Hatch blackout covers

[Captmike]

We want to be able to blackout the hatch in the birth of our R-27. Ocean air makes a screen/blackout cover to fit our hatches. Has anyone used this product? Any other ideas. We have been using a piece of Naugahyde held up by the screen but it is not fully blackout. Thanks for any ideas. Michael

 

[sportner]

We use foil bubble wrap insulation and it seems to work OK.

 

[knotflying]

We bought a couple of windshield sun screens and then used the hatch screens as templates. They work pretty well and if you place your template properly you will even have the existing folds in the right place to be able to fold them up nicely and store them when not needed.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We had an Oceanaire hatch screen/sunshield combo on a prior boat, they're a great product and do a wonderful job. The downside is that they come at a price that makes the sunscreen idea Mike mentioned or the naugehyde idea hard not to live with. We use a black piece of naugehyde and it shades very nicely, however the sunscreen will help keep the heat out in the hot summer months which lets your air conditioner work a little less.

Jim

 

[Mystical]

We are having five shades made from a black on one side, tan on the inside sunbrella material. They will install with snaps in the corners of the frames. Should block out almost all the light. The canvas guy making them is charging us 200 for all five.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

The material we used is called marine vinyl, we bought it in black at JoAnn Fabrics. We just used the screen to trace around then cut on that line. No sewing or snaps needed it lightly sits on top of the screen. It has a black side and a kind of woven lighter side. you can have the black side facing outside or vice versa. It comes in several colors.

We also used it as a table topper to protect the wood from everyday use. Easy to cut to the inside lip of the table and easy to clean.

Lisa

 

[knotflying]

Yes, Jim's suggestion of the vinyl marine works great on the table top. We did the same and it works beautifully

 

[captaincook]

My wife made some covers out of nautical print fabric. She stiched a light-blocking material to the back, with velcro along the edges of each panel. I installed velcro around the hatchs, to hold them in place. She also made matching covers for the 4 windows in the front, that also attach with velcro. Besides blocking the light, they stop a lot of heat from penetrating the interior space.

Captain Rusty
Endeavour - R29

 

[jroyle]

We purchased the manufacturer's (Jim Black Industries)blackout panels which are a black fabric inserted into their standard screen frame. They block 95% of sunlight and look good. If I remember correctly they are only 30-35 bucks apiece

 

[commander bill]

Knotfling, I had thought our idea was original. I had done exactly the same thing back in 2008 with a peice of windshield cover material from the Walmart auto section. My wife is an expert sewer and she made it in less than an hour. We cut a thin peice of sheet plastic for an inside to provide stiffness and used the bright metalic reflective material on both sides of that sheet of plastic with a stiched rug-like border aroung the outside. We then use the screen under this to hold it up to the hatch and it blackouts out the light very well.

 

[knotflying]

Commander Bill
I went to a much classier store than you to get my windshield protection material. I went to K-mart. And yes, they are great for blackout purposes as well. They definitely help with the air conditioner by reflecting the sun out during the day.

 

[commander bill]

They do help with lowering the load on the AC. They also lower the light level which allows watching my HD TV during the evening prior to sunset.

 

[BaseCampAnne]

I live in the PNW near the salt water and we seldom need to block sunlight for any length of time, but do have a question. Do I understand that you do not open the windows themselves for the most part, and use the dark fabric or vinyl or whatever to block the sunlight?

I confess that I have no experience boating on the east coast, but have endured very hot and humid weather during summer family visits in FL and in the Midwest where I grew up. I just figured on the water it must be cooler and breezy and not so challenging, and figured the windows would be open. Now I just realized folks there have air conditioning on boats, if I recall, so that must mean you really do keep even boat windows closed, right?

For those who visit in the winter season, do you need to block sunlight and keep windows closed then also?

Thanks in advance,

Anne

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Anne:

I can not speak for everyone but for us, we live in Michigan and have boated on the east coast, Florida, the west coast and in between and the shades come in handy. First off we'd prefer the fresh air with the windows and door open and not running the air conditioning and we never run the air while cruising. However with that said it is not always possible when we're on the hook or at a marina because of high humidity and no wind, it's just to uncomfortable. The PNW seems to be ideal for not being concerned about shielding the sun but, as an example, the Chesapeake Bay in July and August is almost unbearable from the hot temperature and high humidity and a place we've run our air conditioner to stay cool while at dock. With the sun shades it helps reflect the suns rays so the air unit does not work as hard. This would also apply in the Keys during the hot part of the day, especially if you were on the lee side of the wind at dock. Again we always prefer the fresh air but it's good to have a plan for those times when you need to shield the sun and or run the air unit and be more efficient.

Jim

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Thanks, Jim,

I forgot about times at the dock, with no air moving around. Duh...

And I do recall the sun and heat in the summer but was thinking about being out motoring around, and frankly in a ski boat. Tugging along would be a different story.

Blackout shades now make a whole lot of sense in the contexts you mentioned.

Thanks!

 

[scorpion]

How do you control humidity and mold if on the hard from Sept to Dec?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We've placed a portable dehumidifier inside the boat on the counter. With a hose attached for draining (instead of filling the built in water tray or bucket) into the sink, which then drains overboard. We did this for an entire winter and things worked out just as planned.

Jim F

 

[bill46]

I made panels of 1/2" foil lined foam board to replace screens in all hatches. The replace the screens and help keep the boat cooler in Florida heat. One $12.00 panel made 6 hatches and 4 windshield panels. Thinking od side windows, but using auto sunshades clipped to curtains for now. Really helps.

 

[Admiral S]

We have cut out thick white vinyl squares and rectangles. We leave the screens in the roof hatches, put the vinyl in from the top and close the window and lock it from the outside (the rectangle bathroom and aft window are a little trickier)

 

[MoonshadowV]

We solved this problem by cutting a sheet of Mylar cut from an emergency "survival blanket" laid atop the screen. This was a simple process. I cut the Mylar larger than the frame, removed the rubber/plastic ribbon from its groove holding the screen, then laid the Mylar over the screen, and reinstalled the ribbon holding both screen and the shade. The Mylar was trimmed at the edges for neatness. The silver Mylar very effectively reflects the sun rays. I only did three: the forward berth and both forward overheads hatches. When we operate in warmer climes and need the screening for airflow/bug retardant at these location, I will obtain additional screens without the need to undo the process. Costs? A piece of an unused emergency survival blanket and a half-hour's time.