Cheap Sunbrella (Building a boom tent)

[Noah]

Ok, I'm going to build a boom tent for my Folkboat. It will be about 120" wide, and 13ft long. I'm wondering what the best material is to build it. I have found "Sunbrella" for about $18.00 per yard (for 60")and I will need about 10 yards.

How about Canvas or the Vinyl coated waterproof nylon cloth that Defender sells for only $6.49 per yard.

Any thoughts on this, or the best place to get it?

Noah

[Noah]

Ok, I'm going to build a boom tent for my Folkboat. It will be about 120" wide, and 13ft long. I'm wondering what the best material is to build it. I have found "Sunbrella" for about $18.00 per yard (for 60")and I will need about 10 yards.

How about Canvas or the Vinyl coated waterproof nylon cloth that Defender sells for only $6.49 per yard.

Any thoughts on this, or the best place to get it?

Noah

[Noah]

Ok, I'm going to build a boom tent for my Folkboat. It will be about 120" wide, and 13ft long. I'm wondering what the best material is to build it. I have found "Sunbrella" for about $18.00 per yard (for 60")and I will need about 10 yards.

How about Canvas or the Vinyl coated waterproof nylon cloth that Defender sells for only $6.49 per yard.

Any thoughts on this, or the best place to get it?

Noah

[Todd Bradshaw]

Sunbrella is pretty hard to beat, though it is expensive. Wholesale on 60" is over $11 per yard, so $18 retail is actually a pretty good deal in comparison to the prices that are commonly charged for it. When I want a similar fabric, but don't want to spend for Sunbrella, I generally use Odyssey. It's somewhat lighter (Sunbrella is 9.25 oz. per sq. yd. acrylic canvas - Odyssey is 6.5 oz. polyester canvas) but pretty good stuff. It has good U.V. and abrasion resistance and costs about half of what Sunbrella costs.

In cotton canvas, the best choice is probably 10 oz. Sunforger. It's pretty much the industry standard for wall tents, teepees and other things that get a lot of U.V. exposure. It won't last as long as the acrylic or polyester fabrics and tends to shrink a bit, but the price is usually pretty good (about half of Sunbrella's).

All of these fabrics are rated as highly water resistant (rain and spray are generally not a problem) and breathable. They would be less prone to condensation and mildew if your boom tent will be buttoned-up tight for any length of time than the vinyl-coated nylons or polyesters would be.
The vinyl-coated fabrics are usually quite tough and durable, but you would want to seriously plan-in some ventilation (either in the hull or the cover, or both) or your boat might get pretty moldy inside.

A Note of Caution --- I don't know how you plan to use the boom tent but, if you plan to be inside of it with a stove running, open flames or other sources of ignition, some of these fabrics burn in a manner that could be pretty scary. Odyssey, for example, does what they call "Flame Driping" which is exactly what it sounds like. Some of the others do, as well. Once you see it happen, the idea of being inside a burning tent made out of it takes on a whole new meaning.
Both Sunbrella acrylic canvas and Sunforger cotton canvas are available in flame retardant grades. The gist of most of the flame retardant classifications says that after the flame source is removed, the fabric must self-extinguish in about six inches. Without it, the whole thing will burn and it won't be a pretty picture.

[ 06-26-2002, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: Todd Bradshaw ]

[Todd Bradshaw]

Sunbrella is pretty hard to beat, though it is expensive. Wholesale on 60" is over $11 per yard, so $18 retail is actually a pretty good deal in comparison to the prices that are commonly charged for it. When I want a similar fabric, but don't want to spend for Sunbrella, I generally use Odyssey. It's somewhat lighter (Sunbrella is 9.25 oz. per sq. yd. acrylic canvas - Odyssey is 6.5 oz. polyester canvas) but pretty good stuff. It has good U.V. and abrasion resistance and costs about half of what Sunbrella costs.

In cotton canvas, the best choice is probably 10 oz. Sunforger. It's pretty much the industry standard for wall tents, teepees and other things that get a lot of U.V. exposure. It won't last as long as the acrylic or polyester fabrics and tends to shrink a bit, but the price is usually pretty good (about half of Sunbrella's).

All of these fabrics are rated as highly water resistant (rain and spray are generally not a problem) and breathable. They would be less prone to condensation and mildew if your boom tent will be buttoned-up tight for any length of time than the vinyl-coated nylons or polyesters would be.
The vinyl-coated fabrics are usually quite tough and durable, but you would want to seriously plan-in some ventilation (either in the hull or the cover, or both) or your boat might get pretty moldy inside.

A Note of Caution --- I don't know how you plan to use the boom tent but, if you plan to be inside of it with a stove running, open flames or other sources of ignition, some of these fabrics burn in a manner that could be pretty scary. Odyssey, for example, does what they call "Flame Driping" which is exactly what it sounds like. Some of the others do, as well. Once you see it happen, the idea of being inside a burning tent made out of it takes on a whole new meaning.
Both Sunbrella acrylic canvas and Sunforger cotton canvas are available in flame retardant grades. The gist of most of the flame retardant classifications says that after the flame source is removed, the fabric must self-extinguish in about six inches. Without it, the whole thing will burn and it won't be a pretty picture.

[ 06-26-2002, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: Todd Bradshaw ]

[Todd Bradshaw]

Sunbrella is pretty hard to beat, though it is expensive. Wholesale on 60" is over $11 per yard, so $18 retail is actually a pretty good deal in comparison to the prices that are commonly charged for it. When I want a similar fabric, but don't want to spend for Sunbrella, I generally use Odyssey. It's somewhat lighter (Sunbrella is 9.25 oz. per sq. yd. acrylic canvas - Odyssey is 6.5 oz. polyester canvas) but pretty good stuff. It has good U.V. and abrasion resistance and costs about half of what Sunbrella costs.

In cotton canvas, the best choice is probably 10 oz. Sunforger. It's pretty much the industry standard for wall tents, teepees and other things that get a lot of U.V. exposure. It won't last as long as the acrylic or polyester fabrics and tends to shrink a bit, but the price is usually pretty good (about half of Sunbrella's).

All of these fabrics are rated as highly water resistant (rain and spray are generally not a problem) and breathable. They would be less prone to condensation and mildew if your boom tent will be buttoned-up tight for any length of time than the vinyl-coated nylons or polyesters would be.
The vinyl-coated fabrics are usually quite tough and durable, but you would want to seriously plan-in some ventilation (either in the hull or the cover, or both) or your boat might get pretty moldy inside.

A Note of Caution --- I don't know how you plan to use the boom tent but, if you plan to be inside of it with a stove running, open flames or other sources of ignition, some of these fabrics burn in a manner that could be pretty scary. Odyssey, for example, does what they call "Flame Driping" which is exactly what it sounds like. Some of the others do, as well. Once you see it happen, the idea of being inside a burning tent made out of it takes on a whole new meaning.
Both Sunbrella acrylic canvas and Sunforger cotton canvas are available in flame retardant grades. The gist of most of the flame retardant classifications says that after the flame source is removed, the fabric must self-extinguish in about six inches. Without it, the whole thing will burn and it won't be a pretty picture.

[ 06-26-2002, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: Todd Bradshaw ]

[Frank Wentzel]

Noah

Try this link. The price is good and free shipping this week!

/// Frank ///

[Frank Wentzel]

Noah

Try this link. The price is good and free shipping this week!

/// Frank ///

[Frank Wentzel]

Noah

Try this link. The price is good and free shipping this week!

/// Frank ///

[Jamie Hascall]

Sounds great Frank, now what's that link again? ;)

[Jamie Hascall]

Sounds great Frank, now what's that link again? ;)

[Jamie Hascall]

Sounds great Frank, now what's that link again? ;)

[Noah]

Todd, thanks for the information. I think that I have decided to go with one of Defenders "BulletProof" canvas tarps. This tent won't have a front or a back, so a square piece should be perfect. Plus it is less than half the cost of Sunbrella, and should work really well. Grey wasn't my fist choice of color, but it will be fine.

Thanks,

Noah

I would still be interested in seeing that link though:)

[Noah]

Todd, thanks for the information. I think that I have decided to go with one of Defenders "BulletProof" canvas tarps. This tent won't have a front or a back, so a square piece should be perfect. Plus it is less than half the cost of Sunbrella, and should work really well. Grey wasn't my fist choice of color, but it will be fine.

Thanks,

Noah

I would still be interested in seeing that link though:)

[Noah]

Todd, thanks for the information. I think that I have decided to go with one of Defenders "BulletProof" canvas tarps. This tent won't have a front or a back, so a square piece should be perfect. Plus it is less than half the cost of Sunbrella, and should work really well. Grey wasn't my fist choice of color, but it will be fine.

Thanks,

Noah

I would still be interested in seeing that link though:)

[brad9798]

check out e-bay

[brad9798]

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[brad9798]

check out e-bay