Two years ago, almost to the day, my daughter suggested that I “blog” my then current building of a cedar strip kayak called the Outer Island. I didn’t give it much thought other than I didn’t want my efforts here to die on the vine from a lack of ideas or happenings to report. Thus far, we’ve found a few things to yammer about. It all has become an interesting and entertaining adventure … well, at least for one person, me.

 And so, I give you post #100, a milestone of sorts, though merely bush league in achievement for many. All in all, it has been enjoyable to share “the process” of messing with these boats.
So, let’s have at it.

 Open boat sailing, while minimal, does require some basic necessities, food and shelter being primary. Especially, if one is to extend one’s cruising grounds. However, as simple as putting a tent or awning could be on such boats, you would not believe the countless solutions out there. Some are quite clever, but most are Rube Goldberg contraptions giving no thought to the frequent, and at times, surprise blow ups on the Chesapeake Bay, or elsewhere for that matter. The proverbial middle of the night fire drill is never welcomed. Sure, you could pitch a tent ashore. In fact, sometimes that may be more prudent. Yet, to anchor one’s boat in a secluded cove can deliver a special satisfaction and comfort if properly done. Camping ashore can leave you wondering if your probable trespass will be discovered. Snakes, or worse, could add to the on shore fun too.

Study model

Initial sketching

 So, a tent for UNA seems necessary. Starting with the KISS principle and with my model in hand we fashioned a few scenarios at small scale. A list of desired design features came to mind:

1. Quick and easy set up.
2. Compact for storing.
3. Room for 2 persons albeit cozy in size.
4. Reduced windage for a calmer ride in the event of a blow.
5. Ready access to the anchor rode.
6. Double as an awning when shade is welcomed at anchor.

 Our first attempt took the fly from our shore tent and fixed that across the cockpit. It was a close fit, but just shy of overlapping the gunwale. Covering only a portion of the cockpit, it had too much windage IMHO. (Some info previously shown discussed here).

Rain fly applied.

 A more obvious option strung a ridge line between the masts for throwing over a tarp. This one was studied quite a bit, but it too gave more windage than I desired and no matter how hard I strung the ridge it still sagged appreciably thereby hindering interior volume where needed. 

 A third scenario employed house wrap and bowed battens temporarily to make a roomy “cave,” but setting it all up looked to be a pain and while you could use tent poles instead, the pieces seemed too many. Limited storage of “stuff” on a small boat really makes itself evident. Several cruises are still needed to pare down what’s already lugged along.

Crew under bowed tent.

 A final alternative used the light main mast in a lowered position serving as a ridge beam.  If the weather really got howling, you don’t want the mast up anyway. Though the mast may help dampen  rolling, a lowered centerboard will suffice to do the same. Another quick mock-up showed particular promise. Drafting the solution helped with a cloth order of Sur Last. This is a lighter alternative from Sunbrella and is less expensive to boot. The material has served well in the building of UNA’s sail bags and spar covers. While not quite as water repellent as Sunbrella, Sur Last did pass a soaking test from the garden hose.

Tyvek and mast ridge pole with the happy crew.

As a better illustration, here is a drafted version:

 Additional canvass or insect netting panels may be added fore and aft at a later time if needed. Otherwise, a nice wedge is formed for easy weathercocking. This will have benefits for ventilation as well as riding a blow.

the “weathervane” mock-up.

view from aft.

“escape” corner pulled back.

 Now the project is near completion. We’ve good slope to shed rain, ample height for relaxing and cooking in the aft cockpit. The studying took quite some time, but the build actually went rather quickly.

Straps every 2′. Four per side.

Velcro strap close up

stainless footmans loop.

 The footman loops are 2′ on center and may double as attachment points for a boat cover down the road. For now, UNA sleeps in a garage.

 The heal of the mast wears a small neoprene sock to prevent scaring of the deck. The tent ridge is 1″ tubular nylon webbing with a loop to drop over the stem (again, no knots).

mast sock and ridge webbing loop.

 The mast’s after end hangs from the mizzen mast by a secondary halyard run through a SS ring secured by a loop of Dyneema. Once the ridge webbing and edges are secured, raising the high end of the mast tightens the whole affair.

A secondary halyard from mizzen mast raises ridge pole.

A soft Dyneema loop and SS ring make for the second halyard.

Lastly, a light 1/8″ Dacron line was threaded through a sleeve in the bottom edge to snug the skirt in. Wind and/or rain should not get through here.

Snugged canvass edge with light continuous line.

 With a furled mizzen, most of the windage is held aft. UNA should ride well with this setup. The necessity for any end panels will be evaluated in field later. No doubt a removable shroud forward may be added later. The window shown in the drafted elevation might also be nice. In the field testing is needed now. How long until Spring arrives?

 The whole shebang bundles nicely. We’ll sew a sack for storage later too.

tent bundled.

And there you have it, number 100 in the bag. Thanks for following along.

Like many “fine art” museums the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has its share of “scrambled car parts” and “spilled paint” (I try to be discriminating). Some might accuse me of having a blind (or blinded?) eye for such things. Fine. However, I can tolerate those inexplicable pieces any day of the week if viewed with my lovely daughter. After a good breakfast at the Original McCleans together, we had a brisk winter stroll over to the VMFA. With some interest in building another kayak, I took interest in the Native American exhibit. I was surprised to see a few people we recognized:

Moe

Larry

Curly

As always, it is good to see old friends. Even better, I wasn’t expecting what we found in the adjoining exhibit:

UNA’s grandmama!

For obvious reasons, this painting appeals to me. While not a yawl, the boat in the foreground is a double-ender, and one with fine lines. It is a portion of a larger 1848 painting by Fitz Henry Lane called “View of Gloucester Harbor”. How wonderful an atmosphere the artist conveys here.

With the onset of the cold weather, we’ve been working toward better equipping UNA for cruising. Top on that list is the boat tent, more on that later. I think we have that one solved to satisfaction.

Gifts from friends and Santa delivered a few key items to make overnights more comfortable.
One is a Neoair Therm-a-rest Camp Mattress. A good video review is here. I’ve the size large which fits very well in the floor of the boat and packs in a small provided sack. Well-made.

Just add butter!

Plate used as lid.

New galley box stove.

One day, someday, it will be warm enough for a field test. We’ll be ready.