DIY Rear Sun Shade

[996scott]

So I decided to see if i could make a rear sun shade for my Craz. I think it came out pretty good so i thought i would pass along the info. I haven't used it yet on the water so i will update in a few weeks after we get back from a fall weekend trip. I basically used a set of adjustible tent polls and a tent tarp i got from Amazon. There are a lot less expensive adjustable tent poles out there but i went with these. The tarp comes is several sizes but i got the 71" X 87" which is basically a 6' X 7' and fits perfectly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K1B91Q...t_details&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YSHXB7D...roduct_details

[996scott]

I used the cup holder on the back of the boat to help secure the tent pole. I had some random bungee cords laying around so i took the hooks off it. I removed the small black plastic drain on the bottom of the cup holder and threaded the bungee through it to make a loop and used a washer underneath the cup holder to hold the knots on the end of the bungee from pulling through. This gave me a loop for the tent pole to slide through.

[996scott]

I had several velcro straps laying around that we use to tie up our ropes and they worked perfect to secure the bottom of the tent pole to the boat and then the bungee from the cup holer.

[996scott]

I sewed a loop onto the tarp to go over the tower pole and then just used a couple of bungees to hold the sides of the tarp to the tower. I will have to fool with this and see what is the best anchor point for the tarp to the side of the tower when the bimini is up. I really is quite sturdy and i don't think we will have any problems with it. I'll follow up in a couple of weeks and let you know how it worked.

[Holdmybeer]

First off, bravo and it looks good.

I only see 3 issues if you plan on using while moving.
1. The poles could rub your transom and leave marks
2. Same for the feet on the swim pad
3. Not sure how the rope will do over the top if you want it up while boarding/surfing

Very interested though. Looks good!

[MJHSupra]

Nice job. Really covers the entire area.

[996scott]

First off, bravo and it looks good.

I only see 3 issues if you plan on using while moving.
1. The poles could rub your transom and leave marks
2. Same for the feet on the swim pad
3. Not sure how the rope will do over the top if you want it up while boarding/surfing

Very interested though. Looks good!

I don't plan on using it while moving, just floating/relaxing. It might be interesting to see if we could surf with it. We have a pro tower that has side tow points that might work. We'll have to see if the rope would hit the pole. I definitely would not have it up while trying to teach someone to sure but for those who are seasoned surfers i bet it would be fine. We will see......

[HFarr]

That really is a nice job. You could go so far as to find sort of flange that mounted to the swim platform to hold the pole securely. Either a surface mount, or drill a hole and recess it if you really got serious. You could probably put a bottom in the recess version and not use a thumb/set screw. Or something similar to these. There are lots of choices out there to accomplish the same.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[Holdmybeer]

That really is a nice job. You could go so far as to find sort of flange that mounted to the swim platform to hold the pole securely. Either a surface mount, or drill a hole and recess it if you really got serious. You could probably put a bottom in the recess version and not use a thumb/set screw. Or something similar to these. There are lots of choices out there to accomplish the same.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

When I was looking into this I was going this route but permanently removing my cup holders. Just put pole mounts in and be done with it. No one uses the transom cup holders in my crew but using the holes they are replaceable when I want to sell.

[Mxmark4]

@knoxmojo has a setup that uses a tesla sunroof shade that works pretty slick with his SA.