Boom tent revisit

[Captain Steve]

]I have been rigging my boom tent wrong. Previously I just threw it over the boom(on a topping lift) and made a pup tent looking shelter. This time I slid my factory bimini back, in its tracks, til it hit the backstay. then I set the wider end of the tent, to the stern, tilting it back to give more headroom. The boom tent was secured fore and aft on the boom. The front corners were guyed out horizontally to the sidestays and the rear ones wrapped around the front bow of the bimini. I used the cinchers Duane talks about, available from BWY. What a difference! I gained a lot more shaded area and the sliding hatch could be left wide open. Still easy to enter over the lifeline from the dock. Maybe the photos will make more sense than my description






Mod's edit: To enable BBcode ~fc

[Terry]

Steve;
I like your boom tent!
I currently just use a small tarpaulin stretched over the boom with the grommetts bungeed to stantions, lifeline or anything else available. This is the least expensive way to go but looks a bit gunnysack.
Now that tent of yours looks much more professional and I think I might get one if the price is right, where did you get yours? I have a pacific blue bimini and sail cover so it would not only match but also appear like an extension to the bimini. It would also double as a transition to a dodger since and a dodger is on my wish list (not getting full enclosure though).

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Capn' Steve...arent you using a standard tarp ? If so, what size ?
Thanks for the pics.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You might even want to consider a setup like I had before I got my full enclosure.

It was a canvas cover I was given by BWY when I bought my boat. It was surplus from their Mac Cat.

Basically a rectangle with tubular stiffeners at the front and the back. In the middle it had a 'D' ring and 2 sail battens sewn in parallel to the back and front on each side of the 'D' ring.

I would hook up the main halyard to the center 'D' ring and hoist it above the boom over the cockpit. The two battens allowed it to tent up nicely in the center. The fore and aft tubes were good spreaders that kept it nice and stiff. Once hung I would just tie down to the lifelines to tension it. It was a good sun shade and even a pretty good rain cover.

I don't have a great picture of it, but you can see part of it in the 2nd picture down on the left in this log book.

http://www.ddunn.org/LogBook18.htm

Steve, I see you have one of the folding seats. We love those. We bought one last year and just picked up a second for this season so we can have dual loungers in the cockpit.

[Captain Steve]

Thanks for fixing my photo issue. I got the boom tent from one of the ads here on our website. BoatBimini.com. Talk to Bob there in Colorado.

[Bill Warnock]

>I got the boom tent from one of the ads<

I did as well... from that vendor in Colorado. Just haven't used
mine yet... but know I will have to... what with our early morning Oxnard drizzles.

Wow... glad to see your Mac up and about and looking pretty sharp
I might add. Are you keeping it docked now... for the season?

I've still got mine at slip A-21 at Anacapa Isle Marina... and the dog
gone trailer at CIL so I still have "haul out" privileges.

Sure nice though... to have the boat available 24/7.

Now if you local folks could only do something about those frequent
Small Craft and/or Gale Warnings here of recent. heh heh

Will be down... next week.

CUL & 73

Bill

[Moe]

Capn' Steve...arent you using a standard tarp ? If so, what size ?
Thanks for the pics.

Louis, we used a $7.00 8'x10' silver Ozark Trail tarp from Wal-Mart over the 26X boom. One end of the center was tied on the mast above the sail and the other center to the end of the boom. The other grommets had clothesline running down to the stanchions. It worked with or without the bimini, although it certainly came down lower aft without the bimini.

[argonaut]

There are many useful refinements here, some will depend on whether your use is dockside or at anchor. Anchored I need the stern open, the transom door up to swim and shower. Later if I have not done due diligence tying the line the flapping keeps me wake till I climb topside and secure everything. Worst thing I did early on was tie a gromment to a sliding jib car. The clunking soon had me out of bed back on top tying off to stanchions.
Also I would like a cloth versus plastic tarp because they make less noise as they flap in the breeze, but sunbrella is pricy when as noted, the plastic ones are seven bucks.

[kmclemore]

Here's an interesting "non-boom tent" - looks to be a lightweight and handy affair! Not sure who's boat this is, I just found the photo on the web.