Anyone Using a ShadeTree Canopy w/ Your 34?

[tomrussell]

It is heating up again down in FL.  I've been looking at the ShadeTree canopy for a couple years but have not had the financial courage to pull the trigger.  Is anyone using w/ your 34?  Pictures would be appreciated.  If there is another option you've implemented for shade that you like, i would welcome the feedback.  Thanks!

[Ken Juul]

Here's a thread with some pictures.
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4422.0.html

I would think it is probably better to have a local canvas shop make you a custom one than try to fit a commercial product onto you boat. 

[Jim Hardesty]

Why not a Bimini?  You can have shade while sailing.

[hump180]

Make that two votes for a good bimini.

[Ron Hill]

Tom : Look in projects and you'll see that I made a summer cover (boom tent) to keep the hot sun off the boat while it's parked.  The temp inside is 10-15 degrees cooler when doing some work projects inside.
It has weathered many a Tstorms.    A thought

[Ken Juul]

no write up, but here is a picture of Ron's covers.

http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-boat-covers.html

[Lance Jones]

Georgia is hot too. We do something similar to Ron. We have 2 White 10x20 tarps that we fit over the boom and can drape from the whisker pole ring on the mast to the pulpit. They are attached with bungee that take about 5-10 minutes to set up or take down for sailing. I also second a good bimini/dodger combo that has a connecting, but removable, piece.

[Stephen Butler]

A few years ago we picked up a package of tarps from Costco.  Nylon reinforced plastic, blue on one side and silver on the other with some well spaced gromets.  One goes over the boom and the other foreward from the mast to the pulpit, silver side up.  Quick to rig and unrig, but not as "tailored" a look as we would like.  Having said this, these plus the dodger-bimini-connecting insert shade our boat and reduce the interior temperatures by 10 degrees F in a SW Florida summer.

[Ron Hill]

Guys : I made my summer cover out of a material called Odyssey (sp?) and it's great.  My cover also shades most of the teak from the UV and have had it for over 12 years. 

[tomrussell]

Thanks for your feedback.  I have a bimini and it covers the cockpit pretty well.  I'm on the hunt for a solution that keeps the topsides from being cooked all day long.  Ron's canvas looks good.  The ShadeTree solution also takes care of the bow area.  But like everything else, it's pricey. 

[Lance Jones]

If you read the posts, we all get a second tarp that stretches from the mast to the pulpit.

[Ken Juul]

I saw this over on Sailing Anarchy.  Nice set up, hadn't thought of the sloping the front awning.  Also note the use of rubber ball bungees for easy set up/tear down.