DIY Project

A Small Tent for Waterproof Nights

Article by Thomas P. courtesy of e-Ribbing.com.

boats in harbor, small tents on boats

Small bow coverings, also known as dodgers in North America, help convert a boat into a weekend camper.

Over the last few years, due to global warming, severe weather phenomena appear more frequently in popular boating areas around the world. Storm outbursts happen quite often and last for several days. Loaded skies, torrential rain, steep temperature decrease and countless lightning strikes tear up the horizon from edge to edge. To protect themselves, owners of smaller boats including rigid hull inflatable boats (RIBS) are carrying small tent-like coverings.

Some boat owners will take the extra step of having a custom dodger made for a specific vessel, but that’s not necessarily required. A small tent that can be erected quickly needs to be fully waterproof and resistant to UV rays, too.

rolled up tarp, waterproof tarp

A waterproof tarp can quickly be unrolled to create a protective shelter from rain or sun.

Outdoor equipment suppliers and hardware stores carry waterproof tarps made out of the same lightweight fabrics used to make tents. For bigger boats, we can connect two tarps.

DIY Tent

Spread out the waterproof fabric and cut it to meet the deck. By sewing a band of enhanced fabric around its perimeter and creating holes around every 12” (30 cm) through which an elastic band is placed, we have created a tent to protect us from sudden storms.

making a tent for a boat, protective covers for yachts

The tent can be made wherever it works best for a given boat. A RIB’s outer tubes provide a convenient attachment point.

This small tent can be useful for those who want to sleep on their boats without the time-consuming process of setting up arches and full tents that take up much of space on the boat. A well-stretched rope from the bow roller to the console with a tarp thrown over the top and secured with bungees provides enough protection for sleeping or just hanging out while the rains pass.

tarp on a boat, tarp to cover the bow

Throw a tarp over a rope extended from the bow to the helm console and voila, a tent.

Article courtesy of e-Ribbing.com.