cockpit shade

[Piotr]

Piotr, do you mean one of the Taylor Made Anchorshades? http://www.taylormadeproducts.com/catalog/

What's the height adjustment range? The catalog says it will go to 8' high, but I wonder what's the useful low height?

Thanks,
Brian

I adjust it to be just above my boom (about 6 feet?). I attach the stand to the boom with a bungee cord, and attach 4 corners to the rail. It fits perfectly just inside the backstay. This gives me shade both in the cabin and the cockpit, a head room to stand in the cockpit, and leaves enough room to go on deck if needed without wild contortions. I would absolutely recommend it. We looked at the bimini, but decided it was too low to be of any use at the dock, and too confining in the cockpit for sailing. BTW - we DO NOT use it while sailing.

 

[Brian S]

Thanks, Piotr. I've been mucking about with a tarp over the boom and PVC conduit poles. The 6x8 is a wee bit narrow sometimes, but is long enough to come forward and cover the companionway if it's raining. It works, but it takes a bit to set it up. And umbrella-style thing like that has much promise… Easy to stow, most of all the parts stay stuck together… I suspect if it isn't rain resistant, a shot of Scotchguard would help, and it could be moved back on the boom for cockpit sun coverage, or forward for better companionway rain coverage.

Cool! I've found a second Christmas present I can ask for! (The other one is a Magma grill cover…)

Brian

 

[Piotr]

Thanks, Piotr. I've been mucking about with a tarp over the boom and PVC conduit poles. The 6x8 is a wee bit narrow sometimes, but is long enough to come forward and cover the companionway if it's raining. It works, but it takes a bit to set it up. And umbrella-style thing like that has much promise… Easy to stow, most of all the parts stay stuck together… I suspect if it isn't rain resistant, a shot of Scotchguard would help, and it could be moved back on the boom for cockpit sun coverage, or forward for better companionway rain coverage.

Cool! I've found a second Christmas present I can ask for! (The other one is a Magma grill cover…)

Brian

Actually, it does well in a light to moderate rain. Scotch guard would make it water proof.

 

[centerline]

we used a poly tarp for awhile, but decided we wanted something a bit more fitted and rugged for all season use, so we built a sunbrella shade...
we added grommets to the boom tent in the locations where the boat has something to tie to, so its easy to erect and takes about the same amount of time to secure it with bungie balls as it does to get it unrolled and shook out over the boom....

after its attached in the proper spots, the boom is raised on the topping lift, tightening it up and creating standing headroom throughout the cockpit. its high enough that it does not seem confining or claustrophobic. (now we would like to make some privacy curtains for the lifelines to keep the breeze to a minimum in the cockpit on a cool evening)

we have used it in the hot sun and its nice to have the shade, but we found its full value during a terrible rainy, windless day during our vacation..... we had it up the day before for sun shade, and left it up over night to keep the dew off, but then the weather turned wet in the night... the next morning we left it up while we motored across our passage to the next planned anchorage and stayed dry doing it. it was more enjoyable that way...

 

[cephius (Dave)]

Here's a boom tent I made for myself.

http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131886&mode=linear