External DIY UV Shading material? Clever solutions? Experiences?

[Franziska]

Great. That stuff looks good and comes in different colors too.

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

I've had very good luck using the patio open weave sunshade material, such as:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sun+shade...ss_ts-o-p_5_10

It's cheap, and very study. It's made out of monofilament, and does not unravel when cut. It blocks like 95% UV, but is very porous. I used it first to make a dinghy cover, which lets water through (and then out the stern drain hole) while protecting the inflated sides from UV damage. I'm getting ready to make a sunshade for the wheelhouse "patio" roof with it, because it has a wonderful property of not beating itself to death in a mild breeze when we are at anchor. Shaded happy hour up top.

[bluedotvoyages]

Take a look at a product called ez snap. For the fasteners. Easy to install and looked secure but removable.

[doublewide]

I can only recommend textiline or equivalent product for sun shades. Choose among several densities of weave to allow a portion of sunlight through the shade.

For canopies, white or tan are good colors.

For covering acrylic or plexiglass windows or ports, choose BLACK if you want to be able to see out from inside the cabin. Black "disappears" when you look out through it. White reflects too much light back into the boat so it is hard to see objects outside.

[Franziska]

Thanks, that is a very interesting fact you mention about the "color" black.

Originally Posted by doublewide

I can only recommend textiline or equivalent product for sun shades. Choose among several densities of weave to allow a portion of sunlight through the shade.

For canopies, white or tan are good colors.

For covering acrylic or plexiglass windows or ports, choose BLACK if you want to be able to see out from inside the cabin. Black "disappears" when you look out through it. White reflects too much light back into the boat so it is hard to see objects outside.

[dennismenace111]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi,

after pushing the idea for quite some time I am finally getting to prepare external sunshades for our boat.

I do not want to reinvent the wheel and thus grab some crowd knowledge before starting.

We will do this on the outside as it protects the portlights as well and external insulation usually works better than internal one.

This is a DIY project and I have only limited funds, so please don't recommend Sunbrella for it :-) great stuff with some useful applications but way to expensive for this.

I found this material and wonder about other users experience with it or with similar material:

https://de.aliexpress.com/i/4000778655183.html

Usually it's used to protect crops from to much sun radiation.
Seems to be slightly see through as well, which is better than a complete light blocking material. We do not want to live in a dark cave.

The price is very reasonable, even though I hope it lasts some time, because I am not keen on repeating the sewing process every year.

There are a lot of other suppliers for that sort of stuff on Alibaba as well.

It's normally available in a number of colors and I lean towards silver, looks cool and, as it is likely reflecting more UV than black it may reduce heat transfer further.
I am not going for white because it will get dirty fairly fast.
Black will likely have salt stains quckily.

Here are a few questions I am pondering.

1)
Has anyone used this or is there anyone who has found a better source on Alibaba?
Links?

2)
Is the silver/metallic looking stuff going to scratch the portlights more than the black stuff? Will it go unsightly grey very quickly?

3)
Preparing the shading panels, I am thinking of putting a plastic cable similar to the one found in a lawn trimmer into a tubular hem around the perimeter to keep the shape. Better ideas anyone? Photos?

4)
Attachement, seeing the price of metal Tenax attachements I am wondering if someone had a better, less costly and more foot friendly idea or solution which they used successful.
Footfriendly, because stepping onto a Tenax base barefoot is a real pain.
Metal attachments would be preferable, as they last longer in southern high UV environments. Anyone know of some good industrial type and long lasting velcro (Manufacturer? If suppliers, we are in Europe)?
Other photos, ideas?

We will use those shades primarely at anchor, but they may occasionally have to stay put in a squall 4to.

I appreciate your thoughts and ideas,

Fran

Had a good friend use this stuff for roll down shades in his sailboat cockpit. He attached them under his Bimini top and would roll down the sunny side. We live in South Florida and this stuff worked great! It lets air move thorough it easily.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Easy-Gardener-6-ft-x-20-ft-Sun-Screen-Fabric-Shade-Canopy-in-Black-Heavy-Duty-75020R/100533825

[LooseGoose]

I used phyfertex 90 %, purchased from Sailrite.com.....very pleased with results. Covered every window. Attached with snaps. Excellent light and temperature control while protecting interior surfaces and material from U.V. damage.

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

I've had very good luck using the patio open weave sunshade material, such as:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sun+shade...ss_ts-o-p_5_10

It's cheap, and very study. It's made out of monofilament, and does not unravel when cut. It blocks like 95% UV, but is very porous. I used it first to make a dinghy cover, which lets water through (and then out the stern drain hole) while protecting the inflated sides from UV damage. I'm getting ready to make a sunshade for the wheelhouse "patio" roof with it, because it has a wonderful property of not beating itself to death in a mild breeze when we are at anchor. Shaded happy hour up top.

Been using this shade material idea for 20 years. It’s cheap and if sewn with gore tex thread will outlast sunbrella. But it’s not water proof.

We also have used windscreen inserts to bounce the heat out off the portlights

We have been in the tropics for 21 years. Also 4 summers in the Baja.

[Captndave1]

I made a full boat cover with plant nursery shade material, blocks 70% of sun and improves my dockside A/C. Spent a total of $62.00.

[Franziska]

Awesome.

Originally Posted by Captndave1

I made a full boat cover with plant nursery shade material, blocks 70% of sun and improves my dockside A/C. Spent a total of $62.00.

[Franziska]

Important info on the thread too. Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by chouliha

Been using this shade material idea for 20 years. It’s cheap and if sewn with gore tex thread will outlast sunbrella. But it’s not water proof.

We also have used windscreen inserts to bounce the heat out off the portlights

We have been in the tropics for 21 years. Also 4 summers in the Baja.

[Franziska]

Anymore variations on good low cost attachments & how you reinforced the rims?

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Important info on the thread too. Thanks for that.

The trade name for the thread is Tenera. Very pricy but will outlast the material. We use it for everything outside including sewing the sun cover on our jib, mainsail cover, awnings, bags, dinghy chaps, etc.

Especially good on dodgers as if the standard thread goes bad it’s hard to remove the dodger without scratching the windows. Our thread was still very strong after 12 years the dodger material needed replacing

[downunder]

Vistaweave 95/99 is a product commonly used in Australia Google

[ronbo1]

I made cockpit side and stern shades with Phifertex from Sailrite on a Gozzard 44.

If you use two zippers one shade can work for both sides since there’s only one sun to deal with.

Ronbo

[Wainui]

Many boats down in Mexico use a product from Amazon called Coolaroo shade cloth. Comes in a few colors.