When we did a
refit in Phuket a few years ago, we had the local
canvas guy make us both a mast-to-radar arch sun shade, and a full cover rain cover. The sun shade is made of porous, lightweight synthetic
fabric that provides shade, but lets the rain and wind go through it. The 2-piece rain cover (solid fabric)goes from the
bowsprit back to the
radar arch;1 piece from the bow to the
mast, and one from the
mast back. Both covers rest on top of the boom, and have a reinforced tape that we stretch between the mid shrouds and the upper corner of the
radar arch....that gives us a nearly level center section (so we can walk under it), and then there is a shorter continuation section that hangs down about halfway to the
safety lines/stations. We use lightly stretched bunge cords with plastic clips to secure the flap to the
safety line-that allows them to move with the wind, but stay in place.
We use them both all the time as we cruised
Thailand, then the Medd, and now the Caribbean-they really make a difference. We put the sun cover up at almost every anchorage/marina, unless we get in very late in the day and plan to leave the next. We put the rain cover up and leave it when we are in one place for a longer time, when we wintered the boat (on the hard) in the Medd, and it's up and on the boat now as she's up
on the hard in
Puerto Rico for the summer/fall season. We did hire a "boat watcher", and if a big blow or
hurricane is coming they will remove it....otherwise it will be up all season to protect the boat from sun, rain, and excessive heat. Both are very handy to have, easy and quick to put up/take down(less than 10 min with 2 of us). They do, however, take up some
storage space. below