THE PROJECT LOG · CUSTOM YACHT SHADE
Sky bridge shade sails.
Shade overhead. Open air around you.
Three triangular mesh panels, shaped around a yacht’s sky bridge. A custom shade project by Canvas Designers in Riviera Beach, Florida, with manual rigging designed for one-person handling.
Canvas Designers Inc. · Riviera Beach, Florida
A custom installation, designed around its boat.
Enlarge image ⤢- THE SHADE
- 3 triangular mesh panels
- THE SUPPORT
- 7 stainless poles · 2-inch diameter
- THE CONNECTION
- 5 stainless eyes at the hardtop
01 / THE OWNER’S BRIEF
Take the edge off the sun. Keep the bridge open.
The brief was shade without enclosing the space. Open-weave mesh was chosen to balance overhead sun management with the views and moving air around the bridge.
The resulting system uses three triangular mesh panels, five stainless-steel eyes at the hardtop and seven stainless-steel support poles. The layout and rigging were developed for this particular boat.
Every new installation starts with the boat. Coverage, attachment points and supports are reviewed for its layout.
02 / HOW THE SYSTEM COMES TOGETHER
Connection. Support. Control.
The fabric is one part of the system. Its attachment points, poles and handling hardware work together to support and manage the shade.
Connect at the hardtop
Five stainless-steel eyes connect the shade arrangement at the hardtop.
Support the panels
Seven stainless-steel poles, each 2 inches in diameter, support the triangular shade arrangement.
Manage the rigging
Pulleys and cam cleats handle hoisting and tensioning, with manual handling central to the design.
03 / WHY THE RIGGING MATTERS
A shade that’s practical to put up and take down.
Pulleys and cam cleats let one person raise and strike this system by hand, without tools. Easy handling was part of the brief, with the rigging planned alongside the fabric and supports.
For a new project, discuss access to the lines, storage and the conditions in which the shade needs to be taken down. Handling arrangements depend on the boat and the finished system.
04 / CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRIEF
Sun management or rain protection?
This project uses mesh for shade while keeping the space open. If rain protection is part of the brief, discuss a suitable waterproof fabric and a layout designed to shed water. The right choice depends on how you use the boat.
| Consideration | Mesh shade | Waterproof-fabric brief |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Filter direct sunlight with an open-weave shade fabric. | Discuss coverage for sun and rain using an appropriate waterproof fabric. |
| Air and outlook | Balance shade with openness and some airflow through the fabric. | Review how the canopy shape and open edges affect airflow and sightlines. |
| Rain | Open mesh is not a watertight roof. | Rain protection depends on the material, slope, seams, rigging and overall installation. |
| Heat performance | Can help limit direct solar exposure. Results depend on the selected mesh and installation. | Depends on the specific fabric, color, construction and ventilation. Solid fabric is not automatically cooler. |
This build uses Serge Ferrari mesh. The specific grade was not provided. Confirm the current fabric and its documented properties when planning a new system.
05 / THE PROJECT SPECIFICATION
A small list. A complete system.
- Serge Ferrari mesh
- The fabric used for all three triangular shade panels.
- Seven 2-inch stainless-steel poles
- Support for this boat’s shade arrangement.
- Five stainless-steel eyes
- Attachment points at the hardtop.
- Pulleys and cam cleats
- Manual hoisting and tensioning, arranged for this build’s one-person handling.
THE TEAM
Canvas Designers Inc.
Custom marine canvas and shade work from Riviera Beach, Florida. Each installation starts with the boat, the coverage you want and the way you need the shade to work.
1500 Australian Avenue, Riviera Beach, FL 33404BEFORE YOU GET STARTED
Questions about sky-bridge shade.
Can one person take this shade system down?
Yes. This system uses pulleys and cam cleats so one person can raise and strike the shade by hand, without tools. For your boat, we’ll review line access, panel size and the way you want to handle and store the shade.
Does mesh shade keep rain out?
Open mesh is used for shade and does not form a watertight roof. If you need rain protection, discuss a suitable waterproof fabric and an installation designed to manage runoff, alongside the sun-shade requirements.
Will this layout fit another sky bridge or flybridge?
It needs to be designed around the boat. Hardtop attachment points, pole positions, bridge dimensions, nearby equipment and the desired coverage all affect the layout. Send photos and your boat details so Canvas Designers can review the requirements.
Which mesh material was used?
Serge Ferrari mesh was used for the three shade panels. The specific product grade is not identified in this project’s materials list. Ask the team about the current options and their documented properties for your boat.
What information should I send for a shade quote?
Include your boat make, model, year and location, plus overall bridge photos and views of the hardtop and existing supports. Tell us which areas need shade, whether rain protection matters, and how you want to raise, remove and store the shade. Scope, materials, pricing and timing are confirmed for the particular project.
PLAN YOUR SHADE PROJECT
Start with the space you want to use.
Show us the bridge and tell us where shade would make a difference. We’ll review the coverage, supports and handling needs with you.
- Boat make, model, year and location
- Overall bridge and hardtop photos
- Areas where you want shade
- Sun, rain, handling and storage priorities
Describe the sky-bridge shade project in your inquiry and include any existing attachment points or rigging.