Bimini's, the typical 2 or 3 bow frame with a Sunbrella cover over a sailboat cockpit, are a staple down south. Up North the typical bimini is pretty rare.
Awnings on boats, the type that you have to rig to set up, are more rare still. We've used awnings, occasionally on our last two boats when anchored during hot spells in the Northeast and while cruising south.
Our current awning fly's over the boom and runs from a couple feet aft of the mainmast, to the mizzen mast, and out over the side decks. It's supported by two PVC poles and lashing lines. There's a ring in the middle to hoist with a halyard. It's takes about 10 minutes to rig.
I'm guessing both bimini's and awnings will become more popular on sailboats due to our warming sailing seasons.
Our awning was put to good use last August in Southern NE. However we found on several occasions, it fell short protecting us from the hot sun, especially the afternoons which were often in the 90's.
In Sandwich on the Cape Cod Canal, by 1:00 pm, we had 1/2 a cockpit of shade, and quickly would lose that.
Another memorable afternoon in Rockport Ma. inside the still little harbor in the late afternoon, we escaped to a side deck, the only shade we could find. 5:06 pm.
In the past we used various items clipped on the sun side when the sun was too hot in the late afternoon. On more than one occasion, I've even hoisted the dinghy sail and tied it along side. The beauty of the awning is, with the dodger front panel opened (or even completely folded as here), the whole house is shaded. On an anchor or mooring, a cool breeze flows beneath over the cockpit.
Jury rigs at best. Odds are we'll be using the awning more in the future. It's time to fit a better side curtain.
Some sun awnings I see on older boats have side curtains. Every inch helps, but will these curtains be low enough in the afternoon?
Thinking of going to the local sailmaker for a straight rectangular Sunbrella curtain, fit with grommets to tie to the awning on the sun side, someone gave me another idea.
Greenhouse shade cloth. Not familiar with the stuff I checked some sources:
Various light cutting material is available. The green above is a 70% reducer. That may work better than an opaque panel, I'm thinking. More reduction is available in a black materials, less in lighter colored materials. They all let a side breeze through as well as a little light.
Best of all, I found a supplier that will cut hem and grommet whatever side rectangle you order. It's very affordable and easy so I'm thinking a couple of rectangles that tie to the awning, run forward to shade the house, and run to the decks.
Not often rigged, they should last forever.
It's pretty rare to even have someone nearby in our waters but when privacy is needed, two panels might be just the thing. Late afternoon sun protection but we'll still have vision out and not a dark Sunbrella cave below.
Any experience with this greenhouse shading material, colors, % light reduction?
Awnings on boats, the type that you have to rig to set up, are more rare still. We've used awnings, occasionally on our last two boats when anchored during hot spells in the Northeast and while cruising south.
Our current awning fly's over the boom and runs from a couple feet aft of the mainmast, to the mizzen mast, and out over the side decks. It's supported by two PVC poles and lashing lines. There's a ring in the middle to hoist with a halyard. It's takes about 10 minutes to rig.
I'm guessing both bimini's and awnings will become more popular on sailboats due to our warming sailing seasons.
Our awning was put to good use last August in Southern NE. However we found on several occasions, it fell short protecting us from the hot sun, especially the afternoons which were often in the 90's.
In Sandwich on the Cape Cod Canal, by 1:00 pm, we had 1/2 a cockpit of shade, and quickly would lose that.
Another memorable afternoon in Rockport Ma. inside the still little harbor in the late afternoon, we escaped to a side deck, the only shade we could find. 5:06 pm.
In the past we used various items clipped on the sun side when the sun was too hot in the late afternoon. On more than one occasion, I've even hoisted the dinghy sail and tied it along side. The beauty of the awning is, with the dodger front panel opened (or even completely folded as here), the whole house is shaded. On an anchor or mooring, a cool breeze flows beneath over the cockpit.
Jury rigs at best. Odds are we'll be using the awning more in the future. It's time to fit a better side curtain.
Some sun awnings I see on older boats have side curtains. Every inch helps, but will these curtains be low enough in the afternoon?
Thinking of going to the local sailmaker for a straight rectangular Sunbrella curtain, fit with grommets to tie to the awning on the sun side, someone gave me another idea.
Greenhouse shade cloth. Not familiar with the stuff I checked some sources:
Various light cutting material is available. The green above is a 70% reducer. That may work better than an opaque panel, I'm thinking. More reduction is available in a black materials, less in lighter colored materials. They all let a side breeze through as well as a little light.
Best of all, I found a supplier that will cut hem and grommet whatever side rectangle you order. It's very affordable and easy so I'm thinking a couple of rectangles that tie to the awning, run forward to shade the house, and run to the decks.
Not often rigged, they should last forever.
It's pretty rare to even have someone nearby in our waters but when privacy is needed, two panels might be just the thing. Late afternoon sun protection but we'll still have vision out and not a dark Sunbrella cave below.
Any experience with this greenhouse shading material, colors, % light reduction?
