Boom Tents

[Barry Pyeatt]

Pat Mellema was talking about making a boom tent for his Weekender.

I've been working on a design for one as we feel that we will use the boat more for overnight camping if there is a tent.

This article is quite good and gives some great ideas for making your own.

http://www.widgetsailor.com/sbjournal/tent/tent1.html

Here is a second on Canvas coverings.

http://www.widgetsailor.com/sbjournal/tent/tent2.html

We are using lightweight nylon fabric, waterproofed and sewn. It is the same fabric that is used for backpacking tents. We are also using the fiberglass poles that breakdown into short segments for the hoops to establish the shape. Ours will hang below the boom and we will use a topping lift to raise the boom to give the tent some standing room in the cockpit. Roll up coverings for the screened windows for some degree of privacy and zippered openings that will allow easy access from either side and the transom. We are also making a "fly" cover for heavy weather. Our mockup (being made from light weight cotton) holds its own shape quite well. It will sit inside the toe rail and tie off with lightweight bungees to the shrouds, the boom and the taff rail.

[Bill Paxton]

Excellent! I can't wait to see your final product. I've often thought that a boom tent for a Weekender/Vacationer would be just the ticket. I applaud your ingenuity.

[Robert Cox]

Hey Barry. You going to go into business. If so, I would like to place my order for a boom tent for the Vacationer.

Bob

[tdrown]

I have thought about a boom tent or some sort of cover for the cockpit. I think it would probably be a great adition for weekending.

[Robert Cox]

I'm defenatly going to have a boom tent, but I've also been thinking of a bimini as well. I've been going out sailing with a friend on his 18 ft. keel boat and after 5 or 6 hours out in this Florida sun I'm ready for some shade. I'm planning to raise the mast and boom 12 inches any way and would have room for a bimini to be used while sailing.

Bob

[Mike Pennington]

I have rigged a 10x16 tarp over my mast or boom depending on the circumstance. Just last Wen I weathered out a rain storm while on Harding Lake. It was nice staying dry while the other boaters and jet skiers looked like drowning rats fleeing the water front. I hadn't thought about going all the way though, until I followed Barry's Link.

The extended cover from the mast base aft is really a practical idea. If you have tried tarping over the back of a truck or perhaps seen the remains of a tarp being shredded in the wind, you will know there can't be any loose ends. Thus I haven't even tried to trailer with just a tarp slung over the boom, I keep thinking of a wind tunnel or a parasail. But an enclosed cover would be just the thing. One could even leave their mainsail rigged ready to go. Some do already, but I keep seeing shreds of white poly frayed out into the wind.

But most of all, camping mosquito free, what luxury. The Vacationer has a large cabin, but the addition of an adequate boom tent gives a skipper a place to lounge around.

A Bemi would be another great idea, nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable. Shelter from rain or sun can keep a crew out on the water, turning a not so pleasant of a day into a fine one.

[Jan Williamson]

The rain shed has eveything you'd probably need for tent making. And they have a nice catolog too.

http://www.therainshed.com/

[Johannah]

Thanks Jan, good tip. 8)

[Jan Williamson]

I have actually been in this store, and it is a backpacker's delight. they also have patterns for lots of outdoor stuff. So Jo- you are the only other women I've seen come up on the forum, Did you build a weekender? Got any pics? I need reassurance that a woman can really build one of these

[Tom Holder]

oh c'mon Jan!!!! Don't be setting back the equality movement!!! My wife is waaaaay better than me at building things, especially finishing them :shock:

[TexasPhil]

Jan, as far as I have seen, I think you two are the only ladies here, or at least the only two that activly participate in the forum.

I am glad to see the ranks double. I like hearing different points of view.

I don't think there is anything in building the weekender that cannot be done by just about anyone. I don't think gender will play a role in your ability to built it.

[Barry Pyeatt]

I don't think so either! I welcome the input and the participation. This isn't an all males forum nor should it ever be.

I for one have great respect for women builders. I have an acquaintence that is currently on the second year of an around the world cruise on a "one-off" 65' fiberglass ketch that she built over a period of about 5 or six years with little help from anyone else. Her brother is a marine architect and she grew up in a boating family. It was her desire to build a large boat and sail it around the world. She expressed that in school, and had a lot of input in the design of the boat and the sail plan and handling of the design. She has her sister (just graduated from college) and 4 other women with her on this cruise. None of them had long range cruising experience before this. All of them have some large sailboat experience though and all took navigation and a whole series of seamanship classes before they left.

Her degree is in design and business. She specified the woods, fabricated most everything herself and built the entire boat with the help of several friends and a part time shipwright who helped her with the heavy stuff.

She even installed the mechanicals and the electrical herself with a marine installer as a consultant to her.

Last I heard they were somewhere in the area of the South China Sea after going 3/4 of the way around the world. They plan on going to Japan yet this year and then heading south again to cross the Pacific via the Tropical Islands. Don't expect to see them until this time next year as they plan on sailing along the coast of South America and spending some time in the islands off the coast of the southern hemisphere and along Central America before going thru the Panama Canal and back to the Eastern Coast.

They are having quite an adventure. So, I would expect that anyone that had the desire and the patience could certainly build one of these great little boats.

My 19 year old niece is interested in mine and has spent some time with me as I have been building and she is interested in the Vacationeer, if her dad is willing to tackle it. She is one great little Lightning skipper.

[Arnie Eaton]

Jan, on the BYYB forum there is Angie. She built her Weekender and she is an officer in the BYYB. I think she lives in Tenn. or somewhere down south. Nice lady. The BYYB is known as The Back Yard Yacht Builders Assc. I was a Charter Member, but have giving it up. Not enough time.

[Jan Williamson]

Thanks for the support guys I grew competing with brothers, I think that formed my desire for challenge in life. I call myself "the ol' jack of all trades -master of none". But I love it because there is no pressure to be perfect at anything. And I get to experience many things. Finishing a project is my biggest challenge. The great thing about this boat is the last part is the fun part, fine tuning and trim work.

Don't worry I'm not one of those demanding women's libber.... . I do plan to take sailing lessons down in Marina del ray, next summer before I take my little boat out. I don't want to experience the capsize, or the accidental jibe. Barry, if I didn't have a large family, I would be doing the long distance sailing trips too. I am truly inspired though

I take care of my 22 year old daughter full time. She is a quadraplegic and autistic. But she doesn't mind watching me make sawdust And I am sure she'll love going out on the boat.

My husband is feeling a little neglected though. I've got weekender-itis really bad

[Barry Pyeatt]

I'm sure that on one level or another she will get excited about the boat and being on the water.

I was very involved with a Horseback riding program for rehabilitation therapy called Little Bit Special Riders Program for a number of years. We worked with any number of impaired individuals. For a great many of them you couldn't tell whether or not it was doing much good until you could see the sparkle in their eyes when they were on horseback. So I know that things get thru at some level with most everyone.

I have a friend in Hawaii that is developmentally impaired but living somewhat independently. As long as you don't throw time or numbers at him he does pretty good. I remember taking him sailing for the first time, for him, and having him steer and tack and help with the trimming of the sails. It was an entirely new world for him and one that opened a lot of new doors for his development. Now he belongs to one of the canoe clubs and works out with them every week and for the first time in his life he was able to float last winter after working with him for weeks virtually every day. He had never been able to relax enough to allow himself to float, but we got him past the tension that no therapist had ever been able to accomplish before and he was so excited because he had never been relaxed even in his sleep up until then.

So, keep on working at it. You are certainly welcome here.

[Tom Holder]

Jan, Barry,

I coach my son in house league hockey and this year I successfully lobbied the league to allow a couple of slightly older kids to play on my team. One is autisitic and one has Down's but my wife taught them both so I know them well and I get along great with them. I'm really looking forward to this year even though I'll be in tough with a lot of parents (The are both pretty big but they both stink :shock: lotsa enthusiasm but very little of it is focused on the game of hockey ) - but hey if it makes the kids (and me ) feel happy, well that's what its all about right?

How does that goes - you never stand so tall as when you stoop to help a child?

Well now that I'm done patting myeself on the back :oops: it occured to me that I knew a woman up here that belonged to a group of engineers that donate their time to solving problems for people with special needs. have you run across anything that would make it difficult for you and your daughter to enjoy the boat on the water? If it can't be solved by this group I could try to hunt down the engineering organization.

Any way just thinking out loud, let me know if I hit on anything.

Best regards,

tom holder

[Steve Downs]

Barry, in my travels as an entertainer I've run into a few of those riding groups you were describing and it's absolutely amazing the difference it makes in those kids attitudes and abilities. I can only imagine what sailing could do along those lines also. My grandkids are really looking forward to taking a ride in my boat and the 13 year old is anxious to learn to take the controls and make it work - and I'm anxious to teach him.

[Jan Williamson]

This forum is so cool I wrote a reply already but I don't know what happened to it :? So if you find it somewhere in an inappropriate place, sorry!

I think most people find when they are involved in a persons life who is less abled than the rest of us, are changed. It can be a rough rode sometimes, but how would we really know what smooth is, without the rough. Leanne(my daughter), while she does not talk, she smiles and laughs. So I know when she is pleased. Her right arm and hand works, so she drives a power chair like there is no tomorrow.

I would like to install some kind of ballast. I read some threads, saw some pictures of some "bulbs". But I couldn't make out where exactly they were installed. Would anyone like to elaborate on the subject?

[Steve Downs]

Jan, I asked the same question the other day and Ray answered it rather well, he even had pictures. It is located in the "Added Ballast" section from a few days ago. Good luck.

[Barry Pyeatt]

I discovered that the link to the articles wasn't working any longer. So I found a new link to them.

http://councill.home.mindspring.com/sbjournal/tent/tent1.html

http://councill.home.mindspring.com/sbjournal/tent/tent2.html