Overhead Hatch Sun Shades

[Ken Boyd]

Earlier this summer I discovered a materiel at my local Lowe's Home Center that is ideal for making shades/covers for the overhead hatches. The material is "Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic" (FRP) Panels (item number 8566). The panels come in white 4' x 8' sheets at a cost of $32.47 per panel here in North Carolina. One panel will provide enough material to do two boats. The FRP panels are intended to be used as a water proof wall covering but the materiel is ideal for making hatch covers. The front side of the panel is an attractive pebble grained texture while the back is smooth. The FRP panel materiel is about 3/32" thick and stiff enough so it will stay in place when you put it in the hatch opening as a replacement for the removable screen. It cuts easily with a pair of tin snips and the edges can easily be filed to clean up any rough spots.

To make a hatch cover just use the existing screen as a pattern, clamp it to the back of the FRP panel with a couple of small clamps, outline the outside of the screen on the panel with a "Sharpie" felt marker, and then cut the hatch cover out with a pair of tin snips cutting around the inside of the line that you just scribed. Clean up the edges with a file and you will have a hatch cover that is the exact same size as the removable screen with around the same amount of flex. Just snap it into the hatch opening in the same manner as you would the removable screen.

I made a set for my boat earlier this year and they are working great. The shade they provide keeps the inside of the boat around 10 to 15 degrees cooler while it is sitting in the sun at the marina. When underway they are very nice for blocking the sun on those occasions when the glare is hitting you in the face through the hatch.

 

[glthomas]

Ken,
That sounds like a great idea. I am definately going to make them for my 21. I also will try to find a thin piece of styrofoam for insulation between the glass and the panel. Maybe a brief case would work for storage of the screens and panels when not in use.
Thank you,

 

[baz]

It might also be a good idea to somehow attach a pull tab to the panels so that they can be removed easily. I have a set of sun-blocker panels that Bruce Moore gave to me for my R-25 when he upgraded to an R-29. These panels had elastic straps on each corner so that they simple attach to the stock bug screens. Given that the stock bug screens has pull tabs for easy removal it's a snap to remove the sun-blocker panels when necessary.

Just a thought as removing tight fitting panels as you've described might not be easy with out pull tabs attached to them.

 

[Ken Boyd]

Concern "Baz" expresses is valid but not really a problem with the FRP materiel. There is a degree of flex in the FRP materiel that makes insertion and removal fairly easy. About the same level of effort as is required for putting in or taking out one of the screens.

Word of caution though, it is important to make the sun shades the exact same size as the screen for the hatch opening. If you make them a little oversize (as I did with the first one that I made) you will get into insertion and removal problems.

 

[knotflying]

I used the windshield reflective material that you can buy in any auto department. I lay them above the screen when using them.