BOAT AWNING

We debated taking the awning down while I am traveling, as it would be a handful for Judy to take down by herself if the wind were piping up, but we have some very nice neighbors who volunteered to help if it needs to come down, so up it will remain.  It makes quite a difference inside the boat to have the decks shaded thru the day.  Glad it can stay in place.

This is the first time we deployed the awning, and I have to say we are glad to have provided Luis (the canvas guy in La Cruz) the opportunity to practice awnings.  I am sure he will get it right next time.  His workmanship is pretty good, it just design details that need improving.

 

PS  We have radically redesigned the awning.  We don't deploy the section forward of the bow.  To much effort, and it gets in the way.  We recut the section from the bow back to the dodger and installed "D" rings in from the right and left edges about 18".  The rings are sewn on the top side.  We run spectra line through the rings, suspend the center of the awning over the mast, out to the spectra lines that are run from fittings on the dodger forward through loops of spectra lines attached to the port and starboard shrouds with a couple rolling hitches and on forward to the bow where they are cinched up tight and tied off to the base of the forward most stanchions.  Running the lines forward like this allows us to pull the lines taunt enough to suspend the awning without putting lateral stress on the shrouds.  The rear corners of the awning are tied to the fittings on the dodger.  The front corners and middle forward edge are attached to the shrouds and the mast with adjustable straps.  Unclipping the forward straps allows the awning to be blow back to the dodger if we get sudden wind gusts or Chubascos, securing securing the awning in a matter of seconds