In Praise of Cockpit Tents

[Stemar]

I was intructed by the Admiral to get a cockpit tent for Jissel and it was fitted a couple of days before we went on board for last week.

It's transformed our use for the boat Jissel's only little (24 ft) and the saloon with its dinette is fine as kitchen diner, but not a comfortable place to spend any amount of time lingering over a postprandial brandy or three. Now we can use the cockpit in comfort in damp conditions or in the evening when the temperature drops, where before, we'd end up in the forepeak as it was the only place to relax in the warm and dry.

It isn't much good at sea as visibility forward isn't really good enough and, in any case, we can't use the main sheet We did keep it up, with the sides open motoring from Portsmouth to Chchester early on a Friday with no wind and no one about, but had to take it down in torrential rain because we simply couldn't see through the sprayhood windows, though, tbh, it wasn't much better with it down, the rain was so heavy.

It won't suit toughies who keep the sprayhood down all the time or those who head for the pub the second the lines are made off, but for folk like us who like lazing in quiet anchorages it's worth every penny of its (rather high) price. I would have got a Habitent, but they don't fit such a small boat, so the only alternative was to go bespoke.

We had been considering whether we'd want to get a bigger boat when I retire in a couple of years time, but the success of the tent has confirmed our decision to stick with a boat that's had a lot of living (and fettling) to get her the way we like her.

 

[Daedelus]

+1

 

[maby]

Fully agree - but it can be very difficult to find an acceptable design sometimes. We've been struggling to find someone that can come up with a plausible structure for over a year - and we've been working on a generous budget.

 

[robmcg]

+2. New this season.:encouragement:

 

[MoodySabre]

Fully agree - but it can be very difficult to find an acceptable design sometimes. We've been struggling to find someone that can come up with a plausible structure for over a year - and we've been working on a generous budget.

Jeckells came and discussed what wanted and suggested a shape for the frame which means it can stay lowered without getting in the way at all. Most suppliers just want to sell something from a catalogue.

 

[capnsensible]

Wouldn't be without ours. Was fitted when we first bought the boat (Moody 33) and after16 odd years of living onboard are now on the third cover and fourth redesign!

Have been lucky to find good workmanship away from the UK, all tailored to our thoughts.

Makes a huge difference in the winter plus nice shade in summer.

Tops.

 

[Dockhead]

I have never liked sitting under mine in the cockpit. Over the years I have used it mostly for weather protection of the cockpit when I'm off the boat.

I have occasionally used it when motoring in a downpour. But I had never sailed with it -- until last month's transit of the North Sea to the Elbe in mostly F6 and F7 and torrential rain. I started sailing in it and -- guess what -- it's brilliant in that kind of weather. It's not actually so hard to trim the sails and what a blessing to be out of the lashing rain and cold wind.

Next best thing to a pilothouse.

 

[dslittle]

We have one. I have to say that it is THE BEST idea that my missus has had in relation to the boat. There is just something nice about sitting in the cockpit in January warm and toasty as the rain/sleet/snow howls around. As said above, it just gives us another 'room'. We don't sail with it up though. Wouldn't be without it.

 

[john_morris_uk]

We have just had a full cockpit tent made with removable sides so that it can be a bimini in the tropics.

I have yet to see it and just hope that the company have got it right. (Boat 500 miles away!)

I will report back in a few weeks.

 

[vyv_cox]

Here's ours, although not used for a few years now. We had it made in Holland, an excellent job. We were also given the pattern for the hood and tent, very useful as we have had another hood made in UK using it.

At the time this photo was taken in Brittany the rain was torrential.

We could never sail with it as our mainsheet is on a track immeiately aft of the hood.

 

[Storyline]

Interesting to read this thread and it confirms the feeling we got a few weeks ago. Had been driving north to Scotland to get the boat ready for the summer. The car was full of duvets, pillows & clothes etc. Heavy rain was forecast for our arrival and so we wished we had bought some kind of cover with us to keep everything dry in the trolley dash from car to boat. Stopped at a small hardware shop that said it sold fishing stuff. In the corner was a polypropylene tarpaulin for the grand price of £4.99. It did its job and a few days later we were in a small anchorage with rain forecast for the eveing so we thought we would try hanging the tarp from the boom. It had eyelets in the corners and lines where made off to the guard wires.

The result was amazing - instantly the cabin felt cosier as the cover stopped the wind coming in and when the rain started we could sit in the cockpit fot the first time ever. It is a bit noisy and no doubt looked ludicrous but has definitely made us think about getting something built for the job.

 

[maby]

Interesting to read this thread and it confirms the feeling we got a few weeks ago. Had been driving north to Scotland to get the boat ready for the summer. The car was full of duvets, pillows & clothes etc. Heavy rain was forecast for our arrival and so we wished we had bought some kind of cover with us to keep everything dry in the trolley dash from car to boat. Stopped at a small hardware shop that said it sold fishing stuff. In the corner was a polypropylene tarpaulin for the grand price of £4.99. It did its job and a few days later we were in a small anchorage with rain forecast for the eveing so we thought we would try hanging the tarp from the boom. It had eyelets in the corners and lines where made off to the guard wires.

The result was amazing - instantly the cabin felt cosier as the cover stopped the wind coming in and when the rain started we could sit in the cockpit fot the first time ever. It is a bit noisy and no doubt looked ludicrous but has definitely made us think about getting something built for the job.

Fully agree with you - we made up a boom tent out of a cheap Sunbrella clone and it is very useful. We would like something more permanent, but thus far have been unable to find anyone who could come up with a design that didn't have some unacceptable impact on the useability of the boat. All the proposed designs we've received fouled at least one winch, or made it impossible to open a cockpit locker properly. We are now planning on installing a radar arch and using that as the aft support for a cockpit tent.

 

[yodave]

We bought our centre cockpit in 2011 in the Netherlands, and had a cockpit tent made and fitted in-between purchase and pickup. We could have had the tent made back in the UK for half the price, however the quality of the UK product wasn't anywhere close to the Dutch product.

The tent means that we can use the whole 32ft length of our boat no matter the weather (it rains a lot here), although we do tend to have the roof off or partially off for sailing. Also, as our aft cabin isn't a walk-through, the tent transforms overnight accommodation. Easily the best boat decision/addition we've made since purchasing our yacht ...and yes we're glad we chose to spend the extra loot. Plenty of pictures here: http://macwester.wordpress.com/macwester-malin-photos-pictures

 

[vyv_cox]

We bought our centre cockpit in 2011 in the Netherlands, and had a cockpit tent made and fitted in-between purchase and pickup. We could have had the tent made back in the UK for half the price, however the quality of the UK product wasn't anywhere close to the Dutch product.

Ours was made by a husband and wife team from Oude Beijerland, excellent job. Long time ago now and I have forgotten their name. Was yours the same?

 

[yodave]

Ours was made by a husband and wife team from Oude Beijerland, excellent job. Long time ago now and I have forgotten their name. Was yours the same?

Similar. Ours was made by a chap called Leo who was based near Naarden. Can't quite recall the company name now, but it's sewn on the tent ...so I can find that out for you if you like?

 

[Heckler]

Fully agree - but it can be very difficult to find an acceptable design sometimes. We've been struggling to find someone that can come up with a plausible structure for over a year - and we've been working on a generous budget.

I put one on my Bene 381 3 years ago. Its hardly been down! The Admiral insisted on us being able to sail with it up. We designed it and she "negotiated" the design with Jonothan from JKA!
Its the best thing we have done, sail in comfort, dry, dont need oilies! Vis is good, the uprights were designed so that we can use the winches. If its warm we roll the sides up and it acts as a bimini.
Stu

 

[yodave]

I checked last night. FYI the company name was "Nautique Zeilmakerij".

 

[riojasailer]

We had one made for our Bene 37 by Boatshed from Port Dinorwic a couple of years ago. Best thing we've bought for her by far. It means we can have breakfast in the cockpit in almost any weather. Don't sail with it up though - although at a pinch you could.

 

[RichardTaylor]

Fully agree - but it can be very difficult to find an acceptable design sometimes. We've been struggling to find someone that can come up with a plausible structure for over a year - and we've been working on a generous budget.

We had a custom made tent/bimini made by Quay Sails in Poole and we are very happy with the final result (we had to add a window panel in the bimini to see the end of the boom when sailing), relatively easy to put up the tent and converts the cockpit into an additional cabin.

(No connection with Quay Sails other than a satisfied, returning, customer)

 

[ChattingLil]

We have a centre cockpit ketch so fitting a tent was a bit tricky, but WIlkinsons Sails made ours and it is brilliant. We can't use the main when it's up as the traveller runs right across the cockpit, but we can use the mizzen and the head sails. All the sides come off so it can be used a bimini too (not great because it can't go far aft because of the mizzen mast), but there is standing headroom for 6'2' at the helm and I can even fit under it when standing on the seats. As others said above, it really transforms 'liveability'. (we liveaboard).