Everglades Challenge: Pony Walls and Tonneau Covers

As if the big "bear cave" bow of the Flying Scot wasn't roomy enough, TwoBeers and his team of Igors started thinking about overnight accommodations. 

The Frankenscot, our planned entry for the Everglades Challenge Adventure Race next spring, offers plenty of floorspace for a sailor to sleep.  Not only do the rules require it (or a tent, which would mean stopping), the sleeping possibilities are part of what we figured made the Scot a good starting corpse for this project.

Still, after having taken a Sawzall to the cockpit and opened it wide, one small drawback presents itself: how dry is it going to be for that sleeper? Not to mention -- though I do -- whether the intrepid sailors might be able to take shelter from gnats and mosquitoes.

To that end: pony walls and a tonneau cover.

---

Like pony kegs, pony walls are diminutive. 

In this case, the pony wall is a small bulkhead across the boat at either end of the centerboard trunk. 

Purpose? Mostly to keep water compartmentalized. Also, they work as a sort of reverse Spanx for the big jiggly belly of the beastie. By adding these ribs, the hull will -- knock wood -- be less likely to flex when a wave smacks. 

In combination with a snug fabric tonneau cover (currently just a gleam in its creator's eye) over the front of the cockpit, the pony wall should define a sort of "below decks" area where TwoBeers and crew can stretch out for a nap and stow things out of the rain/spray. 

Tuck some yardage of fine mesh screening across the opening and Voila!  A tent/cabin/cool fort wherein the sailors might preserve some blood...
you know, just in case the team encounters a biting insect. Or two. 
In the Everglades. 
As if that even happen. 

Tonneau cover - hard or soft removable cover used to protect passenger compartments on sports cars and truck-beds on pickup trucks. From the French word for "barrel." Pronounced "tonno"