Bimini's and awnings, use one?

[LakeOntario270]

I purchased a black mesh that blocks 70% for a simple boom cover. The nice thing is wind doesn't effect it much.
https://www.tarpsplus.com/black-mesh-tarps-screen-covers.html

My wife then said a little more blocking would be nice so I purchased this tan mesh that blocks 86%. I haven't tried it yet since they were out of stock and it didn't arrive until the boat was out of the water.
https://www.tarpsupply.com/86-super-shade-mesh-tarps.html

 

[jmce1587]

Am I seeing two cowl vents on a single dorade box in this pic??

Yes Gene. Mid eighties Hunter 28.5 / 31 and 34 have these. Unfortunately don't have an interior cabin pic of the dorade box vents.

 

[SailormanDan]

I made my sunshades out of Phifertex mesh, it blocks 70% of the UV without blocking the breeze, you can feel the difference when you step under it. Downside is when the sun is fairly directly overhead, the rays get through, so I am going to make a rectangular piece out of Sunbrella to put over the open companionway.

 

[capta]

Yes Gene. Mid eighties Hunter 28.5 / 31 and 34 have these. Unfortunately don't have an interior cabin pic of the dorade box vents. View attachment 162562

I would guess they are two different vents in the same box with a divider?

Yes Gene. Mid eighties Hunter 28.5 / 31 and 34 have these. Unfortunately don't have an interior cabin pic of the dorade box vents. View attachment 162562

I would guess they are two different vents in the same box with a divider?

 

[TomY]

All the user feedback is great, thanks. I have a sense of this stuff now.

Won't have the same flapping potential of Sunbrella in the wind(I wasn't aware of that), so it can run far down the lifelines with minimal lashings.

The Sunbrella awning's opaque effect directly overhead, will still be appreciated from the mid-day high sun. The shading material will take over in the afternoon.

This photo was taken in Belfast Harbor on 9/3/15 at 4:03 PM. It must have been an unusually warm afternoon as I took the shot of the thermometer in the shade of the sun awning.

As long as I can get out of direct sunlight in extreme temperatures, I'm happy even when it gets very warm on our coast.

However my partner has too much Celtic blood and can't tolerate the heat. The shade material will be a real plus on hot afternoons onboard.

Anchored on a hot mid summer day, Maine is an odd mix of fire and ice. The air temperature can rise into the 80's in the shade, yet, your boat is floating in a cool sea that rarely gets out of the 60's.

This photo sorts it all out: Jump overboard and cool off with your sun hat on.

 

[gettinthere]

Phifertex and Phifertex Plus are very common in Fl and tropical boats for side curtains.

 

[DougM]

Your comment biminis are rare up north? Most people including me I know have one. Where did you learn this

I wondered the same thing...I think I’m the only guy on my block that doesn’t have a bimini or a dodger. I couldn’t find anybody nearby with the knowledge to make a good one. Everyone with a solid reputation wanted me to bring the boat to them with good reason. Their places of business were a day’s sail away.
Because the season here is so short, I would rather have found someone willing to work on the boat while it was in winter storage. Hence, I have done without for 14 seasons.

 

[jssailem]

In the water with only a hat...You Maine folk are a bit wild...

 

[dlochner]

I wondered the same thing...I think I’m the only guy on my block that doesn’t have a bimini or a dodger. I couldn’t find anybody nearby with the knowledge to make a good one. Everyone with a solid reputation wanted me to bring the boat to them with good reason. Their places of business were a day’s sail away.
Because the season here is so short, I would rather have found someone willing to work on the boat while it was in winter storage. Hence, I have done without for 14 seasons.

Biminis and dodgers are pretty popular here in Central NY. Midsummer sun is pretty bright and hot. I sailed for years without either a dodger or Bimini, and wonder now how I put up with all the sun.

Full enclosures are becoming increasingly popular. They add an extra room with mosquito netting or vinyl windows. Much warmer in the spring and fall, drier during a rainstorm.

 

[jssailem]

I hobbled a sort of sunshade together last year. While I am considering a Bimini and a dodger (experiencing the value of a dodger on our Winter Adventure) getting one that fits the boat and allows for easy movement about the boat is a priority in my planning. A full enclosure is nice when your sitting, but when you need to move on the boat a poorly designed unit can impede your movement or endanger your movement.

I am looking at how I can redesign the sun shade for this season, making sitting in the cockpit a pleasure. I have often observed spinnaker like material floating above an area providing shade and a light airy feeling to the space. No one has identified such material in use. All has been a heavy canvas, Sunbrella, or plastic mesh product.

Is sail or tent material a viable option?

 

[dlochner]

Is sail or tent material a viable option?

On my 30 I used a nylon rain fly, similar to this one on Amazon. https://amzn.to/2OaMpVo
It was a little large and came down to the lifelines, which interfered with airflow and access to the cockpit, but it was inexpensive and fit the budget.

Making your own basic awning is relatively straight forward. Any home sewing machine can handle nylon, Sunbrella might be iffy.

https://www.sailmagazine.com/diy/know-make-awning

 

[jon hansen]

cheap blue plastic tarp tied above boom and to the rig. works at the dock/anchor or when motoring.

 

[jssailem]

Sure it works, but with such beautiful boats, doesn't seem a bit tacky to go "cheap blue plastic"?

 

[RussC]

Is sail or tent material a viable option?

Post #20 (last post on page 1)

 

[jssailem]

Thank you Russ. I read that and it is a pretty red color. Where did you get it? What is the material and weight? What size worked on your boat?

 

[nfg2u]

Great thread, Ive been looking at shading for a while and just started my first project out of Sunbrella.
I purchased a cheap Singer Sewing Machine from Amazon for $125.00. It handles Sunbrella and weather resistant heavy gauge thread without an issue. It will sew through 4 layers easily. Just finished my front shade and getting ready to sew a new helm cover.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

One more thing to add to this thread -- I use the FixClips that are sold on this site to firmly attach my shadecloth to my bimini. Those clips are perfect for this, and can go around the bimini's support bars or flat fabric, as needed.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Seems SBO might have removed FixClips from the store. You can find them online. Recommended

 

[Benny17441]

Awnings are indispensable for live aboard or someone who spends a lot of time at the dock. For shade underway a bimini is best. It is surprising how an awning can lower the temperature inside the cabin allowing A/C a fighting chance against high temps and humidity.

 

[TomY]

Tropical areas are where awnings are put to use. This boat has the typical awning over the cockpit, house and side decks. All protected in the midday sun. High enough to walk around beneath you could see it being very pleasant below with the breeze from the bow. Added is an awning over the forward hatch. Cooled air below plus protection from a shower. This boat also has a short bimini over the helm. Experienced tropical boat.

Only I know the protection will be minimal in the afternoon hours. Maybe they have side curtains?