How To Build Boat Shade

If you’re angling to spend a lot of time on the water this year, you may be asking yourself or fellow boaters how to build boat shade. At TACO, we have some tips and tricks for how you can easily make boat shade.

CANVAS & SHADE POLES

A DIY option for how to make boat shade is using a large piece of canvas fabric attached to your boat top and connected to two-to-four poles inserted into rod holders. Because boat size and the location over which you want to build the boat shade may vary, we recommend having the canvas material measured and cut by a reputable canvas provider for your boat shade needs.

If your boat has a hardtop, attaching shade fabric to it is as easy as attaching two stainless steel eye straps on either side of the top’s underside. Then, on the canvas end that was measured to fit next to the top, simply attach the fabric using a two-sided clasp, or something similar, into the fabric’s corner grommets and the eye straps.

Keep in mind, a two-sided clasp doesn’t allow much room for movement, and as the fabric moves up and down with the breeze, it could cause the clasps to hit the underside of the boat top, scratching the gel coat.

For a more robust solution to attaching the fabric to the underside of a hardtop, Captain Mark Henderson recommends using a stainless-steel Footman Loop that has a wider base/opening as opposed to an eye strap. This allows a flat, nylon strap to wrap the Footman Loop, attach to the clasp and reconnect with a strap buckle. The clasp then connects to the fabric’s grommets, keeping the hardware away from the top surface. This method also allows for fine-tuned adjustments when tightening the fabric.

If you have a T-top, eye straps are not needed to attach the canvas shade fabric. Instead, you could use rope or zip ties through the grommets at either corner and tie the fabric in place.

Once the fabric is attached to your boat top, the next step is attaching it to your boat shade poles. 

In the video below, Captain Mark Henderson demonstrates how to add canvas shade fabric using Carbon Fiber Tele-Sun Shade Poles. These poles feature cam cleat, a 360º swivel collar with an open hood and extend from 52.89” to 80.4” tall.

You can also follow the step-by-step instructions for how to build boat shade with the Carbon Fiber Tele-Sun Shade Poles in the instruction manual here, or review the steps below.

1. Insert butt of Tele-Sun Shade Pole into rod holder. 
2. Align lock slot with the rod holder pin. 
3. Push down on the pole and twist counterclockwise, until the pole is locked into place. 
4. After attaching rope to the grommet in the corner of the sun-shade material,
5. Insert the rope end, from the top, through the opening between the roller and the base of the swivel collar.
6. Tighten the sun-shade material by:
7. Pulling the rope through the swivel roller. 
8. Unlock the lever clamp to adjust the telescoping section of the sun shade pole to the desired height. (Hold the securing rope to making sure it does not slide back out of the swivel roller) 
9. Tighten adjusting screw on the lever clamp for correct tension to eliminate pole collapse. 
10. Close the lever clamp. 
11. Insert the end of the rope through the fair-lead in front of the cam cleat. 
12. Then insert the rope through the serrated jaws of the cam cleat. 
13. Pull rope through the cam cleat until reaching desired tension. (The cam cleat will hold the rope in place.) 
14. If desired for aesthetics and cleanliness,
    1. Wrap any additional length of rope around the pole above the cam cleat.
    2. Secure with three half-hitch knots 
15. Perform the same tasks on the opposite corner with the other Tele-Sun Shade Pole.  
16. An alternate installation of sun-shade material is to: 
17. Attach clasps to either end of a bungee cord. Clasp one end through the material grommet and the other to the hood on the pole swivel collar. 
18.  This would eliminate the need for a rope connection.  

If carbon fiber boat shade poles are not exactly what you’re looking for, whether because of cost or convenience, consider using Aluminum Tele-Sun Shade Poles instead. These feature a tip eye bolt and a nylon cleat and can be adjusted from 44.6” to 69.37” in height. Like the Carbon Fiber Tele-Sun Shade Poles, these are easy to install. Check out the installation manual here. Learn more about the Aluminum Tele-Sun Shade Poles in the video below. 

SHADEFIN BY TACO MARINE 

For boaters looking for a more innovative boat sunshade solution, consider adding the new ShadeFin for Shadow In Seconds.

ShadeFin was developed to enable boaters a quick, easy and effective way to add boat shade onboard in a matter of minutes. ShadeFin easily attached into rod holders, tops and gunnels and is available with a variety of mounting options, such as Clamp-On Mounts for pipe and tube and a Telescopic Rod Holder Accessory. ShadeFin can also be mounted to TACO Grand Slam 170 Outrigger and 170-2 Center Rigger Mounts.

ShadeFin comes with high-quality WeatherMAX 3D fabric built-in, which provides a 50+ UPF rating of sun protection. Check out the video below for more information on the new ShadeFin. 

For questions on how you can build boat shade, comment on this blog or contact our Technical Support team here. We are happy to answer your boat sunshade questions and help you find the best shade solution for your on-the-water needs.

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