Valiant 490 Tent ?

[Jon H]

I was having a bit of the day dream today and wondered if anyone had heard of a manufacturer of a tend that could be attached to a rib

Failing that, some form of sun screen

[Poly]

Jon,

One of the west of scotland guys camps on his humber - I think its alystra? I think its a modified tarpaulin he uses... {edit - found the link}

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23129

There was a thread here a few months ago which the guys over the pond started about a sort of fabric wheelhouse.

{edit found the link, oh and another}

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22360

or this one:

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22370

There is a brief mention of a new bow tent from lodestar(?) in the latest issue of Rib Int. But when I checked there UK website nothing there - although there were pictures on some other sites.

{edit: found a link: http://www.lodestardirect.co.uk/erol.html#866X655)

HTH.

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Jon H

I was having a bit of the day dream today and wondered if anyone had heard of a manufacturer of a tend that could be attached to a rib

Failing that, some form of sun screen

Polwart's correct. It is I. Just fitted the additional hoop forward and plucking up courage to cut holes in the tent for the windows. Decided on oval portholes to give it some class, 'cos i reckon it needs all the help it can get.
It'll be a real home from home then.

"Failing that, some form of sun screen " - It'll not be Argyll you'll be coming to then?

[Jon H]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Jon,

One of the west of scotland guys camps on his humber - I think its alystra? I think its a modified tarpaulin he uses... {edit - found the link}

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23129

There was a thread here a few months ago which the guys over the pond started about a sort of fabric wheelhouse.

{edit found the link, oh and another}

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22360

or this one:

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22370

There is a brief mention of a new bow tent from lodestar(?) in the latest issue of Rib Int. But when I checked there UK website nothing there - although there were pictures on some other sites.

{edit: found a link: http://www.lodestardirect.co.uk/erol.html#866X655)

HTH.

Great

Theone picture shows exactly what I wanted

[Poly]

Alystra - how long does it take you to build the tent each time?

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Alystra - how long does it take you to build the tent each time?

Oh! you mean deploy it? (Dontcha just lurrv American)

Well, when I anchor for the night I usually have to pump up my dinghy. Then I erect the tent. I'm usually all finished after 20 minutes, so I guess it takes 10-15 minutes to get it sorted - from open boat to cosy home.

It's stowed by rolling up the sides to the middle. The resulting 'sausage', held with rope ties, is then rolled from aft to forrard like a catherine wheel, squashed and stowed in a heavy duty bin liner.

To put it up I make it fast to the bow and A frame aft, release the ties and unroll down each side - after I've fitted the hoops of course.

[Jon H]

Originally Posted by alystra

Oh! you mean deploy it? (Dontcha just lurrv American)

Well, when I anchor for the night I usually have to pump up my dinghy. Then I erect the tent. I'm usually all finished after 20 minutes, so I guess it takes 10-15 minutes to get it sorted - from open boat to cosy home.

It's stowed by rolling up the sides to the middle. The resulting 'sausage', held with rope ties, is then rolled from aft to forrard like a catherine wheel, squashed and stowed in a heavy duty bin liner.

To put it up I make it fast to the bow and A frame aft, release the ties and unroll down each side - after I've fitted the hoops of course.

Just so I am clear which tent did you go for ?

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Jon H

Just so I am clear which tent did you go for ?

Erm! It's the 'tarpaulin special' which is pictured post 6 on thread
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23129

Really wasn't too difficult to make. Took three easy days, most of which was thinking time. It's not pretty, but it works and I've got full standing headroom. It means I can stay in the beautiful anchorages while others, who may snigger quietly among themselves, have to go home for the night. I usually have the places to myself too - I think it frightens the yachts away. :-) This season it will have tasteful oval windows, I've just made them and may stick them on today.

[Jon H]

Originally Posted by alystra

Erm! It's the 'tarpaulin special' which is pictured post 6 on thread
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23129

Really wasn't too difficult to make. Took three easy days, most of which was thinking time. It's not pretty, but it works and I've got full standing headroom. It means I can stay in the beautiful anchorages while others, who may snigger quietly among themselves, have to go home for the night. I usually have the places to myself too - I think it frightens the yachts away. :-) This season it will have tasteful oval windows, I've just made them and may stick them on today.

How very elegant!

Once you have the windows perhaps a verandah?

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Jon H

How very elegant!

Once you have the windows perhaps a verandah?

Ah! Yes. Thank you. I'm pleased to see you appreciate the finer points of design aesthetics.
The veranda's sorted, just make the dinghy (see pic) fast right alongside the sitting room. It does lack some shade at the moment. Perhaps I'll make a 'bimini' for it. Then it'll be just the place to enjoy tiffin.

[Jon H]

Originally Posted by alystra

Ah! Yes. Thank you. I'm pleased to see you appreciate the finer points of design aesthetics.
The veranda's sorted, just make the dinghy (see pic) fast right alongside the sitting room. It does lack some shade at the moment. Perhaps I'll make a 'bimini' for it. Then it'll be just the place to enjoy tiffin.

I look forward to the invite

PS: where does one keep the horses?

[Roy Smith]

Might sound silly
but where do you sleep and what on

[ian parkes]

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

Might sound silly
but where do you sleep and what on

was about to ask the same question , I like the tent idea but gettin comfy in a sleeping bag on a small rib is impossible , or it would have been on my valiant 490 .
Although my missus nearly went to sleep on the bottle rack on the way to Scilly not

[alystra]

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

Might sound silly
but where do you sleep and what on

I have a bench seat aft and sleep athwartships on that. You can just see it underneath the dinghy in the pic earlier in this thread. The seat is only slightly lower than the tubes, which make a pillow at the head side.

The gaps between tube and seat were a problem at first - I stuffed my dry bags in to help, but now I have a rectangle of acrylic canvas and fasten it to the lifelines, making a sort of supported hammock. With the weight out of the bow (anchor and tent and dinghy) the angle of the seat means I'm held gently against the backrest and haven't fallen off yet.

Comfort? Well it's not a feather bed, but it's a damn site better than sleeping on the ground in a tent ashore. (With a string round your toe to wake you up if the boat goes adrift.)

My original intention had been to make two 'hammocks', one each side of the console, to be lashed to the tubes outboard and, somehow, to the console inboard. I thought I might then attract a beautiful lady crew to join me on my expeditions.

Design difficulties and problems finding a beautiful lady crew (they seem to prefer forty foot sailing boats) have delayed that project, so I'm stuck with the single bed. Perhaps no bad thing, considering the somewhat basic sanitary arrangements. On further thought - another piece of canvas might make it a double bed. Now there's a thing.

[Roy Smith]

The reason i asked is
i am going on the Carteret (France) cruise this Friday
and the hotel as double booked the room so if when i get there , no room or if i cant get one
I will be sleeping on Hotel Cookie Jar
I have the sleeping bag and a bivie, lights etc even a radio
all sounds quite exciting i just hope to god it dose not rain

[RichardB]

Originally Posted by Jon H

I was having a bit of the day dream today and wondered if anyone had heard of a manufacturer of a tend that could be attached to a rib

Failing that, some form of sun screen

In anticipation of a scorching summer I had thought about one of these for use (only) when anchored up.

Turtle Shade Awning (e.g. Mailspeed Marine) - not sure if url will work below http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/searc...&leaf=&x=0&y=0

Don't know if anyone has tries on a rib - possibly a bit naff but the family crisps up rather and price looks reasonable...

[ian parkes]

I think that looks very good and the price is right too .

I muat say the bimini on our new boat is great for sun or rain , and ok if you are cruising steady .

[BruceB]

Some shelter up here for the winter would be nice. My intention is to fit a shelter to mine. Eventually I want to fit an actual roof and sides to mine that can be used when motoring using the console as the support.
I am sure I can rig something up on a light foldable frame supported on the console which will cover from the windscreen to behind the seats so that in bad weather there is complete weather protection.
It will make using the boat in the winter nice and cosy and maybe even get the missus to agree to go places with me.....

[alystra]

For those who're still interested, here's a pic of the tent, Mk 2 version, deployed in an anchorage 'somewhere in the Sound of Jura'. Notice the tasteful and ultra fashionable oval portholes, which bring light and vision to all parts of the sumptuous interior of this desirable vessel.

[ian parkes]