Thread: Umbrella for boat

I just measured & made a big L shaped deal out of PVC pipe, which has a coupling T on one end that the pedestal pole slips into, then a straight pipe goes to another coupling T, then a straight pole slips into that T (just behind the pedestal seat). I bought a beach umbrella from Lowe's for about $20, that has a button to push to angle it. I put the PVC pipe setup together, stuck the umbrella pole down in the upright PVC pipe, drilled a hole thru both & stuck a cotter pin thru the hole (to keep the wind from lifting the umbrella out of the upright PVC pipe).

The umbrella has a base pole & the umbrella part (2pcs) that fit together and lock. The base pole stays "pinned" inside the upright PVC pipe, and the lower connection setup stays separate until I put the two together to use. That way, I can break down the whole setup (3pcs) and store it in my rod locker, when not in use.

Umbrella is this type : http://pdf.lowes.com/useandcareguide...400403_use.pdf Umbrella is 6ft diameter ... pole is 6ft tall when both pieces are put together. Short enough to give good shade, and tall enough over a sitting angler to not get in the way of long rod use. When casting, though, you do have to cast sidearm when umbrella is in use.

PVC pipe was free (scrap) and the T's and umbrella cost less than $30 total. Quick & easy to put up & take down and stores away in the rod locker ... unlike my partner's, which he cemented his whole PVC rig together ... and so it has to go on the seat pedestal, whether or not he's using the umbrella.

Finally got around to taking a picture :

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  And if you will notice ... I normally use a offset seat pole (as pictured). Unfortunately this allows the umbrella rig to tilt when it's positioned anywhere other than directly behind the seat's center. It's a minimal problem to me, but one I felt the need to expose. Now, if I were using a straight seat pole ... adding a 1.25" reducer collar to the top of the T that goes over the seat pole, then the wobble (tilt) would be reduced. And, in fact, my buddy has one that I intend to get from him and incorporate into my rigging. It will have to work without having to glue it into the T ... since I can't use it when using the offset seat pole. Otherwise, I will have to make two separate bottom sections in order to be able to switch seat poles.