Sewing a high-quality awning is impossible without good materials. Our company uses materials of the highest quality, intelligently combining them based on the purpose of the awning. As for the requirements that are put forward for materials, these are moisture resistance, mechanical strength, resistance to mold and mildew, and resistance to ultraviolet penetration.
Preparing to sew an awning
Before you make an awning for a camping trip, protecting a car body or a trading platform, you need to choose the right fabric. Before going to an awning materials store, you should decide on the functions expected from a finished awning. Typically, a canopy is necessary to protect an object from moisture and mechanical influence of extraneous factors, so moisture-resistant canvases are suitable:
- Tarpaulin;
- Polyvinyl chloride fabric;
- Oxford;
- Tarpaulin.
The width of the material is standard, so before starting sewing it is worth calculating the expected dimensions of the canopy. For example, 8 meters of fabric with a width of 1.5 m will allow you to sew an awning with dimensions 3x4. In some stores, materials are not cut, but torn along the fibers, but in most rolls, the weave of the cut threads does not correspond to the axes in the roll. If you need to sew a product with the most precise geometry, you should take fabric with additional margin to cut it at right angles.
Before you start sewing, you need to think about the fastenings. The most practical for use in tourism, covering car bodies and creating tents are fabric strips, metal hooks and eyelets. The fabric and fasteners must be suitable for the expected loads, since most fabrics are sensitive to intensive use.
Types of boat awnings
The main purpose of a boat cover is protection. There are many factors in nature that a fisherman will encounter to protect himself, the boat or the equipment being transported.
A boat awning can be:
- Nasal;
- Parking;
- Transport;
- Tent-roof (Biminitop);
- Chassis.
The bow awning for the boat is PVC fabric with a transparent insert for tracking the water route. The accessory is equipped with an aluminum stand frame and is installed using awning fittings. A bow awning is necessary to protect the things, fishing gear and equipment transported in the bow of the boat. It perfectly protects from headwinds, waves and splashes, allowing you to safely meet the waves.
The parking awning is PVC fabric with a transparent insert and duralumin arches, which are installed along the side using fittings. The parking awning resembles a tent, so you can hide in it on the shore or spend the night in the summer season. Such a shelter perfectly protects from rain, wind and insects not only things left in the cockpit, but also the passengers themselves.
A transport awning is a monolithic PVC fabric without a frame, which is stretched over the cockpit or covers the entire surface of the boat. This accessory is useful when transporting a boat in a trailer or long-term storage in a garage, or wintering the watercraft. A transport awning will allow you to cover transported items and equipment right in the boat, serve as protection from dust and dirt, and preserve the appearance of the PVC boat from fading in the sun.
Roof awning (Biminitop) is a frame accessory for an open-type boat, convenient for summer walks and fishing. With such an awning, passengers are protected from sunstroke and sudden heavy rain. In addition, unlike a running and parking awning, a bimini top is an open canopy where the wind can freely penetrate and where it will not be hot, like in a greenhouse.
A running awning is a boat accessory for creating a complete home on the water. Such protection is necessary for long-term access to the water. The running awning consists of a frame and PVC material with transparent inserts, which can be conveniently unfastened and rolled up according to the “window-door” principle. With a running awning for an inflatable boat, it is convenient not only to fish, but also to go hiking and relax in nature. It allows you to sit inside the boat and even stand upright.
Tips for choosing
Before deciding which boat cover to choose, determine the purpose of its use.
Next, you should calculate the dimensions, especially the height. This parameter is important to ensure maximum comfort for those on board.
Pre-assess the condition of the boat. The awning will have to be secured. It is important that the surface of the vessel is not damaged. The boat itself must have a thick “skin” to withstand future loads.
Once you have decided on the type of awning and purchased it, we recommend that during the installation process you read the instructions provided by the accessory manufacturer. To properly install the awning, you should study it and follow the recommendations contained in it.
Some owners of small inflatable watercraft solve the issue of protecting the boat by making an awning with their own hands. But, as practice shows, such a solution in most cases only creates problems. It is important to understand that the awnings that are sold in stores are made taking into account the characteristics of not only the structure of the boats. This professional accessory is guaranteed to protect you in any bad weather. The same cannot be said about artisanal options. Very often there are situations when the awning is simply torn off by the wind or it quickly gets wet. So is it worth saving on purchasing a protective accessory? We believe that in this case the savings will clearly be unjustified.
Additional materials
Accessories for awnings and boats are usually used as additional materials. Their choice directly depends on the swimming device itself and the type of coating being manufactured. However, it must be remembered that when working, you will almost always need rings to secure the rope. They are usually called eyelets, and they are used to install fabric where the hole is created.
Glue can be used to make strong seams. It is selected based on the coating material and compatibility with each other. Also, when sewing awnings, special patches made of durable fabric may be required, which are usually installed in places where the material will be subject to constant or long-term mechanical impact.
When making doors, opening sides or sashes, buttons, locks or even additional eyelets may be required to install ties. In this case, each master himself decides which material to use, depending on the design and personal considerations of practicality and convenience.
Types of awnings
Improvised boat sheds can be divided depending on the following criteria:
- on the purpose of the protective installation;
- depending on the size of the boat. Below we will consider options for canopy models according to their intended purpose.
Parking
This type of awning has the main purpose of protecting the craft from various “attacks” of nature and weather. Ideal for mini trips along the expanses of the river, which are accompanied by periodic stops - going ashore.
The parking “cape” perfectly protects the boat engine from various splashes of water, dirt, dust, direct sunlight, rain, and so on. It covers the boat completely, so this type of protection resembles a real cover, which is made of tarpaulin.
The “cape” is installed using a thick cord. Fastening occurs along the protruding parts of the boat, for example, to the ledges for oars. Any other plastic or rubber protruding elements, if available, will also work well. The absence of these elements is not a problem. Additional fittings can be glued to the PVC boat yourself using special glue.
Chassis
Running “capes”, from the name itself it is clear that they are used directly when moving across a body of water on a motor boat.
Divided into three types:
- Covering the bow of the boat;
- Creating something like a roof;
- Partially closing.
Nasal
The bow type of design has a number of undeniable advantages:
- The lightest possible design;
- Easy installation;
- Low price.
Installation of the nose protection involves the installation of two profiles made of plastic or aluminum. The second option will be heavier, and therefore create additional load on the PVC vessel. Aluminum also has one more disadvantage that cannot be ignored: it can freeze.
During installation, it is also necessary to take care of the relative tightness of the nose protection. It is advisable to carefully glue all existing seams so that, firstly, they do not separate prematurely, and, secondly, they do not let drops of water through.
It is worth noting that in some “capes” of this type, improvised windows are made for the convenience of operating a motor boat. Windows are made of transparent thick film. The presence of a window in the bow protective structure makes the PVC vessel more vulnerable. When moving through water, a motorboat may sway from side to side.
Frame
The frame type is one of the most complex types. It involves the manufacture of a frame covering the entire area of the vessel, and therefore its weight is much higher.
Because of this, an additional load is created that not every swimming device can withstand. It is possible to make a frame at home, but you need to have good mathematical knowledge in order to calculate everything correctly.
Varieties
Studying the range of PVC boat awnings, one can come to the conclusion that there are several types of this product, such as: running, bow and tent awnings a la convertible, as well as parking and transportation awnings.
Transport
The transport awning is designed exclusively for moving the boat in the absence of passengers, for example, when transporting it on a trailer or carrying it along the shore manually.
It covers the cockpit and the things in it from rain and wind, tightly covering the boat from above and leaving no space under it for a person even in a sitting position.
Chassis
Walking awnings are necessary to provide protection from adverse weather conditions and windy drafts, as well as to create tent comfort during long periods of time on the water during prolonged fishing and other similar activities.
It usually covers the boat almost completely, creating a “tent”, and has front and side transparent panels plus zippers that open different compartments of the awning. Contrary to fears, even a strong gust is not capable of overturning a wide boat and, in the worst case, can, perhaps, twist the awning fastenings into the shape of an evil knot and carry the awning along the direction of the wind. Another version of the running awning consists of only a PVC roof stretched horizontally over a frame.
Nasal
Bow awnings are designed to protect the crew of the vessel from splashes and gusts of headwind when moving.
The awning covers only the front part of the boat, similar to the windshield of a car. Bow awnings undoubtedly increase the windage of the vessel, creating some resistance to the oncoming flow, but experienced motor boaters can assure you that worries in this regard are meaningless.
Parking
Such awnings ensure the safety of the external and internal components of the vessel, such as, for example, the boat engine, which can be damaged when colliding with various natural factors while moored on the shore.
Great for outdoor boat storage.
Materials for production
A PVC boat awning should perfectly fulfill its function as a protective accessory. Therefore, awning manufacturers choose the most durable materials for their manufacture. Often this is a dense synthetic fabric, the base of which is nylon or polyester. An awning made from this material is very durable and can withstand use in difficult weather conditions.
More expensive awnings are made of PVC. They last a long time. But, in addition to their considerable cost, they are quite heavy and practically do not allow air to pass through. An inexpensive option is made from tarpaulin. Since the tarpaulin itself can get wet, it is treated with special compounds that do not allow the material to absorb water.
