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Boat Awning

HOW TO'S & FAQ

How Do I Know What Shade Width Would Work For My Boat Top?

Accurately measuring the width of your boat top is easy to do in a few simple steps.  Follow the instructional videos below for boats equipped with a Hard Top or a Soft Canvas Top.  When placing your order online, enter the shade width in inches so that your shade can be made accurately to fit your boat top.

LOANER ADJUSTABLE CENTERING TOOL (C-C Tool)

Loaner Centering Toal

Loaner Centering Tool (Now Available At Your Request)

  • Centering tool telescopically adjusts to your shade width (C-C).

  • Keeps the shade frame parallel for alignment and installation on your boat top.

  • Make your installation job go faster, easier, and with accuracy so you can get on

    the water faster

  • A deposit of $299 is required and $225 will be refunded when the tool is returned.

How To Use Centering Tool

Stainless Steel Boat Shade Installation

INSTALLATION TIP

​We recommend that you use our C-C centering loaner tool for your DIY installation. However, if you decide not to use our loaner tool, see below installation tip.

 

Cut a length of wood to center and keep the shade frame parallel while aligning the shade on your boat top.

​

How To Determine The Length Of The Wood Piece?

For Aluminum Shade

• Subtract 1-13/16” from the C-C shade

width used to order your BocaShade.

For Stainless Steel Shade

• Subtract 2” from the C-C shade width

used to order your BocaShade.

How To Install BocaShade On Boats With T-Top Guide

How To Install BocaShade On a Hard Top

Curved Lines

Measurement Guide For 
Soft Canvas T-Top

Measurement Guide For
A Hard Top

Ripples

How To Assemble BocaShade

How To Install BocaShade On A Boat With A Hardtop

Waves

How to extend BocaShade

How To Retract BocaShade

Texture

BocaShade Cruising
With Seafox

How To Align Snap Lock Pins

Abstract Background

Intrepid 40 With BocaShade

Waves

How To Use Ring & Tab On Your Boca Shade

Blue Waters

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Can I cruise with my BocaShade extended?
    You can cruise with BocaShade fully extended if it is stern mounted for models MDX5 and MDX6 up to wind speed of 50MPH. For MDX7 stern mounted, you can cruise with only the first or the second stage extended. You cannot cruise with MDX7 when it is fully extended. You cannot cruise with any BocaShade when it is bow mounted
  • Can I mount BocaShade on a T-Top with a soft canvas top?
    If the tube frames on the T-Top are parallel, then you can mount BocaShade. You can mount BocaShade above or below the tube frames of your T-Top
  • Can I mount BocaShade on my hardtop if it has a curve or a crown?
    Yes. BocaShade can be mounted on a curved surface of your hardtop. The brackets can rotate to adjust to the surface of your hardtop.
  • How wide can you make the shade?
    We can fabricate your BocaShade up to 83" inch width C-C. This is the Center to Center distance between the telescopic poles. Please call us if you are considering something wider than 83" in width
  • Is there extra charge for customer canvas colors?
    Most popular Sunbrella canvas colors are available in our warehouse. Not all colors are available in your desired shade width.
  • Can I mount BocaShade on my boat if I have rod holders?
    Yes. BocaShade can be mounted so that the canvas roller can be positioned in front or behind the rod holders.
  • How quickly can I get my BocaShade?
    We need about two weeks to ship your shade. If you need expedited service, we can work with our partners to meet your request at an extra charge.
  • Can I trailer my boat with BocaShade installed on it?
    Trailering your boat with BocaShade installed will cause damages and will void any warranty. If you are trailering your boat with BocaShade installed where wind speed can exceed 50MPH, you need to secure your BocaShade so that it won't be deployed and cuase damages. We offer boot cover to secure your BocaShade while trailering.
  • Can I leave the shade open when not in used?
    No. Rain, high wind, and storms will cause damages to your BocaShade. Retract and install the boot cover when not in use to protect your shade from high wind and rain.
  • Can I leave my shade extended in the rain?
    NO! Rain will collect and puddle on the canvas and cause damages to the frame and stretching of the canvas and will void warranty. Do Not leave shade extended in the rain.
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