Sunshade Solution
I came up with a solution for my 22 footer last weekend and tested it on July 14th in light to moderate breezes.I started with a 8' by 6' canvas tarp from West Marine, about $25.00. The tarp is 10.5 oz. canvas and has brass grommets at all corners and mid points.I bought some lengths of mahogany decking material (4" by 1") that I ripped in half with a circular saw and cut to approximately 5'-6" in length. So I ended up with (2) five and a half foot long one by two's. Those with table saws and good straight ripping fences can achieve better results than my efforts did with a hand held circular saw. I sanded down the edges and screwed eye-bolts of stainless steel into each end being careful to pre-drill so as to not split the wood. Mahogany can be very fiberous material and tends to split.I finished the two members with about 6 to 7 coats of clear urethane, sanding between each coat lightly with a 400 grit black sandpaper. I made sure to urethane the ends of the wood to seal them. I affixed stainless snap shackles to each corner of the tarp ($5.00 each from the local hardware store!). I then tied small slines to each corner of the tarp as well as tie-downs.When I set up the tarp on the boat, I did not rig it over the boom, but rather elevated it a bit to allow access to the foredeck. I oriented the tarp so that the long dimension ran along the boom, and the short dimension ran side to side. I connected the main haylard to the middle grommet on the short side of the tarp and pulled it up a tad. On the aft end of the tarp, I tied a small line from the middle grommet of the AFT part of the tarp to the backstay, just above the mainsheet wire connection.I now had the tarp pinned at either end, drooping over the boom like a fallen pup tent. I rigged the mahogany standoffs ( 1 by 2's) and took the snap shackles on the corners of the tarp and connected them to the eyebolts on the standoffs. The standoffs were oriented side to side on the boat, one forward, one aft.I then tied the corners down to the nearest cleat, lifeline, stantion, whatever suits you, to level the tarp. The first time I rigged it it took about 10 minutes, but with some adjustments and practice, that will decrease in time. When it was time to go in, the tarp rolls up on the standoffs like a old stretcher and stows away as a 5'-6" long by 4 inch diameter canvas and wood affair.The boat is operable with the tarp up on headsail (working jib) or motor only. The tarp offers good coverage to the forward half of the cockpit and the entire conpainionway as well. Lowering it to the boom will help in rainy situations (which I have not tested yet!). The standoffs must be placed over the boom in the high setting, not under.The 5'-6" long standoffs will pull the tarp pretty tight so I recommend trying a 5 foot standoff or 5'-3" perhaps. That'll just make the tarp more angular, instead of flat and level.I'll try to get snapshots of the rig on the site soon. And if anyone's in Northport Bay on a weekend afternoon, look for me around Ashroken Beach, my favorite "hangout".Happy sailing all.Stu Timm"Karakahl"1079 22' O'day centerboardCenterport, Long Island