[Rhodes22-list] Boom Room Syndicate

[Todd Zumach]

Slim,  is your boat the "Fandango"? I have a bunch of pictures of that fine
vessel with a boom room that sounds suspiciously like what you described.  I
especially like the idea of sail slides to support the roof (although I have
to admit I did not notice them in the photos until I read your post).  I can
appreciate that as an owner of a current boom room, you would not be
interested in a bimini.

I am enamored with the concept of a multi-functional boom room.  While at
this time I don't see myself in the market for one, I have spent a few too
many hours thinking about the boom room concept and it's relationship to a
bimini and the pop top enclosure.

My take on the concept is that it should strive to emulate Admiral Spitzer's
multi-use attributes of many of the other features on our boats.  A
"modular" boom room that has functionality as a bimini (that can be used
while undersail) and that interfaces (or perhaps doesn't need to) with a pop
top enclosure would provide the greatest flexibility for the skipper and
crew.

If those were not lofty enough goals, I have a few more suggestions that
could be thrown into the mix.

First, the structure should be built with stainless tubing so that it is
strong enough keep the bimini open while sitting at port when those breezes
come up that would tear off an aluminum frame (that happened to my boss'
fishing boat this summer).

A second goal of this design would be that the skipper would be able to sit
on the gunwhale or in those wonderful optional skipper's seats whether the
bimini/boom room is up or down.

Third, most of our vessels are equiped with a set of long genoa car tracks
(I have seen pictures on the web with the bimini attached to the genoa
tracks). The genoa tracks could be used to allow flexibility in fore/aft
movement of the structure. For example, the bimini function could be set
with the structure slid to aft to provide skipper with maximum shade or
forward to give the crew better shade. Further, it would be great if the
bimini structure could be closed and tipped to the stern (inside the stern
rails) and come to rest along the inside edge of the cockpit/transom wall.
This would solve the problem of what to do with the bimini on those days
when it is not desired. One concern with this proposed design is that those
boats with the gunwhale mounted skipper's chairs may present an interference
problem. Perhaps the bimini frame uprights could have a curved contour that
would provide clearance around those seats.  I have a 1986 model with the
"old" design straighter stern railing that is mounted on the outside of the
gunwhale wall.  As such, as I have thought of using a stainless or aluminum
plate in order to offset the seat from the straight stern rails.  The bimini
frame could possibly slide just behind my skipper's seats (assuming I get
around to adding them).

Fourth, our boats have nice strong stern rails.  A bimini/boom room that
attaches to the stern rail would have an extra level of sturdiness. Perhaps
a separate overhead rail mechanism could be used when you want to "expand"
the bimini into the boom room.  You could slide the bimini forward to
interface with the cabin wall or pop top enclosure (with a interface panel).
The rear rail could be a segmented device that stores under the cockpit
seats. When attached to the stern rail this mechanism could provide the
extra head room to allow a person to sit in the skipper's seats.

I like Slim's idea of using sail cloth to reduce weight.  It might be
interesting to have heavier "bimini" material like Sunbrella, that could
stand up to being exposed to the weather all the time and lighter material
that is used for the sides, rear "expansion" panel and the front expansion
panels that would interface with the cabin wall or pop top enclosure.  It
goes without saying that this "ultimate" bimini/boom room would have screen
and/or clear panels for some of the side walls that could be zipped into
place.

Finally, the bimini structure should be as tall (off the cockpit floor) as
possible. At 6'4" I am sensitive to such things. It would be great to not
have to stoop while in the cockpit.  I assume that the bimini would only be
used when the boom is in the highest position.  Although I haven't sailed in
any real "blows", I have utilized the boom in the lower position to decrease
the center of effort.  I figure that if the wind is blowing so hard that I
would want to lower the boom, I would have already lowered the pop top and
dropped the bimini to reduce windage.

I know, there are a lot of expensive ideas found above.  But hey, I guy has
to dream!  I look forward to reading your responses (Bill and MJM please be
gentle on me).

Todd Zumach

On 1/26/06, Slim <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
>
> I have a boom room and like it a lot.  We discussed this last summer and I
> posted a load of pics.  I'll post them again if anybody needs them.
> My comments below:
> Slim
>
> > I don't think we will ever have the volume to justify Chinese
> manufacture.
>
> I agree.
> >
> > What do you want in your Boom Room?
> >
> > What are the best features according to those who have them?
>
> The best feature is the shelter it provides.  We've dined and slept in the
> cockpit during heavy rain and have been very comfortable.  Mine covers the
> entire cockpit with standing head room, it goes over the pop top and the
> sides snap on the outside of the toe rails so it encloses more than the
> pop
> top enclosure--that is, it covers the side decks. However, that makes it
> harder to go from the cockpit to the bow and there's an issue with the aft
> lower shrouds.  But it has versatility galore.  We can use just the roof
> for
> a sun shade or we can add the side panels for more protection and privacy.
> The sides have either solid or screen panels (although I wouldn't say it's
> completely bug-proof).  If I remove the rear panel I can stand up on the
> laz
> hatch and tend to the barbeque mounted on the stern pulpit.  We can even
> sail with it set up but only downwind on the jib alone.
> >
> > Do we know anyone who could make up a bunch for us?
> >
> > What are the design specifications going to be?
> >
> > What materials should we use?
>
> Mine is white dacron sailcloth which I like very much.  I think if you
> made
> it out of canvass it would be too heavy and bulky to stow and not any
> sturdier than sailcloth.  Ours folds up to a bundle about the same size as
> our pop top encl.  Also it's stuffable if you don't want to fold it.
> >
> > Should it be supported by poles from the bottom, or suspended by the
> > halyard from the top?
>
> Mine hangs from the boom.  You rotate the boom so it's upside down and
> slide
> the roof tabs into the slot.  There are five tabs are just standard sail
> slides stitched onto the roof piece.  Then the roof is spread out by a
> grid
> of 1" pvc pipe and the side panels hang down from the edges.  The side
> panels are attached to the roof with either zippers or strips of velcro.
> The grid all comes apart and stows easily and the pieces are easily and
> cheaply replaced if broken.  I admit the grid is a little clumsy to set up
> and the girls don't bother with it when I'm not there.  With their help,
> we
> can set it up in about 20 minutes.  By myself I can set it up in 15.  8-)
> >
> > Should it fit every boat, or require modifications for older boats?
>
> I'm unaware of any differences in the basic dimensions of hull, cockpit,
> pop
> top, mast step and boom.  One size fits all.  (But I could be wrong.)
> >
> > Should it require a Pop-Top Enclosure, or should it cover the Pop Top,
> > and replace the Pop Top Enclosure?
>
> I still use the pop top enclosure by itself sometimes.  The PTE is great
> and
> much easier to set up when you don't need the big room.  We usually set up
> one or the other but both can be set up.  Sometimes we set up the PTE and
> later decide to set up the BR.  There's no need to take down the PTE
> because
> the BR sets up over all that.
> >
> > Should it use the Bimini as support from below, making it more a Bimini
> > Room than a Boom Room?
>
> I, for one, don't have a bimini and don't really want one.
> >
> > Lots of possibilities.  Dave plans to get one, and so do I.  We're going
> > to spec out something now, and anyone is welcome to join in -- even if
> > you don't plan to buy one yourself.
> >
> > Bill Effros
> >
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