boom tent?

Jul 15, 2015
59
Catalina 22 Raleigh NC
What are people doing for a boom tent to cover there pop up when anchor and it's raining? I forsee it getting super hot down below if I have to close the companion way and such during brief showers and such.

Thanks! I was thinking just bringing a cheap tarp and bungees for when I see rain on the horizon.
 
Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Pics below are my boat before I started the resto, picking it up from the marina. It has the cabin cover that snaps all the way around the cabin roof and down the companion way doors. Mine is very old and probably not waterproof anymore. It only snaps on when the pop-top is closed and snaps down over the companionway, very effective at covering all the teak including the handrails.
If you were at anchor and on the boat at the time and needed the pop top open you'd want the pop top tent. This is made vinyl and has windows, covers the gap between the cabin top and roof in the up position, and also the companion way but has a zipped entry.
If your boat didn't come with them they are expensive to buy unless you can find them used and in good shape. You can also make them if you handy with a heavy duty sewing machine. You'll need the snap bases which screw into the fiberglass of the cabin and down the teak of the companionway.

Obviously the cheapest way is a tarp tent over the boom. I'd recommend finding the white heavy duty tarps because they reflect heat better and seem to stand up to sun better. The blue and brown ones get eaten up pretty quick, especially if you leave the boat covered dock-side or at anchor.



 
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Jul 15, 2015
59
Catalina 22 Raleigh NC
So my boat did come with the popup vivnl cover but I need the mast up to put in all the snaps, and not a small project. If I am putting the mast up, I want to be sailing :)
I might just go for the cheap tarp over the boom idea for the time being.
 
Sep 30, 2013
3,598
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
What are people doing for a boom tent to cover there pop up when anchor and it's raining? I forsee it getting super hot down below if I have to close the companion way and such during brief showers and such.

Thanks! I was thinking just bringing a cheap tarp and bungees for when I see rain on the horizon.
That's what I have, just an ordinary tarp that lays across the boom, and stretches out toward the lifelines, where I bungee it. It came with my boat so naturally it is old, ugly, the wrong color, and not the perfect size. I plan to make one (or have one made?) to my exact measurements before our next major cruise.
 
Jul 15, 2015
59
Catalina 22 Raleigh NC
Jacomo, this will be for when the mast is up and at anchor.
Yeah having a nice canvas one that is the exact size I need would be nice...But for now, old cheapo tarp will work :)
 
Jul 23, 2013
487
1981 Catalina 22 #10330 Bayview, ID
Before I added a bimini top, I used the "poor man's bimini" shown below. It's a 6'x8' tarp. Two 1/2" PVC pipes cut slightly longer than the tarp width support each end as a frame and hold the sides up. Bungee cords on each corner hook through the tarp grommets and into the pipe ends, tying all three together and causing a bow in the pipes. The middle grommets of the tarp ends are lashed to the pipes with velcro strips. A bungee in the middle of each pipe pulls the whole thing taught between the mast and the end of the boom.

It worked really well once set up.

 
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