Shade and Cold Air

Common beach·
umbrellas properly
mounted provide
m(Jc:hneeded sun
relillf and can be
quickly stowed.
veryone's got a beach or patio urnbrellajn Flwida; why not take 0n.e
on the boat?
In summer you'll see umbrellas on
many of the boats drifting Boca Grande
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E
Passand other tarpon holes. The umbrellas allow full 360-degree fishing, unlike
Bimini tops. And, they're removable.
Beach and patio umbrellas commonly
sold at home design and patio furni-
ture stores tend to be sturdy and built
for stroQ9 wind. Que to their frame design, they provide superb cover. So does
a permanently mounted f-top, but for
some of us trailering or storing our rigs
through low-clearance areas, the J-top
may not be an option.
(an air conditioner for humid areas like
Mounting an umFlorida). Unless you can resupply with
brella can be as easy
ice frequently, don't count on either of
as dropping the pole
.into a,secure rod
these systems for multi-day trips.
holder.you might drill
There are few true 12/24-volt air
and insert some form
conditioners. One exception is the DC
of sa~ty pin beneath
Breeze AirConditioners (Glacier Bay) but
the rod holder tube to
these cost over $2,000 and need
a
cont,·,
It prevent the'umbrella
stant power source. This systeitf excels
from levitating during
in cooling and dehumidifying small
gusty winds. Some
spaces like a cuddy cabin. Ifyou want a
boaters use clamps
portable plug-in AlCconsider the Carryand tube sleeves to
-on Portable by Dometic Environmeotal.
• hold the 'tImbrelia at a
It doesn't fit into the 12-volt category but desired height, to preworks well when plugged into a power
vent vibration from
outlet and will run you around $900.
loosening the unit.
(Small vessel air conditioning systems
Some of the best placwere covered in detail in the August 2009 es to'111Ou~tthem are
around the console or
Boatmanship Seminar.)
above seating, usually
Finally, misters might be a good
aft of helm.
choice when dealing with outdoors heat
While underway,
and sun. Just be sure to use marine-grade
close \~ umbrella
hardware for the install. You'll need an
and secure it with a
onboard freshwater tank and upward
velcro strap or bunof $1,500 for a permanent installation.
gee. They should be
Misters Unlimited (Outdo~rComfort
erecte~nlv
when
Systems) is one popular manufacturer.
anchored, drifting or
Fan Club ,For daily ventilation you should look at a marine-grade fan.
Fixed-mount and portable air condi·
tioning systems are available for small
fishing boats, butfor many anglers the
next best and cheaper option is an electricfan. Simple battery powered fans are
great for intermittent use, butfor daily
ventilation you should look at
a marine-grade fan hardwired to your vessel's
12-volt system.
That or power it
with a portable
12-volt battery
such as is used
for ATVs.
Electric
fans come in
various shapes
and sizes, priced
from $10 to over
$100. Consider how
much space and power
you'll need for the area you plan
to work in. Peruse a marine hardware
catalogue or run a Web search on mounting systems. Walk the docks at a marina
and you'll see fans installed in strategic
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FLORIDA SPORTSIIIU
places aboard charterboats and longrange cruisers.
For occasional overnights or naps
in a small cabln, portable evaporative
cooling units are handy. The inexpensive ($40) KoolerAire mounts on coolers
an*circulates chilled air. The
KoolerAire works best
when the entire ice
chest is filled with
ice and used in a
small, enclosed
space. All
accessories
are available
at www.kool
eraire.com. A
similar product
with more features is the 12-volt
portable MightyKool
(www.swampy.net).
which costs from $300 to about
$600. The company makes two types
of machines. One works with water
only (evaporative for dry climates out
west) and the other with water and ice
JULY 2010
cruising less than about 10 knots.
If you are looking for ready-made,
compact products built for the marine environment, check out the ProTecht Mantis (www.pro-techt.com)
and the Magma Boat Umbrella (www.
magmaproducts.com). There are multiple mounting products and options
for these, and the umbrellas are built to
stow inside most rod lockers or compartments. These umbrellas will be especially useful to the small boater; both sell for
under $100 without mounting hardware
and are super lightweight.
Still, nothing beats a folding Bimini top
for full coverage. The Bimini is also resilient to wind and may be left open while
underway, yet it closes like an accordion and fits into a zippered boot bag for
highway travel. With multiple gunwale
anchoring points, the Bimini straps and
frame may get in the way of some fishing
activities. Check your local marine supply shop for quick-release mounting systems. Quality Bimini tops average around
$400 for a 17-foot boat.
If you have a J-top, you might appreciate add-oris like the www.t-topextender.
com product or Taylor Made Bow Shades.
These are drape-like fabrics that enlarge
adjacent shaded sections when you want
more protection. These products bring
us back to the $100-$200 price range.
Custom bow enclosures with clear vinyl
windows and zippers are also popular
choices for lounging or napping. FS
The Mantis, which can be adjusted to
various positions, offers shade on the spot,
above, and can be quickly lowered into a
compact profile, below, when not in use.
www.f1oridasportsman.com
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