sleeping idea

[gringo]

Hello. I just joined, this is first post. I have a 22' Permit on order at Andros. Am going through all the throught processes about it of course.

I saw Bills comment about liking to sleep on board. I have a similar application, in that some of the little uninhabited cays down here are a good distance away, and I would like to be able to sleep on the boat. Not much deck room for two adults to stretch out, and I dont want to be down there anyhow, out of the breeze etc.

I was thinking about mounting a couple extra rod holders up forward, maybe even four of them, on the gunwales. Then having local canvas guy make me up a trampoline, that would fit over the four rod holders and be pinned in place by four pieces of stout PVC stuck in the rod holders. I think that would give us a place to sleep for an overnight, up off the deck, with good visibility, air circulation, etc. I figure the shear strength of the rod holders with PVC pipe in them would need to be about 250 lbs laterally each, to be safe with vertical acceleration etc. Extending the pvc pieces up about three feet would also let me rig a plastic tarp overhead, so the whole thing would be like a trampoline with a roof, open to the sides.

The whole shebang would roll up and store in the fishbox, etc. Not much mass or weight to it...four pieces of PVC and some netting...

Any thoughts on that idea?

[skytrash]

Thats a brilliant idea! You might want to take that to a patent office. I could see that product in the Bass-Pro catalog,Cabellas, or on the shelf @ boaters world. We have gone out Snapper fishing @ night and I have a hard time pulling all nighters like I used to.

Like to know how it works!
Walt

[gringo]

Glad you think its workable. I first thought about bending some aluminum S-hooks that would hang inside the gunwale and then use standard grommets to suspend the trampoline.
But I dont like the idea of upward facing hooks, a hassle to make,and more pieces of hardware to rattle around, scratch the finish, and lose, and corrode etc. The pvc idea means if I lose one, or break it beating a shark over the head with it, is no big deal. Buy another one for $ 5. at the hardware store. I think std. thick wall stuff would do it. Whats that, schedule 40?

Heck, four short, stiff fishing rods would do it...actually...set of spares?

A few rod holders forward of the console would seem to be a good idea for me anyhow, as it would let us put out a better spread when anchored for grouper etc. Six inch loops on the trampoline would let it settle down inside the liner just an inch or two, as a safety rail, but i think sleeping in it would be just like a big spread-out double hammock that didnt flip over or swing.

If the tarp roof slanted down toward the bow, would make it dry in a small rainstorm, as the bow would be into it.

So far this is the simplest solution I have come up with. And inexpensive. Whole thing could be set up or taken down in two minutes.

I am not sure if four points is enough though. With the Andros Permit, I was wondering about four, with the pop up cleats being two more suspension points for a total of six. Guess it depends on how strong the trampoline material is. Just a thought. Any ideas?

[skytrash]

Might depend on how heavy you are too=)

What about stringing light rope though 1" pvc pipe going from gunel to gunel.The rope would be tied to rods you insert into the rod holders as your anchors. The 1" pipe would be in sleeves @ the edge of your canvas hammock.

Walt

[gringo]

thats a good idea. I was originally thinking of some way to string up a Pawley's island type hammock, with the wooden spreader bars in the ends, etc. I figured that would simplify things, but I dont think those hammocks are a good choice for living and storing in a boat environment. Also, heavy and would always be soaked. Thats when I started thinking marine grade trampoline.

your idea about pvc tubes is a good one. Stiffen up the hems. and with a coupling in the athwartship members ( like that nautical jargon!?) it should still store in the Andros 6ft. fish box on trips where overnights are planned. If its a fishing trip, the sleeping stuff could be rolled up and stashed elsewhere for the trip home.

[skytrash]

Good luck! I have a large cooler(cofin box), I just need to bring a sleeping bag. I could use your Idea in the rear of my boat for my mate. Post some pics if it works.

Walt

[jack]

perhaps a rope from the bow to the console...under the netting
to stop the rolling into the center..when sleeping 2 people

i hope it works well........ so we all can copy the idea

[gringo]

Just decided on the in-deck fuel tank on our Andros, so I wont have the fish box for storage. I think the trampoline idea is still going to work out though. I'm pretty good at splicing line, and I have built a few hammocks over the years.

[alwaysfishing]

Congrats on the permit, you'll love it.

[gringo]

Mines ice blue with a Yamaha 150, but rest of its pretty close!

You call yours a 23'...and not a 22? I am going to keep mine in a slip most of the time...so I might even call it a 19.5...

[nesandbar]

Why did you go with the in deck tank? Did you get a bigger tank?

[gringo]

"standard" tank is a 34 gallon bolted to the deck under the console. After discussing it with Andy at Andros, I decided to go with the optional 42 gallon tank that goes where the fish box normally is.

I like the idea of the weight of the fuel being forward and lower in the boat. I also like having the storage space in the console. The filler for the in-deck tank is in the gunwale, instead of on the side of the console, which I like. The extra 8 gallons will be nice, as fuel docks here tend to be a chinese fire drill at times, and fewer fillups is a plus.

I liked the idea of the fishbox, but I had already thought it more likely I would be using it for storage than for fish. A removable icebox is just so much easier to clean, keep the fish smell off the boat, easier to transport the fish in ( would have to transfer them from fishbox to cooler anyhow..might as well just start out with the cooler. loading up with ice is simpler, etc.

I am also kinda lazy. I like the idea of not having to get down on my knees to reach into the deck box every time I open it. Ice box is also extra seating.

Also, thinking about an opening hatch in the deck, I suspect that no matter what you do, its eventually going to have sand or something getting down into the o-ring groove and messing with the hinge, etc. With that space filled up with fuel tank, the 'lid" is sealed and doesnt get opened a dozen times a trip, etc.

you on Cape Cod? I lived on the Cape from 1980 til 2002.

[nesandbar]

Yeah, I'm on the Cape. Sounds like you were here for awhile. Why the move? I fish mostly out of Chatham, but trailer all over the place.

I have to agree with you on the tank placement and a couple extra gallons would be nice. Although, I like the having a built in fish box. The cooler would clutter up the deck too much for me. I'll have to check with Andy about options. What do you think about the Permit for up here?

[gringo]

I worked for underwater acoustics company in Falmouth for 20 years, then consulted for another company that makes ROVs. I lived in Waquoit, Sandwich, and Woods Hole. I never felt home there. I love it down here.

My inlaws have a nice summer house on the Vineyard, so I get back about once a year. This year, its in August. I have two sons still living on the cape. And two ex-wives.

I think the Permit will be a great boat for those waters. I also think that trailering the 7 ft. beam will be nicer than a wider boat on the roads.

[nesandbar]

The Vineyard gets crazy during August, but still a nice place to hang out. Did you do a lot of fishing up on the sound? I'm headed down your way Sun. on my way to Abaco for some bones.

Did you water test the Permit? Thoughts?