New Moderately Priced Cockpit Shade for 330 Express

usmm1234

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When I was getting my new enclosure, I asked my canvas guy to quote me on a cockpit shade. He does high end yacht work sonI knew it would be fairly high. He came back with a quote around $1,200 to $1,400 Depending on material and poles.
i started looking on line. There are a number of companies coming out with shades like Taco, Carver Canvas and Taylor.It looks like all would end up over $1,000. I found 1 company on Amazon called Oceansouth. They had stainless telescoping poles and a size that fit the 330 for $278.
i decided to take a chance since I could return it with Amazon. It turned out to be pretty nice. I have no idea if the stainless will rust, or the nylon parts might disintegrate from UV, or the fabric will shred ?
I had to add a loop forward of center to hold up the shade in the middle With a center pole. I also had to add a strap in the middle of the forward edge to attach to the middle of the hardtop.I used a stainless base mount rod holder on the hardtop to hold the pole like a center rigger. I rigged that with some Harken mini sailboat blocks and cam cleat. I mounted rail mount rod holders to the transom grab rails to hold the poles. The 3 rod holders and snap hooks were from King Marine In WA. The telescoping center pole came from LaPorte Products in N Charleston. The Sailboat hardware came from Amazon. The top kit and outboard motor covers came from Oceansouth on Amazon.
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I already had the rail mount rod holders, so the whole project cost me under $700.
the shade is also waterproof. I would not run the boat over fast idle with the top up, although I have not tried to run with it.
 

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Fishtales

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That is really nice. I think there will be a few folks wanting to do it.
 

usmm1234

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A lot of the sunshades are mesh. The Oceans South top is waterproof so you need to support it in the middle. I may end up putting some vent pickets in it. When a big wind gets under it. It really slaps.
 

kirk a

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What size shade did you use for the boat? Looking at options, and I'm away from the boat and have no idea of size needed.
 

usmm1234

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It’s bee
What size shade did you use for the boat? Looking at options, and I'm away from the boat and have no idea of size needed.
its been awhile since I bought it. I’m going to be using it in a couple days. I’ll measure it and let you know.
 

ocdansar

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That looks good. I just got my order from sailrite. My wife is making a cover from the back of hardtop to the transom. I’m gonna get some poles and try to rig up something for the rod holders to hold it up when we’re on the boat. I spent close to 200. For track 10 yards of material and thread .
 

Fishtales

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That was a very good installation. Like anything with boats - a good one will cost ya.
 

Hookup1

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That looks good. I just got my order from sailrite. My wife is making a cover from the back of hardtop to the transom. I’m gonna get some poles and try to rig up something for the rod holders to hold it up when we’re on the boat. I spent close to 200. For track 10 yards of material and thread .
I did a cockpit coverer my boat last year out of Sunbrella. Track under hardtop, reinforced webbing along edge to transom. Cover could attach to my fly shade poles but I need cutouts for hardtop rod holders. I plan to make a second cover for fly shade.

Cockpit Cover.jpeg

Ordered stainless fly shade poles from Canvas Designers in FL. $1,000/pair. Drop into aft rod holders. You can go with a lighter pole and surface mount too. All measured up - I just have to sit down at the sewing machine and knock it out.

Shade pole 1.jpeg Shade pole 3.jpeg
 
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ocdansar

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My wife is the seamstress. She made the same cover for our Marlin. I still have the blue sunbrella one she made for our last 330 express it’s dark blue and I wanted gray this time as I will be switching curtains over to white when I get them redone. I’ll post some pics when she gets done.she’s working on the bag under the hardtop right now.
Wow a grand for poles I seriously don’t see that happening I’m way to cheap for that .
 
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SmokyMtnGrady

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nice shade . I am looking for one that I can put up and cruise with , especially for the lake when I know I am not fishing .
 

usmm1234

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What size shade did you use for the boat? Looking at options, and I'm away from the boat and have no idea of size needed.
We just measured it. 7 1/2 ft x 9ft . Fits our 330:perfect. We are sitting under it right now in St Augustine FL. 20BD92F6-486B-468A-AE1A-481BCC66FC71.jpeg
 
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