Fabric for Sun Shade

C

CaptTom

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3441
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I'd like to make fabric sun shades I can snap over my windows when not using the boat. I'm wondering what fabric is usually used for these.

Anyone know?
 
Sunbrella is a trade name of a fabric that's often used for shades and bimini tops.
 
I have dark blue sunbrella window coverings below the brow on the carver. It gets VERY hot. I put some thin pieces of insulation between the windows and the sunbrella to take some pressure off the window. I will have white next time. Check out the color first.
 
I've also seen white screen material used on boats. Looks very nice, keep the heat out and allows some visibility to the outside from within.
 
Yes, it's that white, thin material I'm looking for, not sunbrella.
 
The stuff you are looking for is Phifertex. Also check out Sunbrella Shade and Sunbrella View, which are designed for this specific application. Don't know if Boatfix sells it; if not, Sailrite in FT. Ldl is headquarters for marine fabric stuff.

George
Hatteras 56MY
 
Just remember; if you use the perforated product, one will be able to see inside vessel when it's lighter inside & dark outside.
 
Aluminum foil and duct tape. Light and temperature reflective and it will shield you from the spy satellites.
 
And the foil and duct tape would also make for a better radar reflection in the fog!

Good point about see-through fabrics at night. The original purpose was to cut down on sun fading, but I can see where it might come in handy as a privacy screen too. Now I've got too many choices! This forum seems to have that effect, but thanks for all the replies anyway.

Anybody have experience with white (regular) sunbrella? Does it get black streaks like white fiberglass hulls do?
 
Well, you "see through" less with the Phifertex on than without it! The P-tex is what we use on our front windshield; though the Sunbrella stuff looks pretty nice too. Yes, these products will get streaks like any other marine surface. But it washes off just fine.

George
Hatteras 56MY
 
Be sure to use a protectant such as Scotchgard at the beginning of each boating season. That will help make them easy to clean.
 
Looks like the Phifertex Plus is just the stuff I'm after. Thanks!
 
My windows are covered with Phifertex, three years now and I still love the stuff. But after reading this post, I am thinking about the foil solution. It's those spy satellites. They have been beaming thoses messages into my boat, telling me all sorts of crazy things. Stuff like Paul's not dead, and pay my taxes. I have to block this stuff out...
 
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