The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Greg Luckett's Cockpit Tent

We got caught aboard Chip Ahoy last summer down in Plymouth for a few days of rain, sometimes torrential downpours. Being confined to a steamy wet cabin for too long, I bought a vinyl tarp (5'6" X 7'6") and some bungie cords. I ran the tarp over the boom and tied off lines from grommets on its center line forward to the mast and aft to the end of the boom, then used bungie cords to stretch the corners of the tarp to deck cleats aft and stanchions forward. It worked out great; we were able to keep the hatch open and move in out of the cockpit while keeping the cabin dry. It was intended as a temporary solution, but it worked so well that the tarp and bungies are permanently stowed away for the next time I find myself again in that predicament!

With all the practice I had during my rainy month's cruise in 2004 up the coast of Maine and back singlehanded, I got so good at rigging it that it now takes about five minutes to put it up or take it down.

Greg Luckett devised a similar solution posted in his message to the Sailnet C-22 list, below, and was kind enough to provide some photos:

I no longer own my C22, but when I did I used a plain 8x10 tarp, then went to the next larger size and got a couple of telescoping rods for spreaders. It worked great.

My two youngest sons and I camped on her, and I spent many a rainy day just putzing around the boat. Good sun shield too.

Greg Luckett