They look like caravan tops from the Oregon trail, but according to the testimonials from the website, Shadetree’s Boat Awnings offer you the fit of a custom awning without any of the annoying tie-down lines.
Any serious sailboat cruiser knows that when you travel for an extended period of time in a hot sunny climate, that a reliable, functional awning is about as important as cold beer when it comes to avoiding a mutiny on board. If you’ve ever made the mistake of anchoring in a windless Caribbean bay in July (you know who you are), then you’ll appreciate the necessity.
Probably the best part about Shadetree’s Awnings is that they are fun to assemble. Instead of turning the awning over, then 90 degrees, then 90 degrees again, trying to find that elusive corner (you know, the one that is supposed to tie to the mast: “I could have sworn at least one of these corners is supposed to tie to the mast…”), you save yourself some head scratching by simply inserting the carbon/fiberglass tubes into slots on the canvas. Ten minutes later you’ll be glowing from memories of setting up camping tents with your father while proudly admiring your rugged, freestanding contraption!
Once put together, the awnings connect directly to your lifelines, putting them well outboard and out of the way. In addition to being pretty straightforward, the awnings also boast high-quality UV resistant fabric, and are rumored to flex to deflect sustained winds of 30 knots. We all know that awnings can be a real pain. It’s about time somebody put the “can” back in “canvas.”
