Sea-going tent

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   An article to hopefully provide some nautical interest now the nights are lengthening and many boats are tucked up for the winter.

Sailing northern European waters is fun, challenging - but often wet and windy. Some long passages in poor weather are unavoidable but watchkeeping on the 400 can leave you a little exposed, no matter the quality of your clothing.  Mention sailing in Scottish wind & rain and my wife mentions divorce.  I know some here have done amazing things like building their own fibreglass doghouse but I'm afraid I'm not clever enough.  We wanted something simple to use, inexpensive yet effective which still permitted easy sight of the sails and lines as well as unrestricted visibility for watchkeeping.
Although we've got a full cockpit tent, I'd argue its poor seamanship to rig that when underway as I think the picture below shows why:

I asked a sailmaker to make up some panels which could easily be rigged in stages depending on the weather from a little bit more shelter with the wind from the beam forwards to watchkeeping in a biblical downpour.  It starts with two triangular panels that extend the sprayhood aft which gives a surprising amount of extra shelter:

If needed another split panel can be zipped to the top of the sprayhood and the side panels; this can either be open or zipped shut:

This is the 'Mk 1' attempt that we might modify with more use.  All-round visibility remains good and we can quickly exit the cockpit to attend the vessel if necessary.  It kept us dry and most importantly warmer on longer passages thus reducing fatigue - perhaps the biggest threat to safety on a boat.  Overall cost was about £1200 as being a 'one off' it required the sailmaker to make several trips to ensure a good fit.  The iPad visible on a scanstrut mounting mirrors the Raymarine MFD providing full control of navigation, radar and autopilot functions.

...and the wife no longer mentions divorce.

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Ratbasher Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 31 May 2017 Location: Cyprus Status: Offline Points: 818	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ratbasher Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Sea-going tent Posted: 02 December 2025 at 17:52
	An article to hopefully provide some nautical interest now the nights are lengthening and many boats are tucked up for the winter. Sailing northern European waters is fun, challenging - but often wet and windy. Some long passages in poor weather are unavoidable but watchkeeping on the 400 can leave you a little exposed, no matter the quality of your clothing. Mention sailing in Scottish wind & rain and my wife mentions divorce. I know some here have done amazing things like building their own fibreglass doghouse but I'm afraid I'm not clever enough. We wanted something simple to use, inexpensive yet effective which still permitted easy sight of the sails and lines as well as unrestricted visibility for watchkeeping. Although we've got a full cockpit tent, I'd argue its poor seamanship to rig that when underway as I think the picture below shows why: I asked a sailmaker to make up some panels which could easily be rigged in stages depending on the weather from a little bit more shelter with the wind from the beam forwards to watchkeeping in a biblical downpour. It starts with two triangular panels that extend the sprayhood aft which gives a surprising amount of extra shelter: If needed another split panel can be zipped to the top of the sprayhood and the side panels; this can either be open or zipped shut: This is the 'Mk 1' attempt that we might modify with more use. All-round visibility remains good and we can quickly exit the cockpit to attend the vessel if necessary. It kept us dry and most importantly warmer on longer passages thus reducing fatigue - perhaps the biggest threat to safety on a boat. Overall cost was about £1200 as being a 'one off' it required the sailmaker to make several trips to ensure a good fit. The iPad visible on a scanstrut mounting mirrors the Raymarine MFD providing full control of navigation, radar and autopilot functions. ...and the wife no longer mentions divorce.
	H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

Wayne's World Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 18 July 2012 Location: Cruising Status: Offline Points: 1434	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wayne's World Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 03 December 2025 at 01:40
	Nice design/work. But I think we will stick to the tropics.
	Wayne W Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.

landlocked Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 12 April 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 568	Post Options Post Reply Quote landlocked Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 03 December 2025 at 05:01
	Great idea - a super spot for one or more crew to warm up.
	"Kerkyra" 400e #042

sgrhma2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 20 November 2021 Location: Northern Irelan Status: Offline Points: 271	Post Options Post Reply Quote sgrhma2 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 03 December 2025 at 08:59
	Iain, that is a great job and I’m going to look into doing something similar to my 370. What I have done is make a half hatch and a seat top for it. This works well when single handed but isn’t great when there’s additional crew onboard and the weather isn’t compliant. When underway it’s very comfortable when the heating is on low and warm air is gently flowing past you and your coffee cup sits nicely on the high side.

Ratbasher Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 31 May 2017 Location: Cyprus Status: Offline Points: 818	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ratbasher Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 December 2025 at 12:46
	Looks nice, Simon. On a previous boat in Scottish winters I got a length of light polythene vent trunking, connected it to a heating outlet and stuffed the other end up inside my jacket. Only trouble was that it provided a great disincentive to move. Of course we can always follow in Wayne's wake and head for the tropics. Now there's a thought.....
	H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK

Rock Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 19 September 2014 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 404	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rock Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 03 December 2025 at 16:44
	My wife and I often tell each other that the ‘extension’ of our sprayhood is the best money we ever spent on the boat. Hands down, not saying it because this is the topic of the day. Back then, some 600 Euro’s. Designed to be taken off easily (takes 2 minutes), but we never ever take it off. It is amazing how comfortable the extra dry space is, in the rain, in the wind, even in the sun, it shields. It’s the favorite seating place of my wife. Only when it is really gusting and raining on a broad reach the rain reaches the entrance. We sometimes contemplate to have it ‘closed’ , but it is so rarely (holland not so different from Scottish wether) that you really want it, that we never did. In marina’s we typically try to have her nose in the wind. And then even if it rains we are having breakfast outside, people must think we are crazy, but it is just so comfortable The ‘marina tent’ attaches to it and it creates enough space to comfortably seat 4. The marina tent is up when we leave the boat for a couple days or when the wether is really bad. Goes up in 2 minutes also. I have a full cockpit tent with windows also, but haven’t used that for years, bigger and more work.
	Hanse 400e "M-square2" #0241

Mark_J1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 12 March 2013 Location: Dover&Medway UK Status: Offline Points: 690	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mark_J1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 December 2025 at 00:43
	I went for a fully tensioned cockpit tent which could be semi-permanently rigged, with or without the sides. With no sides fitted it’s a bit like a full cockpit length spray hood extension. It’s survived underway in some significant blows. Makes a huge difference Summer or Winter, as it really reduces weather exposure. It does take some getting used to. Definitely had to relearn how to move in and out of the cockpit quickly. As it’s my habit to stand on the aft quarters while manoeuvring, I don’t find the vis too bad as I just look over the top of it. Visibility on passage is fine with open sides and an occasional bit of TLC on the spray hood ‘windows’. In principle, it can be dropped completely in under 5 mins. However, I must confess I found I could get 400W+ of solar on top of it. So need an extra 5 mins to uncouple that lot first! :) See here on MarineTraffic if you’d like a pic: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3963710 Loading pictures to MyHanse on mobile is a pain! Mark Edited by Mark_J1 - 13 December 2025 at 00:49
	Hanse 400e "Grey Goose" Hull #31

arctic_breeze Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 17 December 2025 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote arctic_breeze Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 December 2025 at 16:11
	We just bought a 2011 Hanse 400 and are looking to replace the current factory canvas setup. For up here in the colder climates that sprayhood extension looks amazing. Is that an extension to the factory sprayhood or is the whole setup a custom job? Would you mind sharing where you had it made? That is a beautiful setup.

Mark_J1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 12 March 2013 Location: Dover&Medway UK Status: Offline Points: 690	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mark_J1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 December 2025 at 17:20
	Arctic-breeze:- - spray hood frame was originally made by Covercraft for the UK importer Inspiration marine. (I suspect many of the boats delivered 2005-2015'ish had them from this source rather than the factory supplied if the boat was delivered to the UK). - full length cockpit tent sourced via Elite Yacht Covers in the UK. They've done similar on other Hanse yachts. They got the idea of "a tent I can sail with" right away. - The spray hood frame was recovered and a second frame created to provide height and tension. - Extension zips to the spray hood and tensioners pull on the combination at the transom. - Frame needs to be high enough to allow you to move around the wheel, but also be very carefully positioned to not foul either the operation of genoa or main winches. - I can still exit from the helm position directly onto deck as needed, without having to go forward into the main part of the cockpit. Worth checking that in any design you go for. - When not sailing the sides and back zip in and tension up neatly. - I'd thoroughly recommend Elite Yacht Covers. Maybe you could make a trip to the UK ( R. Orwell near Ipswich based on the UK East Coast) :) Mark Edited by Mark_J1 - 17 December 2025 at 17:29
	Hanse 400e "Grey Goose" Hull #31

Rock Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 19 September 2014 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 404	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rock Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 December 2025 at 07:52
	Hi Ali, Not sure who the question was directed at. Anyways, my canvas comes from UK De Vries Sails. In my experience Canvas is much about personal taste (aside from the functional requirements), we shouldn’t really argue about it. In my view a shabby dodger or tent can ruin the lines of a great looking boat. An extension as I have can be made for any sprayhood, it simply zips/attaches to it. One extra stainless pipe (in 2 pieces, can easily be split and stowed) and 2 tensioners at the back of the extension to keep it tight. it’s really nice and tight, almost like a canvas doghouse. I have no forward cockpit winches installed, makes for easier installation. In case of forward winches it still works, the canvas workshop would provide for cut-outs for the winches (often attached with Velcro). In my opinion the standard Hanse canvas isn’t worth the name so probably worth looking at replacing everything in one go. Marks set-up I would call a Bimini (but I’m no native speaker :-) ) BR, Peter
	Hanse 400e "M-square2" #0241



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