A bit of shade for the bow

In this project, Jeff from s/v C'est la Vie shows that a sewing machine is a very handy boating power tool.  One of the differences between the Seattle climate and that in Florida, recently highlighted for me, is the need to seek shelter from the sun.  But this project also serves to allow keeping the forward hatch open in the rain as well - something Seattlites can identify with.

We have expended a great deal of time and resources to complete the bimini project and provide shade for the cockpit area, what about the other end of the boat?  With a little over a days worth of effort we created an awning for the foredeck.  The foredeck awning is less about shade and more intended to increase ventilation  by allowing the forward hatches and ports to remain open during rain showers.

We began the project by creating a pattern using plastic sheeting...

The pattern was then used to figure out the best layout to minimize material waste.  We used the excess along the sides in the image above to create the forward triangle on the pattern....

Creating patterns for projects and calculating the most efficient use of material is a facet in which I feel my sewing has improved in the past couple weeks.  The only waste material in this project as the two small triangles that extend out left and right at the top of the image above.

Below is the completed tarp.  To keep systems uniform on the boat, I again used flat webbing and cam buckles for the attachment points

Ample webbing will allow for flexibility in setting up to account for various conditions.  The pattern was created for the primary set up seen in the image below.

More images of the project can be viewed via a link on C'est la Vie's blog.