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

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.

  

Of course we can always follow in Wayne's wake and head for the tropics.  Now there's a thought.....

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.

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’. 

- 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

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 

Shelter from the elements

Unconstrained visibility to ensure effective watchkeeping

Rapid access to the deck

Quick and easy setup and removal

Added security
Cost-effective

Having visited Mark's impressive 'Grey Goose' I noted he has a hard grab-rail on the sides of the sprayhood (dodger to our North American pals) while mine has long soft webbing.  He's happy to keep the sprayhood up all the time while I prefer it lowered for close-quarter manoeuvring which is impossible with the hard rail.  That's but one example of individual preference but getting details like that correct for you can become very important.

All of these are custom-made to our own requirements but don't let that put you off.  Recommend you think-through with whoever sails regularly with you and come up with a list similar to mine above, then adding specific details of what you want and do not want included.  You can then sketch out a basic design or, like me, just go to a friendly sailmaker and invite him down to the boat.  I was glad I did that as mine came up with a lot of small but important ideas that increased ease of use while reducing the costs.  Any decent sail or canvass-maker in your area should be able to turn your ideas into reality although of course there's a literal price to pay unless you're clever enough to make it yourself. I used a small husband-and-wife business in Ramsgate, England who took tremendous care to get the details right. I'm not sure if there's any differences between model years on the sprayhoods which would render my 'add on' approach unsuitable for a simple copy to be made but I'd be happy to supply details if required.  However, if your sprayhood was nearing the end of its life and you had money needing a place to run to you could always have a completely new structure made.  Peter's looks lovely!

VR

Iain