Sun awning material
- Thread starter stranded
- Start date
ashtead
Well-Known Member
If cheapness is of importance you might look to adapt sun awnings sold by Lidl or suchlike. We have one to cover the deck above forward cabin but only used occasionally in U.K. Climate. Just spreads over a line rigged horizontally from mast to forestay and clipped to guardwires with plastic clips . Sold in tasteful beige for creating a sunshade for gardens so has a few polo legs and guys and rolls up into light small bag.
sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
I believe hooka looking for some thing that's going to last some time , B&Q , lidi it's ok for the odd time and has you say kept low off the deck , try and use it up high Flapping in the wind , it go in no time at all ,
If he wanted to go for cheapness , what some use is a green netting , very similar to the old carrot bag we use to years back , it's strong , keep the sun out, let the wind blow through and can last a long time , but if he looking for some thing that's going to last a long time , also act as a rain cover and keep the UV out , sunbrella or there is another product that better but cost more , Markilux , it's German ,.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
I got a decent piece of material off a redundant caravan awning
Martin_J
Well-Known Member
One thing to note is that although Sunbrella has great UV resistance properties, it is not very chafe resistant.
It can wear through from rubbing against something in no time at all.
Put chafe resistant patches anywhere the fabric will come into contact with other surfaces such as cleats or stays.
It can wear through from rubbing against something in no time at all.
Put chafe resistant patches anywhere the fabric will come into contact with other surfaces such as cleats or stays.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
I bought some cheap Navy blue material on Ebay that looked and felt much like Sunbrella or equivalent to make a new inflatable dinghy cover/bag: after 10 months stowed on deck the Navy top is now pale blue, and one panel has ripped. Just bought some better quality stuff from Kayospruce to re-make.....
Plum
Well-Known Member
I have been making my own covers for 12 years using Topgun fabric. Although in UK sun the first cover i made is still going strong after all year exposure and the chaff resistance is very good. Even for diy i still think paying the extra for top quality material is worth while. A heavier duty material flaps less and is therefore quieter.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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stranded
Well-Known Member
Yes, others have recommended Topgun too. Is it a similar finish to eg Sunbrella or does it have a plasticy coating?
Plum
Well-Known Member
Topgun is a woven polyester with an acrylic coating. It has a very fine textured, slight-sheen when new, surface which i would definitely not regard a plasticy. It is good to work with as when you lay it out on a flat surface it does not distort diagonally like some fabrics and raw cut edges do not fray at all. For most covers i just turn the edge once then two lines of straight stitching. Using, say, a 50mm seam i stitch at 5mm and 45mm so eyelets can be fitted between the stitching. The cockpit cover and sailcover in this picture are Topgun.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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stranded
Well-Known Member
Great, thanks Plum - I recall one type of canvas that is sort of plastic coated but obviously not topgun. Since starting this thread I have remembered that my existing Bimini etc. are in fact Solacryl rather than Sunbrella (because that is what Sanders Sails - in whom I have great faith) use. So with all those coming well recommended I shall price those against the cheaper recommendations (best acrylic canvas price I have found so far is £18 something per linear metre of Solacryl, which sounds a decent start) - all the comments about long term value are well noted.
Lovely looking boat by the way!
sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
Hooka what ever you buy make sure it's going to work in the country your using it , UK waterproof as well as uv , in somewhere like the Med and high UV protection .
Some years back over winter while we was completing an cockpit cover we was offered some cheaper cavnas which was brought in bulk by someone making Bimini for cruisers it was € 3 a metre cheaper , my co skipper refused the kind offer , the three people who we knew that had Bimini made from it , had to have them remade , rain just leak through it .
I glad I listened to the better half as I was tempted at the time .
Of cause all this also depend how you are going to use it too , if it's the odd weekend when the sun out I suppose an cheaper canvas ok , but if your using it every day as we do in wind rain and sun that and altogether different story .
Some years back over winter while we was completing an cockpit cover we was offered some cheaper cavnas which was brought in bulk by someone making Bimini for cruisers it was € 3 a metre cheaper , my co skipper refused the kind offer , the three people who we knew that had Bimini made from it , had to have them remade , rain just leak through it .
I glad I listened to the better half as I was tempted at the time .
Of cause all this also depend how you are going to use it too , if it's the odd weekend when the sun out I suppose an cheaper canvas ok , but if your using it every day as we do in wind rain and sun that and altogether different story .
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ianc1200
Well-Known Member
Colin, any reason why you went for Topgun rather than Weathermax?
nortada
Well-Known Member
Nooka.
Where is your boat?
If anywhere near Ayamonte, Spain you can get suitable material for €10 a metre, 3.30 metre wide.
Excellent in a high UV environment, which some experience, will survive for more than 10 years continuous exposure.
Where is your boat?
If anywhere near Ayamonte, Spain you can get suitable material for €10 a metre, 3.30 metre wide.
Excellent in a high UV environment, which some experience, will survive for more than 10 years continuous exposure.
Plum
Well-Known Member
No. When i started using Topgun i did not know about Weathermax (if it existed then) and am now reluctant to change after building up so many years of experience with Topgun. For my next project i came very close to selecting Weathermax based on some research although it is a little thinner than Topgun. However i have now ordered Topgun from http://marinacover.com who gave me the best price for supply only although they do make good covers.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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