Yes, we made a triangle with 3 lengths of 3/8“ dia pvc tubing, the short leg was about the same width as the tramp. The rear of the triangle was attached to the base of our motor motor mount, (in the rod holders with paracord lashing loops, ( like you would hold a log raft or teepee together with)). On the short leg we had three straps (similar in design to Hobies tramp straps). The leg of the triangle closest to the hull we attached using spectra string to wherever we could attach that length of pipe to, existing things already on the hull, ( examples... the ball that the aka brace attaches to. The little button that the paddle bungy attaches to, the seat cleat, ( older boats), and the cleat that the rear cargo bungy attaches to, etc). The longest leg of the triangle needs to be much stronger, we ended up sliding fiberglass pultrusions into all the tubes. In retrospect we could have eliminated all the pvc tubing and replaced with larger diameter fiberglass protrusions, (1/2” dia or larger would have worked nicely, make sure you get the strongest type of pultrusion, (ie... 60-80% glass, similar type to what we used on our mast topper, bowsprit, and mast re-enforcement, (we inserted fiberglass pultrusions into the bottom section of some of our masts to make them stronger)). We folded, and sewed with dyeema fishing line, then welded with hot glue all the foldovers, (around all the tubing), just like the front spray skirts construction method. We used that same pet screen material, if I had been smart, I would have used tramp, (aka pool child fence) material.
On the short leg, (near the hull) you want to leave about a 5” gap between the short leg, and the inner tube so the whole skirt can fold over the hull for transport and storage, (that was an afterthought, after first trial , oops). All of our spectra connections along the hull, we just used spectra loops, so the skirt is easily and quickly removed from the boat when not needed, (aka summertime). Of course you can’t sit on the rear spray skirt without the front spray skirt connected, ( or it just snaps the aka sheer bolt). When we don’t have the rear spray skirts on we use a paracord line tied to the rear aka cross brace,( where it attaches to the hull), then ran under the tramp and around the front aka bar and slipped over the little button on the end of the front aka bar, (where the ama bungys attach), with a spectra loop on the end where it fits over the button. Those lines are never removed from the boat, when the ama is folded in, that line relaxes and is just thrown in the hull during transport. It’s a whole lot of engineering for nothin, we abandoned ours after using them twice, sure it all works, but why bother if your not into hardcore offshore sailing, ( kinda stupid, lol).
I can’t post any pics because we sold the boat last fall, and threw all the mods away.
FE
|