How to Make Boat Awnings

Rigging an awning for the back deck of a boat will keep you out of direct sun on hot days, keep you out of the rain on wet days and generally enhance your enjoyment of any day on your boat. With a frame assembled from parts you can find at any hardware store and synthetic canvas found at an upholstery shop, there's no reason why any boater shouldn't have an awning for his craft.

Things You'll Need

• 1-inch PVC pipe
• PVC cement
• Drill eye strap
• Drywall anchors
• Screwdriver
• Synthetic canvas
• Sailmaker's sail repair adhesive

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your boat, from the top-center of the port (left) rail to the top-center of the starboard (right) rail, at the point where you want the front of the awning. This is the front awning support length.

2. Measure the width of your boat, from the inside of the port side to the inside of the starboard side, at the point where you want the rear of the awning. This is the rear awning support length. Measure the distance between the place you want the front of the awning and the place you want the rear of the awning. This is the length of the awning. Add 6 inches to your own height. This is the height of the awning frame.

3. Cut four sections of PVC pipe to the height of the awning to form the uprights. Cut one piece to the length of the rear awning support and one to the length of the front awning support. Cut two pieces to the length of the awning.

4. Review the instructions on the PVC cement. Prime the PVC pipe if needed. Brush glue into both ends of two right-handed, three-way PVC fittings with the brush provided with the PVC glue. Insert one upright and one of the long awning supports into the bend, push and give 1/4 turn to set the piece. Insert one upright into the other right-handed, three-way PVC fitting and push into the remaining end of the long awning support, twisting it 1/4 turn. Align the second upright with the first to complete one side of the awning support frame. Repeat, using the left-handed fittings, to complete the other side of the frame.

5. Insert the front awning support and the rear awning support into the remaining openings in the three-way PVC fittings. Set the completed frame inside your boat. Drill two holes, one on either side of each upright. Attach an eye strap over each upright, using drywall anchors and a screwdriver.

6. Cut a sheet of synthetic canvas to the width of the awning frame, plus 6 inches. Cut the synthetic canvas to the length of the awning frame, plus 6 inches. Center the synthetic canvas over the awning frame so that there's a 3-inch overhang on all sides of the awning.

7. Attach four sets of two tie-down straps (each is a strip of synthetic canvas, 1-inch wide and 8-inches long, cut from the full piece of canvas to assure a color match) to each of the corners of the synthetic canvas, 3 inches from the front edge of the canvas and 3 inches from the side edge of the canvas, to allow for and preserve the all-around overhang. Attach the tie straps to each corner with sailmaker's sail repair adhesive--you can sew them in place later--so that one set of straps ties to the long side support and one ties to the front (or rear) awning support.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove the awning to sew the tie-down straps in place at the corners.