Boat Sun Canopy

[B175Chris]

Hi all, was wondering if anyone can help me,

Last year on the boat (Bayliner 175) in South of France it tended to get so hot in the day that we had to wait until the late afternoon until we could go out because the sun was shining on the boat literally all the time.

Having family members that burn far too easily, going out in the day isnt really a viable option anymore because of the heat rising to around 40 deg most days, so we have been thinking of investing in a not too expensive canopy to put over during the day.

This is where the problem lies, we cannot buy one as the boat is in france and it would be too much of a pain to take it over and it not fit and have to bring the canopy back after the holiday.

Also there does not seem to be anywhere to hold the thing in place. there are two grip things for the bimini top just behind where the windscreen ends (see picture below) but no other places to hold it in place. Where do these tend to be?

Sorry if my question is not clear enough, really hard to get the point across, basically i need somewhere inexpensive in the UK that has done these before or anyone that may know where the canopy should be attached. Don't want to be drilling holes in the boat when we don't know what we're doing...

If I've missed anything out please ask and I'll do my best to clarify /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks

Chris

 

[landlockedpirate]

Not sure if something like this would do. Generic bimini and a cheap price.

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/ProductDe...d2-d80b84f1521c

 

[itsonlymoney]

You can buy such a canopy from a us firm called overtons but you will have to fit the brackets to hold it and of course pay the carriage etc. I have bought stuff from them and its not that expensive do a google and have a look.

 

[B175Chris]

Thanks Mark, that is very much what we are looking for, supported from a central hinge, although I am struggling to see how it remains upright... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It may just be me and I've missed something, but it looks like at could just fall over /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I may give them a call to see if there is a general name for this type of canopy and see if they have anything for the exact measurements of the boat..

Ian, thanks and I will have a look now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chris

 

[BrendanS]

typically you have straps that come down from top of front tube to a point just forward of the tube on the boat, that you can tension.

Can work other way around though. or even both front and back straps

You'll need somewhere to attach them of course

 

[BrendanS]

PS on many boats of that size, the bimini forms the centre of a complete cover, and you can zip on front piece that goes from front of bimini to screen, rear of bimini to transom, and side screens, making a fully enclosed canopy

 

[Richard10002]

I "bought" the Lalizas Venus from Mailspeed Marine in March last year... they said it would be delivered the next week. In the event, it hadnt been delivered by the time we were due to leave in August so I got my money back.

Arrived in Portugal to a message from Mailspeed that it had arrived at their shop. I still wanted it, and paid the price, plus £60 to have it delivered to Lagos in September.

Got round to fitting it last week. It's quite cheaply made and seems a bit flimsy, but it may work. The tubes are aluminium, and the canopy is quite lightweight and doesnt seem heavy duty.

I've got one side bracket fitted, and will finish it off next time I go... probably late Feb or March.

I chose the Lalizas as it was cheap, (by a lomg way), but they have a reasonable reputation.. I hope I am proved right.

 

[ArthurWood]

Take a look at westmarine .com http://biminis.westmarine.com/cgi-bin/biminiguide.pl

 

[B175Chris]

Hmm.. sounds about right, thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'd like to see one of these in a picture fitted onto a boat to get a better idea, if anyone happens to stumble across one of these pictures, or is in a marina where someone has a canopy like this, get yer cameraphone out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks to all so far, I have been given a glimmer of hope to fnally getting round to getting one of these things

Chris

 

[Richard10002]

The kit comes with 4 straps. 2 attach to the front of the bimimi, and 2 to the back.... attaching them to the deck, forward and aft of the bimini, should keep it in position.

 

[B175Chris]

You don't happen to have a picture handy by any chance do you? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Not necessarily for tonight but if you come across one it would be great to see

The westmarine link also look spromising, I think i'll be on the phone to a few of these tomorrow...

Any more first-hand experiences welcomed

Cheers,

Chris

 

[BrendanS]

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Chris, what's the colour scheme on your boat?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[B175Chris]

Aha now if I can just make a quick comment on that picture which Richard may be able to clear up:

The front straps appear to be tied to where my cupholders are in the bow... to my knowledge there is nowhere to tie onto other than the windscreen catch.. and I assume that the perfectly vertical strut is not attched to anything and is there for backup support only...?

That picture clears a lot up

Chris

 

[B175Chris]

Hi, i believe it is the same on the exterior as the picture posted by Brendan, and this is the interior of mine... demonstrates the attchment problems mentioned above:

Chris

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Aha ... I only asked as I have a red bimini top from my old Searay 180 down in the basement - and if it was going to be of any use to you, you could have it. But from your pic it looks like you've already got a bimini and so I guess you're trying to sort out something more substantial.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[BrendanS]

You'll need to add the attachment points, they aren't on your boat, tho easily added

If the boat not ordered with the bimini or full canopy, no reason to expect them to be there

 

[B175Chris]

Well that is used at nights really to keep any light rain off and is replaced by the big tarp should a storm be coming along, and I never use the bimini when driving because it seals the heat in and personally it gives me no shade as i like to be able to look over the windscreen.

it is very low down and am just looking for something a bit higher that will basically stop direct sunlight and cover a larger area of the boat so all 5 of us can get some shade /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Depends on what type of canopy you have i suppose, thanks for the suggestion /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Chris

 

[B175Chris]

Looks as if we may have to look into how we add the attachment points then.. if they arent too difficult to add then it shouldnt be a problem, just dont want to risk adding any holes to the boat, i always find thats a bad thing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Obviously the difficulty is with it being in france, it if was in UK would be a different story..

Chris

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Well, to be brutally honest I'm not sure what precisely it is, it came with the boat, I never used it, and forgot to include it when I sold the boat on. It's down in a store room in the basement underneath some other meaningless junk (spare RSJ's, old windows, a giant tripod, old drainage fittings - you know, the kind of essential stuff every chap has in his house when he's lived on his own for slightly too long...). If I get a chance I'll dig it up tomorrow and have a look.

Cheers
Jimmy