[Rhodes22-list] Boom Room Syndicate

[Arthur H. Czerwonky]

Slim,
I totally agree with the importance of being able to break the boom room down quickly in the event of a nasty storm.  The structure of a boom room should be able to be converted quickly and easily to a shade by storing or removing the curtains, so a bimini would be unnecessary and redundant.  The length of the shade/room along the boom could be 6' to 9', again adjustable.  The debate would likely be the beam to beam width.  Too wide and people movement is impaired.  
Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: Slim <salm at mn.rr.com>
>Sent: Jan 26, 2006 11:05 PM
>To: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Boom Room Syndicate
>
>Todd,
>
>Yep, I have Fandango and I bought the boom room second-hand from another
>list member and it fit just fine on my boat--hence my comment that one size
>fits all.  
>
>I think integrating the BR with the PTE is a great idea.  It would require a
>smaller frame and less material but should serve the same purpose.  But
>personally I don't like the idea of a bimini because I don't want to deal
>with the frame when not in use.
>
>As for the bump-out captain's seats--the side panels snap down on the rails
>on the INSIDE of the stern pulpit but on the OUTSIDE of the rails so it
>doesn't matter if you have that feature or not.  Again--one size fits all.
>
>If you want a bimini when you sail, that's one thing.  But I see the boom
>room as another thing.  It's an extension of the shelter of the cabin for
>dining, sleeping, hanging out or whatever when you want to be out of the
>weather.  I don't think it needs to be a bullet-proof structure in high
>winds.  If the wind picks up, you should always batten down the hatches and
>prepare for the worst.  I guess my boom room is good up to about 20.
>Anything above that and I would be scrambling to take it down and drop the
>pop-top and hunker down.  Same goes for the PTE.
>
>Slim
>S/V Fandango
>
>On 1/26/06 8:38 PM, "Todd Zumach" <zoomerzx at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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>>> 
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