BOOM tents

[stnick]

I need some advice guys. ! I'm going to the Bahamas for 6 weeks and Im thinking a boom tent would be nice !?
Should i get a custom one made for a Morgan 384 or is there any other options ya know of? !
I have a gen so ac will be nice. The shade would be easier on all the machinery .

[Ryan H]

For short term and cheap, a canvas drop cloth and punch grommets are hard to beat. Get a big one, cut to size, use the extra for a wind scoop and if you decide you love the set up and want it permanent you now have a prototype/pattern to build a nice one from. Total cost should be around 30$.

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[zboss]

We are very happy with a couple of heavy duty tarps with grommets - viewed from a short distance they look like canvas.

The only issue is that they stick to your back when you walk under them.

Sigman 10 ft. x 12 ft. White Heavy Duty Tarp-WPF010012 at The Home Depot

[stnick]

I'll not have any Home depot plastic tarps on my boat ! Thanks any way for the advice...I'll talk to my canvas guy I'm thinking shark skin , sunbrella Custom tarps..
Ronstan makes a great looking inflatable boom tent.. I have seen this one in person from transients at my dock. I was Impressed.

[model 10]

I think a simple but custom made tarp that is quick to rig is the way to go. Then not all boats are sloops with great big booms.

[sck5]

bungies to the lifelines help set it up and take it down quickly

[zboss]

Our tarps look really good! Plus we use the bungie balls to connect them to the lifelines. I'm sorry but no inflatable boom tent is going to stand up to anything more than a 5 knots wind.

We were quoted $1500 for a custom sunbrella boom tent. Our setup cost $30.

[sesmith]

We got ours here:

Boom Tent

Very reasonable price and excellent quality. We are very happy with it. We priced out materials and decided it wasn't worth it to try to make it ourselves.

[meridian28]

Add 3 or 4 10' sections of 1/2" PVC pipe for a few bucks each.

[Billy Higgins]

Since you are off to the Bahamas, seriously consider adding a little gutter flap on the outside edges of the awning to catch rain water. Then rig the awing to direct water flow to the forward or aft end of the awning, and then into a catchment of some sort. Many out islands can be short of plentiful water for cruisers.

[Coxswain]

Boom tents are excellent, some guys are making them that zip into your boom bag... fantastic idea.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by zboss

Our tarps look really good! Plus we use the bungie balls to connect them to the lifelines... We were quoted $1500 for a custom sunbrella boom tent. Our setup cost $30.

Heh. Sure they do Cap. They have some plastic tarps in camo now. No one would know!

[capngeo]

Mine is a full width of sunbrella, with shade cloth on each side ball-tied to the lifelines.
Rain stays out of the companionway, air still whafts in... best of both worlds!

[Cheechako]

I hated the boom tents I had. something is always chafing, coming loose or dumping water on your head. One chafed right thru my lifeline covering. Buy a good bimini.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Billy Higgins

Since you are off to the Bahamas, seriously consider adding a little gutter flap on the outside edges of the awning to catch rain water. Then rig the awing to direct water flow to the forward or aft end of the awning, and then into a catchment of some sort. Many out islands can be short of plentiful water for cruisers.

No problem with fresh water in the Bahamas. RO water is available most places. Some places it's free.