Thanks for everybodys help over at the battery thread. What I'm up to now is making something like a 'suntarp' to cover all the area between the bow and the front of the mast (on a Hunter 27). When installed it'll secure to the safety cable and will form a parallel plane with the water...so it's going to look like an 8ft tall triangle that's about 6ft wide at the bottom. The base of this triangle tarp will be attached to the mast and pulled vertically lower to allow for rain runoff. I've gotten as far as making a template of the boat's safety lines and mast...it's on my floor now. So my questions concerns how I should go about making attachments for this thing to secure it to the safety lines. I'd like for it to extend all the way to the lines, but some of attachment ideas I've had call for leaving the tarp 3-4 inches short. Anybody have ideas on what kind of attachment mechanism I should use? Ideally they should be sewn into the tarp itself so they don't get lost. Also, seems like some elasticity should be built into them to keep things steady in the wind. Best idea so far is to use some kind of industrial elastic to attch 'dog collar' hooks to the underneath side about 8-10 inches from the edge, stretched they'll serve to hold the tarp tight; as well as hooks directly on the edges to keep them from flapping. Thanks for your ideas
making my own tarp...
- Thread starter heath18703
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Cover across the boat
I have such a cover on my 28.5. It is "buckled" around the mast, extends to the furled headsail where it wraps around and ties with a line secured at the mast, stretched to the furled headsail for support of the cover. The cover then is stretched to the safety line and is pulled into tension by bungee cords which are secured to the toe rail. The cover has eyelets on the edges spaced along the edge of the cover. Looks like a crude tent across the front of the boat. When the wind blows, it also acts like a sail and pushes the boat around in the slip, make sure your lines are securely tied. I also put a 6'X 8' cover across the top of the cockpit supported by the boom and bungee cords secured on each side to the toe rails. Makes a lot of difference on the heat on the boat, ultraviolet light damage. I wish someone had done this for the boat 20 years ago. Is this what you are asking about? I can email a pic or two if you like.
I have such a cover on my 28.5. It is "buckled" around the mast, extends to the furled headsail where it wraps around and ties with a line secured at the mast, stretched to the furled headsail for support of the cover. The cover then is stretched to the safety line and is pulled into tension by bungee cords which are secured to the toe rail. The cover has eyelets on the edges spaced along the edge of the cover. Looks like a crude tent across the front of the boat. When the wind blows, it also acts like a sail and pushes the boat around in the slip, make sure your lines are securely tied. I also put a 6'X 8' cover across the top of the cockpit supported by the boom and bungee cords secured on each side to the toe rails. Makes a lot of difference on the heat on the boat, ultraviolet light damage. I wish someone had done this for the boat 20 years ago. Is this what you are asking about? I can email a pic or two if you like.
Use bungie cords and sail ties
to attach to the lifelines, stantions, stern rail, what have you... I had a tarp made of what's called Rip-stop material. It is thin and lightweight but very strong. I secure in to the mast and back across the boom to cover the cockpit and hatch. The corners and sides have grommets for strength. The bungies and sail ties work perfectly to secure yet allow for some flexibility. Fair winds. Tom
to attach to the lifelines, stantions, stern rail, what have you... I had a tarp made of what's called Rip-stop material. It is thin and lightweight but very strong. I secure in to the mast and back across the boom to cover the cockpit and hatch. The corners and sides have grommets for strength. The bungies and sail ties work perfectly to secure yet allow for some flexibility. Fair winds. Tom
Canvas workers guide
"The Complete Canvasworkers Guide" - Jim Grant -gives you the real dope. The major problem is;I had to buy a sewing machine! In case you need a machine, Beware of ads saying "light industrial". The old Singer direct drives model 201 301 as well as the little singers seem to be the most economical way to go.
"The Complete Canvasworkers Guide" - Jim Grant -gives you the real dope. The major problem is;I had to buy a sewing machine! In case you need a machine, Beware of ads saying "light industrial". The old Singer direct drives model 201 301 as well as the little singers seem to be the most economical way to go.
You cant beat cringles
Sewn in holes with reinforcements are how they attach sails so that should work for this too. These are easy to make and don't require a sewing machine. The book that covers it is "The Sailmakers Apprentice". About $25. This also gives you a way to attach the tarp to the hull in the event of a hull breach. Secure the tarp over the hole with lines through the cringles and then let water pressure seal the hole. Everything on a boat should be able to do at least two things.
Sewn in holes with reinforcements are how they attach sails so that should work for this too. These are easy to make and don't require a sewing machine. The book that covers it is "The Sailmakers Apprentice". About $25. This also gives you a way to attach the tarp to the hull in the event of a hull breach. Secure the tarp over the hole with lines through the cringles and then let water pressure seal the hole. Everything on a boat should be able to do at least two things.
Just made one
I just completed making a sun shade for our boat. I ordered 7 yards 45" of Sunbrella marine fabric and some double sided tape to hold the seams in place until it was sewn. (I ordered it from WWW.OUTDOORTEXTILES.COM). The fabric was cut in half and sewn down the middle for a 10' by 7.5' finished shade. You can order wider widths if needed. Ditto on the advice about a machine. If you use a heavy fabric like Sunbrella, then a standard non-fancy (preferably older Singer; they are very well made) machine will do the trick, but get some heavy duty needles. Something suitable for jeans will work. I sewed loops onto the corners and 2 or 3 along either edge to hold it in place with shock cords. I also sewed a 24" heavy duty velcro strip onto one end so it can wrap around the topping lift and sit alittle over the forward bimini edge, providing continous shade for the cockpit. It folds down to a fairly small square and is a welcome addition on these hot, hazy pierside days.
I just completed making a sun shade for our boat. I ordered 7 yards 45" of Sunbrella marine fabric and some double sided tape to hold the seams in place until it was sewn. (I ordered it from WWW.OUTDOORTEXTILES.COM). The fabric was cut in half and sewn down the middle for a 10' by 7.5' finished shade. You can order wider widths if needed. Ditto on the advice about a machine. If you use a heavy fabric like Sunbrella, then a standard non-fancy (preferably older Singer; they are very well made) machine will do the trick, but get some heavy duty needles. Something suitable for jeans will work. I sewed loops onto the corners and 2 or 3 along either edge to hold it in place with shock cords. I also sewed a 24" heavy duty velcro strip onto one end so it can wrap around the topping lift and sit alittle over the forward bimini edge, providing continous shade for the cockpit. It folds down to a fairly small square and is a welcome addition on these hot, hazy pierside days.
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