Many fishing enthusiasts prefer to use a boat for their hobby. At the same time, every connoisseur of “quiet hunting” wants to spend time in comfort and protect himself from the weather as much as possible. Therefore, questions about how to make a tent for a PVC boat with your own hands are discussed by fishermen as often as tips about lure or tackle.
Do-it-yourself or store bought?
Today, modern markets are simply overflowing with various types and models of awnings, which are designed both for a specific type of boat and can act as universal designs. However, the decisive factor when choosing such products is their price and quality. The fact is that sometimes a good coating can cost no less than the vehicle itself, and cheap models are so impractical that they only cause discomfort. Given this, many fishermen believe that it is best to make a PVC boat awning with your own hands. Such a solution allows not only to save a lot, but also makes it possible to obtain the final product that best meets the requirements and tasks of the user.
Varieties of designs
Before startingself-manufacturing, it is very important to first determine the type of product. There are several fundamentally different designs that are made for specific purposes and tasks. Therefore, when making an awning for a PVC boat with your own hands, you should first study all of them in more detail.
Parking
This type of awning can be considered the simplest and most inexpensive to manufacture. It is made in the form of a large cover, which is fixed to the fittings of the boat with a cord. Usually, the pattern of this type of awning does not take much time and effort, but it should be borne in mind that it will protect the vehicle only during parking during long transitions. However, this also allows you to protect the carry-on luggage that is placed in the boat from the weather.
Nasal
A standard bow awning for a PVC boat is made in such a way that it covers about a third of the vessel. There are also products that allow you to protect half of the vehicle, but this depends on the individual design. It is believed that it is best to create such an awning on the basis of the frame, however, its fixation must be strong enough so that gusts of wind do not tear it off when moving.
Runner
Such products can be considered one of the most popular. Typical sailing awnings for PVC boats are used both when the vessel is moving and when it is at anchorage. The main feature of such structures is the ability to open one or more sections, whichallows you to fish without removing sun or rain protection.
Frame
This stage of work requires creativity and a little ingenuity. The fact is that, when creating even the simplest walking awnings for PVC boats, it is very important to correctly calculate the location and fastening for the frame. Most often it depends on the individual design of the boat itself, but if necessary, some changes can be made to it. Using additional hardware. Fundamentally changing the design of the floating craft itself is not only not recommended, but in some cases even prohibited.
Usually the frame is made of materials that are not affected by moisture and corrosion. Aluminum pipes from old cots are best suited for this purpose, although PVC plumbing pipes can also be used. Places of fixation of the structure are selected individually. They are made according to the type of boat used and the fittings available.
It is immediately worth noting that the bow awning for a PVC boat should be fixed quite firmly and not have weak spots or strong slopes. Therefore, very often such structures are made in the form of independent products with the possibility of their installation on a watercraft.
Choice of coating material
Usually, awnings are made from a special water-repellent fabric. However, the cost of such material of appropriate quality is quite high and will lead to too high costs. Given this, most often craftsmen use PVC. In doing so, they createopening sections, since such fabrics do not let air through at all. Professional fishermen advise making a combined tent. They suggest installing transparent PVC parts on the bow, and making the rest of the cover from a fabric that “breathes” and does not let in sunlight.
Additional materials
As additional materials, accessories for awnings and boats usually act. Their choice directly depends on the swimming facility itself and the type of coating being made. However, it must be remembered that when working, you will almost always need rings for attaching the rope. Commonly referred to as grommets, they are used to install fabric where the hole is created.
Glue can be used to make strong seams. It is chosen based on the coating material and compatibility with each other. Also, when sewing awnings, special patches made of durable fabric may be required, which are usually installed in places where the material will be subjected to constant or prolonged mechanical stress.
Doors, opening sides or sashes may require buttons, locks or even additional eyelets to install ties. In this case, each master himself decides which material to use, depending on the design and personal considerations of practicality and convenience.
Sewing
- It is believed that the manufacture of awnings is quitea simple matter. However, when it comes to practical work, a lot of difficulties arise. They are associated with inconsistencies in sizes, errors in the pattern and other errors that are not so noticeable at the preliminary stages. Given this, experts advise first making a draft version of the design, which is sewn from cheap material or old rags.
- The draft version is installed on the boat and the fitting starts right on the product. At the same time, it is very important to immediately mark the installation locations of eyelets, patches, pockets for the frame and other elements.
- At this stage, the frame is mounted and the dimensions of its parts are adjusted. If a transforming awning is being made, then its adjustment is carried out in all positions, starting from the installation option that assumes the maximum coverage of the boat.
- Next, the finished product is cut into patterns, according to which the selected material is cut. At this point, you need to take into account the small allowance required for the manufacture of seams and external edges.
- Then all joints are glued and the finished tent is assembled. This is necessary not only to make the seams stronger and more resistant to moisture, but also to make sewing easier.
- Usually awning fittings are installed at this stage, and glue may also be required during installation.
- Final tailoring is done with a special machine or by hand. However, it must be remembered that mechanically created stitches are more practical and will last much longer. Also, the use of special equipment will greatly facilitatethe process itself.
- After the material has been sewn, it is stretched over the frame, leaving it overnight. So you can check the strength of all seams and give the product the desired shape. Some masters suggest at this moment to treat the tent with a special compound that repels moisture, but if the coating is chosen correctly, then such a procedure will be superfluous.
Recommendations from experts
- If a shipping tent is being made for a PVC boat, then it is not necessary to create a draft version of the coating. It is enough just to stretch the selected material and install the eyelets. The stitching of the edging can be done later, when it is cut to the required size.
- Some craftsmen recommend placing snakes on the material to create connections that can open when needed. However, professional fishermen prefer special ties or buttons. This is more practical and if the mechanism fails, it can be repaired in a short time without leaving the boat.
- Sometimes it is much easier to involve a specialist in this work, who will make all the tailoring of tents. However, such craftsmen may require ready-made patterns, as they do not want to be responsible for the discrepancy in size.
- If the awning is intended for an inflatable boat, then it should be made collapsible and capable of occupying minimal space when stowed. The coating itself is usually folded quite simply, which means that special attention will have to be paid toracks. They should not only be quickly and easily disassembled, but also compactly packed.
- If there is already a finished product that perfectly meets all the necessary requirements, then you can create your own patterns based on it, according to which the pattern will be made.
- Recently, small tourist tents have been appearing in sporting goods stores or markets, which have a low cost. The very design of such products is not always practical or of high quality, but such a tent is quite suitable for creating a small tent. Particularly good in the work of the racks and elements of the creation of the entrance.
- If you need an awning that will be used only in permanent parking areas, then even a tarpaulin can be used to make it. Lighter materials are suitable for products that will be used in the stowed state or when moving. This will save you a lot of money.
Conclusion
Making a tent for a PVC boat with your own hands is quite simple. It is enough to have a clear idea of what type of this product you need to get, and decide on its fixation on the ship. The very process of creation is not characterized by increased complexity, and even a novice master who has a general idea of \u200b\u200bwork and the tool necessary for this can cope with it. The most important thing is to correctly determine the material of manufacture and select the appropriate fittings.
