On blazing hot days, you can usually find anglers huddled in the small patch of shade thrown by a T-top, doing their best impression of a pride of lions under an ancient baobob tree on the Serengeti. Now, thanks to good old American ingenuity, boaters have a number of new ways to escape the sun’s direct heat and blistering UV rays. Here are some cool examples (excuse the pun).
SureShade
The gold standard for boat shades is the electric SureShade by Lippert, which is an OEM option on many fishing boats that’s built into a hardtop and extends over the aft cockpit. Models are also available on the aftermarket. The most advanced version deploys electronically with the push of a button, and retracts just as easily.
Pros: It can be used while running up to speeds of 55 mph. On most factory-optioned boats, there’s no exposed mounting hardware. There’s also a SureShade model for the bow, but it is limited to use when the boat is stationary.
Cons: It’s often a pricey option; a factory-installed SureShade on a Formula 387 Center Console costs $16,690. In some cases, rod holders cannot used (or even installed) on the aft hardtop, as they block deployment of the shade. The manually-deployed MTX models cost far less.
Rocket Shade
As the name implies, this shade system is designed to anchor to a hardtop’s rocket-launcher-style rod holders. This clever design uses an upside-down umbrella shade with a cantilever support that offers multiple adjustments to perfectly position the shaded area. To deploy it, slide the anchor end into a hardtop rod holder, and then put a pin at the bottom to keep it in place. To attach the shade, place it into the arm’s end until it clicks, then push the umbrella up from the bottom to unfurl it. It comes in eight colors and costs $1,499.
Pros: No tools are required for installation, and from start to finish, deployment takes about a minute.
Cons: The maximum recommended speed while using it is limited to 20 mph.
BocaShade
The BocaShade has mounting hardware that permanently attaches above or below a hardtop. It has a shade attached to telescoping poles that extends with a hand-crank. Two BocaShades can be installed to shade both the bow and the stern. Aluminum MDX models start at $1,699, while the stainless steel MDX7 is $3,199.
There’s also a BocaShade Express that anchors in a hardtop’s rocket-launcher-style rod holders and is portable, allowing it to be used on different boats. It can also be mounted with gunwale rod holders to create shade inside the boat or over the water while at a sandbar.
Pros: BocaShade’s MDX stern-facing models can handle wind speeds up to 50 mph.
Cons: The BocaShade Express is designed for use only when the boat is at rest.
Taco ShadeFin Mini
Think of the ShadeFin Mini as tactical shading. It lets you position a small swath of shade anywhere you want, like having your own personal servant holding a palm frond over your head. It has multiple mounting options, swivels 360 degrees, telescopes and pivots at several points for ease of positioning. Use multiple shades to achieve greater coverage. Priced at $650 with mounts extra, it’s an affordable option.
Pros: It folds up and stores quickly and easily when it’s time to run.
Cons: Coverage is relatively small, and it’s not designed for use when underway.
Gemlux Fly Shade
The Fly Shade is an affordable system ($441) that uses a boat’s outriggers and a universal anchoring system to hold a trapezoidal shade, measuring 6 feet long and 9.2 feet at its widest. If your boat doesn’t have outriggers, Gemlux sells mounting poles for $512.
Pros: When properly deployed, the boat can run up to 25 mph or more. Its black color is chosen for its superior UV stability.
Cons: You can’t use your outriggers for fishing when the shade is in place.
Sebba Shade
The lightweight Sebba Shade is an inflatable 6-by-9-foot canopy that attaches to any hardtop, canvas T-top, Bimini top, or arch using straps. This affordable shade ($1,019) inflates in two minutes and is deployable in a variety of ways. For larger boats, there’s an 8-by-12-foot model ($1,399). A percentage of its sales is donated to the Mote Marine Laboratory. The Florida-based laboratory is a leader in ocean ecosystem and fishery research.
Pros: The Sebba Shade can handle speeds up to 45 mph and packs away in a duffel bag for storage.
Cons: Its curved design and large size could interfere with casting when fishing.
Taylor Made Anchor Shade III
This 6-by-6-foot umbrella shade starts at $99 and can be positioned in a variety of places.
It uses adjustable tie-down straps on all four corners of its square design for stability. There are also mounting options for pedestal seats, and other options to stabilize the center pole and limit movement. It comes in 10 different colors and stows easily.
Pros: It’s height-adjustable up to 8 feet and is one of the least expensive shade options.
Cons: It’s designed for use in light winds, and the stabilizing straps can interfere with fishing. Boater feedback mentions the slender center pole is this unit’s weak point.
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Shade on Ship
Most shade systems are of little use when the sun is close to the horizon, but the Shade on Ship (SOS) is designed to provide shade from the sides as well as overhead. There are two fabric shade sizes: 6-by-4 feet or 8-by-4 feet, which anchor on poles or any flat surface using a combination of straps, heavy-duty suction cups, proprietary clips, and adjustable tie-downs. SOS shades retail for between $395 and $495.
Pros: The affordable retail price includes four or six suction cups. The shade can be customized with boat names or logos to serve double-duty as a banner.
Cons: The SOS shade reduces air flow and restricts visibility.
The sun’s rays can be hazardous to boating anglers, so everyone who fishes a lot should get a yearly dermatologist’s screening for skin cancer. After decades in the sun, I recently got my first screening, and I’ll admit I was scared. Much to my surprise, my doctor didn’t find anything of concern, which was a huge relief. Early detection can save your life, so try to stay in the shade. Don’t wait as long as I did.
