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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/26/2011 : 21:52:00

And so it begins....I found this in the port locker. It measures about 6x8, maybe a little bigger. It's heavy canvas, with grommets all around. The end opposite the "V" has a pocket sewn in where you can insert something or run lines:

And it has this in the very middle, a way to tie it up?

I'm thinking it may go over the boom, like a tent?

Scott

When we left, we had just enough fuel to make it to San Juan. And now... we are out of fuel!

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 05:23:29

Scott, I think your guess is right on.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 06:56:08

That was my first guess, too.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 07:38:42

It laundered up really well. It was a bit musty and had some minor mold stains on it, but I washed it in warm with just a little bleach to kill the mold and some fabric softener. It came out looking almost new.

I;ll use it instead of the blue tarp I bought and see how it goes. Probably put a can of Scotch Guard on it.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 07:41:28

I guess the outstanding question is the thing in the middle. If I drape it over the boom, with the "V" at the mast and possibly a closet dowel, or the whisker pole, through the other end (so it looks like an open cone sort of), what is that center support strap for? Maybe it goes underneath, so you can hang a lantern?

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 07:43:12

Could the pocket be for a batten?

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 08:25:56

Are there pockets that could hold some thin poles? Some cockpit canopies are designed to be held up by a halyard attached to the middle (your loop?)... The opening could go around the backstay or topping lift (?), and the four corners would tie to various stanchions. The "poles" are typically about 1/2" fiberglass that bow when the halyard is pulled tight. That can make better coverage (further aft) than a simple boom tent would. Here's somewhat different version (from Defender):

Have you asked your DPO?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/27/2011 08:28:53

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 09:03:30

Probably the V cutout is to go around the end of the boom/topping lift
The loop in the middle is for raising the tent center to form slopes all around
The grommets on the same edge as the V cutout are for lines to the bimini (got one?)
And the grommets at the front edge are for lines to the turnbuckles of the shrouds or deck organizers.

We made ours from Sunbrella, added twist locks to the aft edges that go along the bimini, and use the forward grommets as explained above, the lower ones going to loops that pass over the deck organizers.

Works a treat! we call it JD's Top Hat and put it up every time we raise the pop-top.

Paul

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 09:46:13

I bet that's it....the pockets are sewn into the short ends. One end is all the way across, the "V"" end is split but has the pockets.

There are two aluminum poles down in my aft berth next to the whisker pole. I bet these are the support poles. Put them in the ends, with one pole going around the backstay where the "V" is, and the center thing hoists it up with a halyard...and all the gromets are used for lines to tie it down.

I'm heading out to the marina now...I'll see if I can hoist it up and I'll take pictures for later.

(No bimini yet)

Edited by - Joe Diver on 03/27/2011 09:47:06

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 09:47:17

I think Paul pegged it. Tell'em what he's won Johnny!

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 09:50:52

Joe, How Large a man was the previous owner

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 10:21:41

You might want to put the whole thing below the boom and put the opening around the backstay so it shades the whole cockpit. If the headroom is not sufficient, you can use the topping lift to raise the boom so you can in turn raise the canopy. (Is your topping lift adjustable?)

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 17:59:55

I think it is but haven't played with it yet. The PO (at some point) put in another topping lift that looks like it runs all the way to the top of the mast. That little snubber line on the back stay is still there, but just wrapped around and unused.

I didn't get a chance to deploy the top today. The weatherman really blew it today. Was supposed to be upper 60's and sunny....ended up being upper 40's to 50, heavy clouds with a constant misty drizzle all day. So, I used the blue tarp instead, since I just laundered the canvas top and haven't put any Scotch Guard on it yet. Didn't want it getting soaked.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 18:51:57

It does look like a boom tent. The fabric goes over the boom with the V-notch at the end of the boom leaving room for the topping lift, the main halyard attaches to the D-ring/loop in the middle, support poles go in the pockets, and lines attach to the grommets around the fabric to attach it to the lifelines or to the base of the stanchions.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2011 : 20:05:42

The "snubber line", generally called the "pigtail", was Catalina's alternative to a topping lift. I will recommend (others will disagee) that as long as you have a topping lift, you forget the pigtail exisits. If you hook it up and forget to release it before you hoist the sail, you can get into a momentarily precarious situation. (All I'll say further is, "Don't ask."

)

I still think the canopy might be designed to go below the boom, with the opening around the backstay and the poles creating the shape, so it covers the cockpit. That's how they work on bigger boats I've been on, including some canopies that attach to a dodger. If you put it over the boom, there's no need for the halyard or the poles, and it'll only cover about the forward 2/3 of the cockpit.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/27/2011 20:09:57

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