Boom Height Question

[1965healy]

Does anyone know the approximate distance from the top of the transom to the boom on a DSII when the boat is rigged? Also distance from top of CB trunk at the cuddy wall to the boom? I'm thinking of making an inexpensive boom tent. My boats 50 miles away right now and my tape measure won't reach.

[GreenLake]

The distance of the boom above the transom is to some extent adjustable by whatever line you use to hold up that end - unless, of course, you mean "with the boom horizontal".

An approximate distance would be at least 2ft, but probably a bit less than 2 1/2'.

The distance above the cuddy top is 16-18 inches on my DS1 - I think that is the same as on a DSII.

These measurements are to the bottom of the boom..

[Kleanbore]

Hey 1965healy,
Where is your boat? If you want, we could meet at my boat in San Antonio, step the mast and make your measurements.
Have you sailed your boat this summer?

[1965healy]

The boats out in Bandera right now. I've got it in the barn out there while I do some work on it. Installing a 12 volt system that's wired inside thru the port side seat to a 12v heavy duty waterproof connector for the trolling motor at the aft end of the seat. There's another 12v heavy duty waterproof connector on the inside wall of the cuddy that connects to a deep cycle marine battery ahead of the mast in one of those MinnKota battery boxes with the circuit breaker and 12v accessory sockets. Ordered a stern light, mast head light and a bi-color nav light for the fore deck. Installed "baby stays" to keep the mast from twisting/swaying while it's being raised/lowered and will be installing a remote controlled 12v winch on the forward bulkhead what will exit thru a fair lead on the fore deck to raise and lower the mast without having to use the trailer winch. It's basically a modified MacGregor mast raising system that's a work in progress. Bought the set-up from MacGregor; used the "baby-stays", mast bail and deck hardware and added some turnbuckles to make it easier to adjust the stays. I removed the hand winch from the gin pole and shortened the pole a bit, the pivoting pole attaches to the cuddy top just ahead of the mast tabernacle and hooks to the front of the mast when not in use. Also got an endless line jib furler from APS like the one Roger has on his boat. I installed a telescoping West Marine ladder to the transom on the starboard side, there's a 40# thrust long shaft Motor Guide Vari-Max trolling motor on the port side that plugs into the 12v connector installed in the port side seat face. I put in a 5 inch access port to fish the wiring thru, the other end of the wiring comes into the cuddy thru a 1 inch hole that has another 12v heavy duty waterproof connector. I may put in a couple of the APS water bottle/ditty bag ports about mid way down the seats, haven't decided on those yet. I'm looking for some 4 inch waterproof speakers to mount on the cockpit/cuddy bulkhead and then I'll install a West Marine Radio/CD/MP3 player just inside the cuddy attached to the roof. I'm looking at a 5 watt solar panel to keep the battery charged, just haven't decided where to mount it. The rest of the projects are cuddy organization things. Some Velcro straps to hold the sail battens to the inside of the cuddy roof just inside the door, clips to hold a boat hook and the oars attached to the roof stringers just off to one side of the mast. I'll probably do some bungees to secure my tool bag and a bailing bucket with my manual bilge pump and some sponges. There's another bucket with the dock lines, fenders, anchor and line that needs to be secured as well. Maybe a cargo net attached to the inside of the cuddy roof to keep rain ponchos, sweat shirts, towels and other stuff up off the floor of the cuddy. I have a first aid kit and another kit with flares, a horn, signal mirror, reloads for the PFD's and other safety bits that attach to the inside of the cockpit/cuddy bulkhead. It's amazing how much gear you need to safely sail such an itty, bitty boat!

I've had her out on Boerne Lake six times this summer. it's a small lake but it's a "no gas" lake which means no PWC, or water skiers so it's peaceful and quiet with just kayaks, canoes and some small boats with trolling motors. I was out a couple of weeks ago and there were probably no more than a half a dozen fishing boats, a dozen kayaks and a catamaran on the lake besides myself.

Every time I go out I think of something else to add or tweak so I doubt I'll ever be done. Just having lots of fun.

Where's your boat at? I work in the Medical Center and live near 10 and Hildebrand?

[Kleanbore]

I keep my boat is in a storage lot at Lookout and Evans roads, west of I35. If you want to sail, just let me know.

[dannyb9]

boom height is adjustable, you can shackle the main halyard to the aft end of the boom and the jib halyard to the front (tack) of the boom and adjust boom height with the halyards.

[seandwyer]

Hey 1965Healy,

I think the other thing to consider is the mast height. It seems like I have seen some boats where a bit must have been cut from the bottom of the mast because the boom barely clears the top of the cuddy, whereas others are way up there. The slot that the gooseneck slips into on mine has nothing more than a set screw in the track keeping it at a certain height above the deck / sliding further down into the sail track. Given that it's just a screw, I'm guessing there is a big variable there as well.

Something I'm interested in hearing about from you is how you plan to fasten the boom tent to the sides of the boat. I'd like to make one for cruising purposes and haven't really come up with an easy way to put a tent up and how to fasten the sides down while at anchor. I want to sleep under it, so I haven't figured out a way to screen in the end of it either. Any suggestions?

[jeadstx]

For fastening the boom tent to the sides D&R has a hook, http://www.drmarine.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DS400C

I remember these hooks being used for the boom tent on my dad's 1969 Mariner.

John

[ctenidae]

http://www.slosailandcanvas.com/servlet ... oat/Detail

Been happy with this all season. Plastisol covered hooks are nice. Price has gone up since we got ours, though.

[seandwyer]

ctenidae,

do you use this to camp under, or just as a cover? I'm guessing that the ends are open - so not something to keep bugs or blowing rain out - right? I was reading the story from Marsh Hawk again and his boom tent was closed on the ends, but only covered about half of the cockpit. As a result he was always pumping the boat out if it rained. I've had deluge rains that FILLED the boat in just a little while. I'd say that's the last thing you want when out camping. Other than that, it looks like the solution all made up with no muss or fuss. I'm sure this one would definitely keep things manageable in a severe rain.

Thanks!

[jeadstx]

It's not a Daysailer, but this is an interesting boom tent I saw on "Trailor Sailor Catboat forum".




John

[1965healy]

That's a NICE tent! Outside the scope of my DIY skills and probably NOT cheap to buy either. I think if I'm going to seriously sleep on a boat for more than an overnight I'll move up to either a Macgregor 26M or one of the other 26' water ballast boats. I love my DS2 but realize that she's just that, a daysailer. As I get older I realize that I like a real bunk to sleep in and a head with a door on it.

[GreenLake]

The DS boom is 10' long and the beam of the DS is about 6'. You might be able to find a small tent that fits these dimensions and then make a few minor modifications. A tent that uses these kinds of half-hoops will be nearly self supporting.

The biggest challenge would be to cut an opening that will allow the cuddy roof to fit in, but it's always easier to make a few cuts...

If you include a used tent in your search, then price could even be cheaper than working with new materials for a less comfortable design (e.g. new tarp).

Just a thought.

[ctenidae]

Sean-

We just use it as a cover. It is closed at the front with a collar and 3 snaps, open at the back. The back two corner hooks reach the back of the transom, so there's a pretty good overhang on teh back. Assuming you're swinging free on anchor, blowing rain should have a hard time coming in. Using the tent (and since tightening up the CB gasket) we've had very little bailing to do, if any, even after a week of good rains.

You could certainly sleep under it, and a piece of mosquito netting would seal the end against bugs just fine.

[ctenidae]

Update on the boom tent's durability- we had 30kt sustained gusting well over 50kt winds all night last night- really kicking up from about 4am to 6am. Walked out at sunrise this morning to see if the boat was even still on her mooring, an dsure enough, she was, boom tent intact.

She does look like she's riding a little low in the water, so there's no telling how much water in on board now. IF there's a lot in, I bet it's salty, fromwaves rather than rain. Super heavy rains all day today, too, so won't know until tomorrow. Hopefull I don't have to wait for low tide to walk out and bail her off the bottom.