With respect, I noted that a Bimini top would be very useful and entirely appropriate. Too, the full enclosures shown in subsequent pictures (Is that a Pilot?), seem fine, and would not affect the boat's safety or operation. I would not take a boat so equipped into any kind of sea, but for placid river cruises in wind and rain, it would be fine. I must respectfully disagree slightly on your assessment of a steadying sail. Often, on offshore deliveries of sailboats up to 70 feet, we have left the main fully deployed in rolling seas, but with no wind. As the boat rolls, the sail fills and dumps air, thus slowing the roll to a manageable and comfortable degree. It can be noisy,as it flops about, but the sail eases the motion. Even on my 20 foot Caledonia Yawl, the mizzen and main slow the roll somewhat when motoring in a beam sea with no wind.
My original concern had to do with the arrangement on Harborlite, as shown in Joe's posting. That looks to be a very heavy frame built of square aluminum that is anchored at only one point on the washboard on each side. I would be very concerned about that single-point arrangement working loose in a sea and tearing the washboard out, and even causing injury to passengers, should it fall without warning. My experience in tuna towers in a beam sea, while much higher and in heavier rolling, suggests to me that the torsional forces at work can be extreme. I wonder if such forces, while certainly less extreme, might doom that apparatus to failure.
Best regards,
Irv
