Sunshade

[Jim Hardesty]

During the 2018 GLCC rendezvous I saw a Catalina 320 with an excellent sunshade.  Sorry to say I don't remember the names to give credit due.  I finely got around to sketching up a design and having my take on their idea made up.  I'm very happy with the results.  As the pictures show it zips to the existing bimini and lays on the boom.

Jim

[rmjohns]

Jim, that looks great.. What kind of fabric did you use for this?

[Geoffreykwright]

Jim - that looks amazing.  I've been thinking about doing this for some time.  Are there 'battens' going horizontally across the shade to give it some shape?   

[Jim Hardesty]

Are there 'battens' going horizontally across the shade to give it some shape?

Yes, there are 4 made with 1/2 pvc pipe, for now.  I did use it for a weekend with only 2 battens over the dodger, worked well like that.  The sunshade is a work in progress.  May go to regular batten material and am just using clothesline to tie it up till I make up something more ship-like.  The material is weather-something I picked it out at the canvas shop.  Debated some over that or the blue Sunbrella, but I think the light colored material looks better.   It folds up to a little larger than a basket ball and the battens fit in the boom, don't know if that would work with a standard main, Shamrock is in-mast furling.
Jim

[Ron Hill]

Jim : APACHE has a similar sun cover.  It was made by Defender out of a lighter weight white Dacron sail cloth.  It has 3 "stiffeners" that are telescopic aluminum poles that fit into the fwd, mid and aft sleeves of the cover.  It goes from the mast back to mid Bimini.  White is the way to go for a sunshade while you're on the boat. 
Great to get out of the hot sun!!   

A few thoughts

[KWKloeber]

Jim

>>> 1/2 pvc pipe, for now<<<

If that's too flexible you could use schedule 80 pvc, much stiffer and exactly the same OD. It's a law.
Do you have couplings on the pvc for easier storage?

[Jon W]

Another sunshade option that the PO had made. Sunbrella fabric no stiffeners. Rolls up to store below when not in use.

[Ron Hill]

Jon : Apache also has a sun cover when we are NOT on the boat - similar to yours.  it is light gray and made out of a material called Oddesy.
Helps to keep the interior of the boat about 15 degrees cooler than the ambient outside temperature!!

Look in the Mainsheet tech notes as I wrote an article and you'll see a picture of my Summer and Winter covers!!

[kh3412]

Jim that looks fantastic