Made in the Shade

Sailor Cherry, Cabinboy Jay and Delta Dog Lucia joined the Delta Doo Dah last year for the first time with their Serendipity 43 Hooked. With the Delta cruising season still going strong and the Mexico season not far behind, we thought that one of Hooked’s heat-busting creations might prove useful to other hot-climate sailors.

"I made a DIY 6-ft x 18-ft foredeck sunshade, without having to sew," Cherry reported. "I raised it up with a spinnaker halyard and it made a lovely tent-like shade. It cost $75 in materials: 28 standard grommets, a grommet kit, 21 10- to 14-inch-long ties, and several yards of 8-oz. white denim fabric, which is super strong, heat deflecting, and durable for over 25-knot gusts. It matches the boat, plus I could also bleach out any stains.

"Make a hem, with a fold, add the grommet in the center, seven per 6-ft side," she instructs. "On deck tie the two shades together with line, hoist with a halyard, secure to lifelines or toe rail with remaining lines."

Cherry wanted to make her no-sew sunshade out of an old sail but didn’t have one. "People didn’t understand why I didn’t just buy a tarp, but we make it a priority to use as little plastic on board as possible, especially a tarp which has high risk of sailing into the water and adding to the ocean plastic epidemic."

A year later, she is using one half as a cockpit shade. "It works great still, and I am able to adjust it according to where the sun is shining. I hope this tip helps show other cruisers how easy it is, and how you can re-purpose all kinds of fabric. Just take what you got, add some grommets, recycle old line and tie it off — voila!"