GP14 Sailing Forums Forum Boom Tent

Viewing 2 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #23280
      Arthur
      Participant

      Sorry for not being active for over a year, have been having issues with elderly parents requiring all my time when away from work.  I did not even get my GP prepped for sailing last year, she just sadly forlorn in the shed all summer.

      With their medical issues fading into the distance,  I am contemplating using my boat this year for some camp cruising, as I had planned when I purchased her years ago.  Are there any plans for a boom tent kicking around somewhere I could get my hands on, or am I blazing new territory here?

      Thanks, glad to be back,

       

      Art

    • #23281
      Oliver Shaw
      Moderator

      Welcome back!

      Sorry to hear about your parents’ medical issues.

      I don’t actually have any tent plans as such,  but on A Capella I have occasionally used a boom tent made by the previous owner of a Series 1 boat which I bought in 2004.   It is basically a simple A-shape,  with a modest extension forward of the mast,  and access/egress at the  stern;  see the photos.

      Securing the bottom of the tent is a compromise,  because I used it only occasionally,  and I did not want to deface my then brand new boat by fitting lacing hooks or other clips around the hull.    So instead of using lacing hooks or other fittings I used to rig a 6 mm rope around the hull immediately below the gunwales,  tensioned with shockcord,  and tie the bottom of the tent on to that,  doing the job that with a land-based tent would be done by guy ropes and pegs.   That works tolerably in light winds,  but typically some part of the bottom pulls away and lifts the girdle rope above the gunwale at some point during the night;  but in light winds that is tolerable.   I have never put it to the test in strong winds.

      Condensation is an issue,  and I think at least one pair of proper tent ventilators are essential;   this tent doesn’t have any.

      Headroom is very limited.   If I were still into camping aboard,  and were thinking in terms of a new tent,  I would be strongly inclined to go for a design which gave adequate sitting headroom across the boat.     That could be achieved by the use of athwartship hoops made from light fibreglass rods,  perhaps adapted from a commercial tent using that system.   I have also occasionally seen Wayfarers using tents supported by a pair of longitudinal ridge poles,  one either side of the boat,  mounted to the shrouds forward,  and on an athwartships bracket secured to the boom at the after end.    One obvious issue for either design is where and how to store the tent frame while sailing,  but other dinghy cruising sailors do manage that.

      It might be worth an enquiry to the Wayfarer Association,  and/or to the Dinghy Cruising Association.

      Hope this is of some help.

       

      Oliver

      Attachments:
      You must be logged in to view attached files.
    • #23287
      Arthur
      Participant

      Thank you, Oliver.  I will look into what the Wayfarer folk are up to.  I do own a larger boat with a cabin,  but it’s not something you can pull right up to the beach with.

Viewing 2 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.