Probably the most frequent question I get into with people new to dinghy sailing is sleeping onboard, the platform and the tent.

My system is based on a tight weight camping tarp from Amazon, there are many out there and after looking at a few I found a perfect fit.

The tent is fixed under the gunwale to a simple dyneema line running though eyes under the gunwale. The line is sold as kite line a long real for about £15. The same is replicated on the inside with the inside eyes backed with circles of Polyethylene chopping board. This ensures the load is distributed and allows generous sealant.

I use this system simply because it’s what Margaret Dye recommended, nothing to get caught on clothing when re boarding. In the mid section the tent is simply held down to the line with plastic jib hanks.

At the bow and stern I use carabiners the stern going around loops to maintain longitudinal positioning.

The apex of the stern triangle is the attached to the outhaul and pulled tight.

I don’t use boom crutches just a line from the boom to each quater, the topping lift is tightened to tension the system. A series of ropes the pulls in the tarp to close it off and stop flapping.

The bow area is a shape of cheap tarp, duck tape and eyes. It is pulled forward using the jib down haul, tied around the mast and clipped to the gunwale line. Additional hooks attach to the shrouds and give airflow.

It’s a simple cheap system and has kept me dry in some very wet and windy conditions. In the morning it can be rolled back to open up the stern area. When finished I haul it up the halyard and it dries quickly and takes up very little space, important on an 11ft boat.

I have tried using fibre glass tent pole in the rowlock hole to turn it into a hooped shape but the pole as too stiff.

The negative is the condensation inside, I can’t think any other single skin tent would be better and the airflow should reduce this issue. I dry the boat as best I can before setting up.

There are many other systems and I’m sure some much better but for cheap, simplicity with minimal effort I’m very happy with what I have.