Cockpit tent -- Does this have any traction? -- suggestions?

Posted By: Bob Pr. S2 6.7 #81, "The TARDIS", Topeka, KS
Date: 7/12/04 6:16p.m.

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Our 3 sailboat models are more along the lines of racing-cruising designs rather than "cruising" (i.e., emulating hotel suite amenities in the cabin, replicating everything -- except space -- in miniature). Catalina 22s, for example, provide much more cabin room than our models do for either a couple or family with 1 or 2 small kids who are weekending at the marina. And, while Cat 22s sell well, they don't sail as well as our boats do. EVERY design is ALWAYS a compromise between a number of mutually incompatible but desirable qualities -- whenever you increase this one aspect, you must also decrease these others. SO, I've often thought that our boats, which have relatively large cockpits (the 6.7 especially) and more modest cabin accommodations (the 6.7 especially), could be really helped by a light weight cockpit boom tent. It could extend from the mast back to the transom and toe rail to toe rail. That would make the cockpit a much larger "family room," or kitchen and dining room, or screened porch (with tent screening), and a much more adaptable, comfortable place -- with much more headroom -- in which to lounge. For those with a 22 or 6.7 (maybe even 6.9s?), maybe at night -- during sleeping times -- the portapotti could be positioned up there, providing more privacy for all and noise (etc.) abatement for others whenever that might be desired? In my mind, such a boom tent would be very light, easy to put up, and have huge screened picture windows on its beam sides. Those would be great for bug free evening supper/picnics before the evening breeze fills in for a moonlight sail. The screened windows could also be zippered shut to provide privacy later at night. Such tents would have to be designed to be quick to put up, quick to take down, and with not much volume to store. (Maybe something similar could also be used without the mast up for OTR traveling?) I think all that can be done with the synthetic fabric materials presently available. I'm thinking maybe something near the $150 price range if we could get 10 or more? Over the last several years, I've made sporadic futile Google searches for custom tent makers who could work through some prototype designs. The only ones I've located are those who work with large canvas or heavy synthetic tents -- never the very lightweight material used in backpacking tents that I think is what we'd desire. I've recently called a number of tent suppliers (REI, Marmot, etc.) asking for reference to small operations that design tents. No luck so far; latest failed sortie tonight. BUT before I take the next step -- calling Ch Of Com's, nat'l tent assocns., embassies from New Zealand, India, Asian countries, and asking if they can suggest any one-off or small tent designers/makers -- Would there be anyone (besides me) interested in such a product? Is there MUCH interest in this? Is there any interest in this? How many?