cockpit shade

[fred1diver]

hey everyone
quick question to all of you, what do you all use for some shade ???
I've thought about making a boom tent, and I've seen the taylor made anchor shade, anyone used one, I like the fact you can use it on the ground as well, but I'm a little worried about the center pole
what do you guys and gals use???

 

[tjar]

For the few times a year that i get to leave the boat in the water and spend the day at a dock or at anchor, I have rigged a white tarp across the boom with PVC pipe used to support it. Place two PVC pipes paralled along opposite sides of the tarp and connect at the tarp corners. Lay this across the boom and secure the corners to the cockpit railing. While sailing, I just enjoy the sun and use the breeze when going upwind to keep cool.

 

[Rick I]

a Bimini

 

[Steve Dion]

a Bimini (ditto)

 

[justsomeguy]

We poor trailer sailors use lots of sunscreen. The boom tent is for windless days.

 

[Bill sanders]

Well I had a run a bout and since the floor was rotting out,I told my wife that,I took our Bimini off the speed boat and put it on my sailboat now it gets in the way but its something I can live with.

 

[Delezynski]

Fred,

We have used MANY different types of shade over the years! From a simple tarp with PVC to big store brands. But I have to say the BEST shade we have ever had (and still use) is the ShadeTree. It cost more than what I could hand make one for, but the quality of it is OUTSTANDING! and worth the extra. We use it in the tropics, it's easy to put up and take down. AND, it's easy to reef for the night, just in case of winds coming up.

You can see our report on it in our "3 year gear report" on our web page at;
http://www.svguenevere.com/2007/gear/gear3.html

By the way, in the report I talk about a broken rod, they replaced it when I talked to them.

Greg

 

[David in Sandusky]

Shade

I designed this shade, and the canvas shop here at sailboatowners.com made it.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=16&aid=7416&page=article&mn=27_75-84

It zips on to the front edge of our Bimini, and takes less than 5 minutes to rig or strike.

 

[rgranger]

I have a bimmi but I have used a simple brown poly tarp over the boom with bungies to various points on the gunwale...on past boats. Works better than sitting in the hot sun. In fact it was quite nice

 

[watercolors II]

I created a design the full length of the boom and supported with hardware store expandable long paint roller handles. I made like batten pockets in the outside edges to expand the handles into to hold them in place. The front end is held centered over the boom by attaching to the main stays and a strap running down to a stanchion base to keep from lifting in the air like David in Sandusky’s does.

The rear end is bunged to the backstay to keep it stretched tight and an extra extension beyond the end of the boom comes down and attaches to the stern pulpit to keep it from lifting in the wind.

 

[fred1diver]

watercolors, I really like your setup, might do something similar
FRED

 

[dscribner]

Look up Sumner on this forum. He and his Mrs have done some of the best mods on the net. I'm pretty sure one of them was a cockpit enclosure. He posted many pics with circles and arrows on the back.

 

[justsomeguy]

"...to be used as evidence against us."

 

[Brian S]

I was trying to rig a boom awning during a July raft up, using PVC conduit (the grey, UV resistant stuff) and a 6x8 poly tarp. One of the old timers looked over and said, "Hey, have fun with your pre-bimini. Don't get offended, we've all done it... Before we bought a bimini!"

Brian

 

[Delezynski]

As I said above, after a LOT of attempts, we bought and LOVE our shadeTree.

BUT, we also bought a small roll of shade cloth at a local home store. This stuff works GREAT as it reduces the sun by 45 to 75%. AND, most importantly, it lets the breeze blow through!!!!!

IF you are going to make your own, this works MUCH better than a blue tarp. When we tried that, sitting in the cockpit we were no longer in the sun, but after a short time, it was like sitting under the broiler.

The cloth looks like........

Greg

 

[Oceano]

Here's a simple cover for cockpit shade that works well and is easy to make. Also some articles on the usefulness of learning to sew.

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoex...it-Shade-Main-Hatch-Cover-Interior-Upholstery

 

[fred1diver]

Cool article, I'll have to get some poles and get the sewing machine out
Thanks everyone

 

[tricyclerob]

I made up a shade from an old mainsail, that when turned the other direction works as a boom tent. Used 2 small dia. extendable aliuminum poles.

Worked so well, I'm getting a "nice" version, [without the "belly"] made at the local shop.
The new version will have a 2' panel that zips onto the aft end that when used as a tent the coverage will extend to the end of the boom.
robj

 

[Piotr]

I hate biminis (make me claustrophobic), so i bought an anchor shade from West Marine. It works great (including rain) when not sailing. When wind tossed it and we lost some parts, the factory replaced it for free.

 

[Brian S]

Piotr, do you mean one of the Taylor Made Anchorshades? http://www.taylormadeproducts.com/catalog/

What's the height adjustment range? The catalog says it will go to 8' high, but I wonder what's the useful low height?

Thanks,
Brian