Tom, A couple of days ago there was a thread about biminis, cockpit canopies, and boom tents. Check it out. Here are a couple of suggestions as to measurement and material for a tent or canopy. To get the correct size for the canopy, measure from the foreward end of the boom to the backstay. That will be the length of the material you will need. by including the backstay you get a longer tent, but you have to slit the tent to fit it around the backstay. Then measure across the boom from stanchion to stanchion and decide which measurement you want to use for the width of the material. Our tent width is just a bit narrower than the naarrowest measurement from stanchion to stanchion across the top of the boom. With the measurements in hand, decide what material you want to use to make the tent. You can buy a tarp which is close to the required measurement and be done with it, or you can make one out of sunbrella type material, or have one made. Grommet locations are not critical as you can lash the tent to the stanchions and lifelines (if you have them)at any angle to hold the tent in place. Some folks get fancy and make side and rear curtains which can be rolled up and lashed when not in use. We use beach towels pinned to the canopy with clothespins when we want privacy or sun protection. Our canopy is white water repellent material (I'm not sure exactly what the material is) and I find it comfortable to sit under. Others use sunbrella type fabric and I've seen all kinds of colors. Some folks have also sewn slots into the covers and used plastic, aluminum, or stainless poles to make ribs to support the canopy. Ours has the slots sewn in, but I never use them, even though I had an upholstery company make the poles for me. Hope this helps. Tom Ehmke Catawba Island, Ohio ODay 272 tooth'n'nail
