract from the overall appearance of the batteau.