Sunroofs, how important are they?

[Doppson]

HI!! im currently working on a new daycruise boat, you can check out my progress at ( my fuel effecient motor boat, any suggestions?? thread ).

yes, it is just a daycrusier, to and from the beaches and sunspots in near coastal areas, like the archipilagos in Sweden( many islands etc..)

and im currently struggeling with sunroofs, with or without.. The point is that you will just use the boat when its warm and sunny, and then you want catch as much sun as you can, so why bother with a sunroof? But on the other hand, you get easily exhausted with too much sun, and it would therefore be nice with a retractable sunroof on some kind, which could be used as solar panels cells, because my boat will be electric..

i would be very glad if someone could discuss it with my in this trhead, experiences and, pro's and con's...etc..

// micael

[ted655]

Light for any length of time is VERY important. Even on daydrips. Put something in!
Sunroof, hatch??? Why are you not thinking of using something designed for a boat? Sunroofs are on Honda cars, right. What marine conditions will they handle?
If you don't need something to open (a hatch you can escape from, screem and wind scoop), You could install deck prisms. Classy touch.

[stevel]

I think you are referring to adding someting to provide shade, rather than cutting a hatch into a deck for light. If that is the case, the classic Bimini top is inexpensive, works well, goes up and comes down quickly...etc.

I have never been to your lattitude, so I can't speak to how inportant it will be to you. They are so inexpensive and convenient that I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

[Doppson]

Oops, im sorry!! what i meant was of course, to put a roof for providing a shade from the sun....im sorry guys..
Stevel: i will check it out, thanks!

[ted655]

Do you have acenter consol? "Bay boats" have a permenant hard top overtheir consols.
Google "fishing boats" look at the various styles of shade.

[Doppson]

ted655: thanks for your input. but didn't answered my question really. I wanted to know what you think about having a roof on a boat for shade, on a sunny day. I would like to know if you were a shade-person or a sun-person.

because i wouldn't like end up designing a roof that no one wanted to use.

[ted655]

South Louisiana/ Gulf of Mexico, man I'm a shade person. Sun causes eye cataracs & Melinoma skin cancer. Not to mention kidney stones from dehydration. Leather skin, etc. Besides.... what happens when the boat quits our rhere & help is slow to appear? You COOK. a double whammy as you also get the reflection off the water to.
We also get freak thunderstorms. Women, kids, grandpa, they all need shade even if you don't. Ice chests keep longer. I use a Bimimy BUT they have drawbacks to (none I can't live with). That's why you need to look at all the options.
Now ya know some of the reasons for shade on a boat. There ARE umbrellas I guess.

[DanishBagger]

I'm in the cold scandinavia, but even so, I'm a shades-man. It's not a bad idea to be able to get out of the sun. You will get your tan anyway, being on the water and all.

Personally, I like hardtops on powered daycruisers - it seems neater, sleaker.

[Poida]

Yep installing a hard top on my boat. Went out few weeks ago, had taken everything out of the boat previously to do some work on it, and left out my hat and the sunscreen.

Put that together with a beautifull warm day smooth seas don't want to go home feeling and very burnt.

Biminis I've seen provide little shade, I am going for a hard top that you can sun bake on if you want to.

Poida