Freeman 22 — Bespoke Tonneau Cover, Norfolk Broads, Wroxham
A precision-fitted tonneau cover for a Freeman 22 based at Wroxham on the Norfolk Broads, made in breathable acrylic canvas to prevent mildew in the humid Broads conditions.
The Norfolk Broads present a unique challenge for boat cover materials. The waterway network — broad, shallow, and reed-fringed — creates a microclimate that is persistently humid, even in winter. Air barely moves in the sheltered cuts and dykes, and temperatures rarely drop low enough to prevent condensation forming beneath a sealed PVC cover overnight. For boats moored year-round on the Broads, breathability is not optional — it is essential.
This Freeman 22, based at the Wroxham boatyard just upstream of the broad itself, arrived with us via the postal copying service in January 2026. The owner had used a generic waterproof cover for two winters and found the interior misted every morning, with the beginnings of black mould forming on the vinyl headlining and upholstery edging. He was rightly concerned and wanted the problem solved properly.
The Freeman 22 is a GRP classic from the 1970s — rakish, low-profile, and beautifully proportioned. The cockpit is relatively simple in shape, but the forward windscreen surround creates a tricky transition that generic covers always fail at, leaving a gap that channels rain directly inboard. Our job was to solve both the breathability problem and the leakage point in one pattern.
We chose our Dickson Orchestra acrylic canvas in navy blue for this job. Acrylic canvas is woven rather than coated, which means it breathes naturally — moisture vapour can pass out through the fabric, preventing the condensation build-up that causes mildew. It is UV-stable, colourfast, and rated for ten or more years of outdoor exposure. It sheds rain effectively once surface tension is established, and a single treatment with a DWR spray each spring keeps it performing at its best.
The cover was patterned precisely to the windscreen surround with a welted overlap seam at the transition point, eliminating the leak path entirely. Nickel-plated press-studs were fitted to match the existing deck fittings exactly.
Cover type: Full cockpit tonneau cover
Material: Dickson Orchestra acrylic canvas, navy blue
Fittings: Nickel press-studs to match existing deck fittings
Turnaround: 6 days from pattern receipt
Location: Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Norfolk
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Boat covers for the Norfolk Broads
Request a free quote — bespoke covers made to your exact pattern. 6-day turnaround. No VAT.