Top Material

[gpfishingdude]

I am making a sun shade canopy for my boat. I would like to find a material that is light weight yet strong enough to be able to sew velcrow straps on to it to hold it in place on the pvc frame I am using. Waterproof would be okay too. When I am finished it will look about like the canopy on the boat in the movie- The River Rat- with Tommy Lee Jones but without the fancy trim work on the sides. I installed the removable uprights in three positions in the boat so that the sections can be taken down for fishing from the bow or stern. If anybody has made a homemade canopy like this and has any advice on the type of material to use or anything I would like to hear about it. Thanks

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Top Material

Bimini and other boat tops are made from Sunbrella. You can buy it thru marine outlets like BoatUS. if you do not want to pay that price, you can try some vinyl over cloth.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Top Material

Contact a local upholstery shop. There are plenty of options, not just Sunbrella. Diskson Marine fabric, enduratex, Stamoid to name a few. All are basically the same materials, but the Stamoid is waterproof where the others are water resistant. Vinyl would be a poor choice due to it's stretch. Canvas materials such as Sunbrella and Dickson don't stretch. Also, the upholstery shops will either have it on hand, or have a much wider range of choices (colors and patterns). You'll probably get a better price as well.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Top Material

I set out to do something like you describe. I used some standard cloth it it appeard that would work good. What was the fail on my project was the PVC frame. I was going for a home made bimini. Sounds like you might be going for shade while at idle or achored so you might be OK. Half inch PVC would not work at much over 10 mile a hour on my project. Too much bend and flex.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Top Material

Thanks for all of the advice. I went ahead and ordered some vinyl fabric last night. It is good material and has an 8 year warranty. I need to call the company and ask them -what is the best way to attach the velcrow tie straps, hoping to be able to have them sewn on. I am hoping that this material won't be too heavy for the frame I am building out of 3/4" electrical type pvc with smaller pvc for braces. We plan on using it for shade while anchored and removing the fabric when running at higher speeds. I am trying to figure out how to make some storage under the gunwale overhangs on the sides for some of this tubing. I can stow some stuff under the casting deck that some former fisherman-owner built at the bow. So far I still have room to fish my way around the front and sides of this old center console.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Top Material

I made one several years ago with the alum tubing from a old welding booth tri fold screen and some light weight nylon fabric it worked very well.