
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. |
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