Oceanair blinds, alternatives, cheaper ?

[Dave_S]

I want 10 of these for all hatches. They are a great thing and easy to fit. Can be a blind or can be a insect screen or can be open. I should be happy everything I want but 10 !, the price adds up quickly.

Are there good alternatives.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SKYSCREE...edirect=mobile

[Simi 60]

Shadecloth ,velcro and diy.

[JPA Cate]

It gets dark at night. You want screens, but, if you screen for sandflies (sandfly screening does exist, we had some for a while), there is little air circulation, so regular flyscreen (available at Bunnings) will do the trick. The difficult thing is to get velcro to stick well to the boat. Talk to a trim shop, they sometimes stock sticky-back velcro that is stickier than what you can normally get; also, RV places sometimes stock it.

I did notice the shipping charges are $30 per each, too. Maybe you could cut some kind of a bulk deal? Know someone else who could use a couple?

You can do a lot with fans, if you're up the still mangrove creeks, should aim them to dry you while you sleep, and cross-ventilate the living areas and galley.

Ann

[mikedefieslife]

NRF make blinds and screens for RVs.

They are nowhere near as pretty and low profile as Oceanair, but are a tiny fraction of the cost. Oddly, on my boat, they've been installed on windows that don't open. No idea why someone thought an insect screen was good idea there.

https://www.camperbros.com/online-sa...F-Cassettes-69

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

It gets dark at night. You want screens, but, if you screen for sandflies (sandfly screening does exist, we had some for a while), there is little air circulation, so regular flyscreen (available at Bunnings) will do the trick. The difficult thing is to get velcro to stick well to the boat. Talk to a trim shop, they sometimes stock sticky-back velcro that is stickier than what you can normally get; also, RV places sometimes stock it.

I did notice the shipping charges are $30 per each, too. Maybe you could cut some kind of a bulk deal? Know someone else who could use a couple?

You can do a lot with fans, if you're up the still mangrove creeks, should aim them to dry you while you sleep, and cross-ventilate the living areas and galley.

Ann

Thanks Ann

Its the sandflies that get me and the mozzies get Sue. Might have to get some of the finer screen.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

NRF make blinds and screens for RVs.

They are nowhere near as pretty and low profile as Oceanair, but are a tiny fraction of the cost. Oddly, on my boat, they've been installed on windows that don't open. No idea why someone thought an insect screen was good idea there.

https://www.camperbros.com/online-sa...F-Cassettes-69

Thanks they look ok and are so much cheaper, do they work as well ?

Can you replace the screen without buying new ones ?

[sailjumanji]

We bought the OceanAirs for all of the hatches. Happy with them. A really nice finished look too.

[sailjumanji]

For the side windows, their shades.

[JPA Cate]

[QUOTE=Dave_S;2896361]Thanks Ann

Its the sandflies that get me and the mozzies get Sue. Might have to get some of the finer screen.[/QUOTE]

In that case, you'll need the fans. The (what is called in the US) "no-no netting", which is fine enough to keep out sandflies, will make the use of fans imperative, however, if their speed is fast enough, it will keep both mozzies and sandflies from biting, but noisy.

What I did for sandflies was make cotton gauze pajamas to wear to sleep in, they can't bite thought it, but mozzies can. But mozzies are easy to keep out with regular screen. And, I am told that if you spend a year up where the sandflies are awful, you'll develop an immunity. I don't know if that is true, because having had over 600 (I quit counting) sandfly bites once, I do not care to do it again! [Bites were garnered at Gladstone, talking on the phone to my daughter in the States.]

Ann

PS. Ice helped.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

... The difficult thing is to get velcro to stick well to the boat. Talk to a trim shop, they sometimes stock sticky-back velcro that is stickier than what you can normally get; also, RV places sometimes stock it ...Ann

We used a wide (2"?) Industrial Strength Sticky-Back Velcro Tape, and reinforced the 4 corners with small (6/32 x ½" ?) Screws and finishing washers. Could have used snap caps screw covers.
Worked a charm, for the 10 years we had her.

[mikedefieslife]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Thanks they look ok and are so much cheaper, do they work as well ?

Can you replace the screen without buying new ones ?

Probably. They come apart easily and can be cut to size. The screen rolled up from the bottom, and the actual blind rolls down from the top. I imainge if you wanted a different screen you'd just attach a finer mesh to the bottom roller.

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

We bought the OceanAirs for all of the hatches. Happy with them. A really nice finished look too.Attachment 192715

Yep can't beat a good Oceanair blind especially the flush fitting ones.

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

For the side windows, their shades.Attachment 192716

This is no good for insects though.

Originally Posted by GordMay

We used a wide (2"?) Industrial Strength Sticky-Back Velcro Tape, and reinforced the 4 corners with small (6/32 x ½" ?) Screws and finishing washers. Could have used snap caps screw covers.
Worked a charm, for the 10 years we had her.

Like anything you want to stick to paint you need to key the surface first. Velcro will never stick permanently to shinny gel coat, glossy 1 or 2 pack paint, or varnish. Even VHB tape won't stick well to these. The surfaces need to be roughed up.

[sailjumanji]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

This is no good for insects though.


.

This is what's under the shade. Screens that snap on. Probably not sufficient for no see ums, but have been effective so far. I can add some weather strip behind for a tighter seal, when we get home.

[sailjumanji]

Maybe not applicable for a monohull, but here's what we did for our front opening window. There is a bungie cord in the perimeter that attached around the window flange.

And for our tri fold door opening, a screen that snaps in place and has a vertical zipper. It all rolls up and is stored at top.

With all of the screens in place, the boat still gets good airflow. Although better with them removed.Attachment 192735Attachment 192733Attachment 192734