When we bought FlyWright, she came with the exterior sunscreens for the windshield and side windows and an additional solid canvas for the windshield. You can see from the picture below that the windshield cover wraps around the side to also cover the forward side window on each side. We added interior blinds and shades after a couple of years of ownership.
We use the side sunscreens almost full time during the summer months. They provide cabin cooling and daytime privacy. Folks who have anchored near us are often surprised that the screens are opaque when they come aboard since they can't see through them during the day. We find they also provide good sun protection to the varnished teak window frames. We leave the side screens up unless we're traveling though areas with a lot of wind spray, such as San Pablo Bay in northern CA. When the screens get wet, the visibility through them is terrible. We never drive from either helm with either windshield cover in place. We have found that always having the option to drive from the lower helm without removing covers outweighs the small innconvenience of removing/reattaching them before flybridge steering.
At anchor during the day, we attach the windshield sunscreen to keep the cabin cooler. If we need more sun protection or night privacy, we can install the windshield canvas and close the blinds and shades inside the cabin.
(bad picture taken after blind installation and before cabin cleanup.)
We used 2 inch faux wood blinds with drawstrings on the windows and matching no-string pull-down fabric shades on the doors. The reasons for this was the shorter 'stack' of the fabric shade when stowed above the doors and the ease of operation of the shades when entering or exiting the salon. Plus, the Admiral didn't want fabric shades or curtains in the galley where cooking or dishwashing splashes would be more difficult to clean.
Since our interior fabrics were tan and beige (by the male PO), we decided to add burgundy color tapes to the blinds to bring the exterior color into the interior.
The top photo also shows our breeze booster installed over the fwd hatch which substantially improves airflow through the cabin. When paired with the onboard 12V fans and our low humidity, the cabin stays comfortable without air conditioning, even on our hottest summer days.
When you hear the vacuum hummin'
Don't come a runnin'!
The saving grace is that I have a body like a Greek god, and I'm lite on my toes. So there.
By the way, why does look like a flight simulator?
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Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown) https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
In Ancient Greek mythology, Silenus is the God of beer and a drinking companion. He is usually associated with his buddy, Dionysus. He is often featured as a bald and fat man, with a big beer belly.
I ran across this pic of your childhood obsession with vacuums. You were a cute little guy before you learned about nude vacuum use. Is Moonstruck a variation of the name Moonsuck?
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Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown) https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
We have a similar set up to Al where we have the partial visibilty sunbrella stuff on the outside of all the windows. We got the max blocking on the windscreen and doors and the slightly less blocking on the rest, as they have blinds on the inside for privacy (windscreen and doors don't anymore, first thing to go). We also have full sunbrella for the windscreen and doors that snaps on top of the other or can snap directly to the boat. It is so hot where we are now that we've had the full sunbrella on for awhile now. We have never had a situation where we unexpectedly had to drive from below so we normally leave those covers on. If we are planning to drive from below we completely uncover the windscreen and doors. The visibility through the other windows is acceptable with the screens on. The sunbrella screens also work well as bug screens.
You can kinda see the canvas is the photo.
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-Jennifer
2003 Silverton 38c (not a trawler)
Marina Village, Alameda
San Francisco Bay Area
[B][SIZE=2]I ran across this pic of your childhood obsession with vacuums. You were a cute little guy before you learned about nude vacuum use. Is Moonstruck a variation of the name Moonsuck?
Ah, the days of my youth. I remember them well. Even then the girls went for the guy with the big vacuum. If he had several, all the better.
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Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown) https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
City: Ex-Brisbane, (Australia), now Bribie Island, Qld
Vessel Name: Now boatless - sold 6/2018
Vessel Model: Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by READY2GO
A couple more pics of our setup.
Living and cruising here in Queensland, we have a similar (to Florida) heat/sun issue, which was one of the reasons my wife would not allow me to buy an aft cabin style boat. We finally found a sedan version, and then did this. Looks like you might benefit from similar over the aft section now....while you are on a Sunbrella roll.....
Thanks Peter B, It is very hot and humid there. I remember the first time I stepped off the plane in Brisbane, I thought I was going to die before I could get into the terminal. We lived two years in Sydney and two in Perth. We enjoyed Perth the most. Applied for permenant residence twice but was denied. So back to the good ol USA.
If I could think of a way to do a canvas over the back half and make it look good on this style of trawler I would. So far I haven't seen anyone who has done that, and haven't had any bright ideas of my own.
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"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain
City: Ex-Brisbane, (Australia), now Bribie Island, Qld
Vessel Name: Now boatless - sold 6/2018
Vessel Model: Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,101
How about just getting a frame guy to do this...?
It would actually incorporate the existing side deck extensions you have had put on there already. We did the same but from the stern cockpit forwards, as the original set-up just had a small square of suspended canvas jutting out from the back of the flybridge deck and only covering 2/3 of the cockpit and nothing over the side decks at all. Its the best thing we have done we reckon.
Peter that looks really nice. I just don't know how to do something with mine since I have the trunk on mine that you have to walk on to get to the flybridge. It would have to be so high to allow access to the FB that I think it would not look good.
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"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Mark Twain
City: Ex-Brisbane, (Australia), now Bribie Island, Qld
Vessel Name: Now boatless - sold 6/2018
Vessel Model: Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,101
I've seen it done on boats like yours over here. They set it at the height about halfway between the flybridge deck and the rails, so there is room to duck under for flybridge access, and put a zippered opening, like in one of my picks, over the flybridge steps. Done well it can look quite good, and it sure keeps rain and sun off the roof of the aft cabin.
How about just getting a frame guy to do this...?
It would actually incorporate the existing side deck extensions you have had put on there already. We did the same but from the stern cockpit forwards, as the original set-up just had a small square of suspended canvas jutting out from the back of the flybridge deck and only covering 2/3 of the cockpit and nothing over the side decks at all. Its the best thing we have done we reckon.
Peter:
I'm still envious of your canvas. I've been holding off on that project while I attend to more pressing issues. But, since a cockpit bimini is becoming a hot (pun intended) issue for me, maybe I should go all in and do your mod.
SHADE, SHADE, SHADE SHADE, SHADE, SHADE SHADE YOUR BOOTY SHADE YOUR BOOTY etc,etc,etc
KC and the Sunshine Band
Now, let's really get serious about shade!!
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Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown) https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/