Those with black canvas bimini's, any regrets?

Gunn

Gunn

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
2,335
Potomac River - MD
Boat Info
2003 280DA and 1995 Sea Ray 175
Engines
Twin 4.3l and 3.0l, all w/ AlphaI GenII drives
So I am needing to replace some of the canvas tops on my boat and have always liked the look of black. So this would be an opportunity to switch over all of my canvas, beginning with the three tops, and then later the rear camper pieces (rarely used). This is the original canvas, so they've lasted nearly 13 years.

My wife and some friends think that I'd regret it. Fading, bird crap, general cleanliness are disadvantages. The tan color doesn't really show any dirt. My boat sits out on a boat lift nearly year-round.

So to those of you who have it, is it a pain to keep clean? Does the black sunbrella fade? Does it always look dirty unless its freshly cleaned?

Thanks,

Tom
 
Just did the exact same thing on the same age boat. Everyone said it would be hot with black. Jury is still out on the heat. Have not really noticed a difference yet, but it hasn't been really hot yet either. As for showing dirt, etc. - It shows EVERYTHING. I am thinking this may be in part because it is brand new canvas and as it ages/breaks in a bit that it might not be quite as bad. When I look around at other black topped boats in the marina, I don't really notice it as much.
 
I can't speak to black, but I have captain navy blue. It's certainly a dark color, much darker than tan and pretty close to black for this purpose.

Fading. Sunbrella really doesn't fade. So, no worries there. My father-in-law's medium blue canvas from 1998 held it's color until he replaced it 2 years ago because it was simply worn out.

Cleanliness. I haven't noticed that it's hard to clean, or seems to gets that dirty. At the start of the season I clean and treat with 303 protectant; a spray with a hose usually removes dust / dirt. Rain washes it off too. Seagull poop needs some more work though. I use a Bird Sweep and rarely have any bird issues. Overall I'd imagine it's a bit like a tan vs. black car. Nothing shows on the tan car...

Heat. If you have a full dark canvas with the windows zipped it's going to get hot more quickly than a lighter color just because of solar heat gain. Any boat that's zipped up is going to have a greenhouse effect and be hot when you first get on and before the windows are open. We have a camper canvas with matching navy blackout covers for all the windows. When the sun comes up the cockpit gets warm in a hurry; I think the speed at which the temperature rises is strongly related to the large amount of dark canvas. But, if you are going to have the windows unzipped most of the time it's not going to be a significant factor due to cross breeze.

My 2 cents: If you like the black color and are willing to have a bit more spraying with a hose, go for it. I much prefer a darker canvas - makes the boat look classier IMO. When my FIL recanvased his 1998 280DA, also with captain navy blue, it made the boat look 10 years newer.

One other thing to consider for the tops is to use Sunbrella Plus fabric. It has a polyurethane undercoating so it's super waterproof. It was OEM on my bimini top, but not on the fastback. The fastback seeped (even with waterproofer) but the bimini never did. When I had the camper top custom made I spec'd Plus and I've never had a leak. The only downside is if it's super humid and the windows are all zipped, water can condense on the underside of the top.
 
Don't overlook the heat difference. A black top will roast you in the summer heat. I had black Sunbrella on my 390EC and nothing looked better for the first 3 years. Perhaps it is the Florida sun and salt, but over 9 years, I had 4 different black tops on that boat and all of them faded noticeably by year 3 and I've learned all I need to....no more black canvas for us.

The only thing that makes my linen tweed canvas looks dated is the fact that Sea Ray uses navy or black on new boats. Meanwhile, I am enjoying 30˚ cooler summer temps under my not black top.
 
fwebster said:
The only thing that makes my linen tweed canvas looks dated is the fact that Sea Ray uses navy or black on new boats. Meanwhile, I am enjoying 30˚ cooler summer temps under my not black top.
Click to expand...

The PO put the black canvas on the boat that we are still using. In the summer if we don't have the windows rolled up or zipped off it can be a cooker at the helm. Most of the time we enjoy the additional heat the black generates (here in Seattle). We are boathouse kept so fade & wear/tear is at the very minimum. I do use a canvas cleaner once a year, let it dry and then apply 1/2 gallon of 303 2016-05-04 15.38.16.jpg
 
We have a black bimini and black snap in canvas. We are in a high and dry which uses diesel equipment so we get soot mixed with the water from the boat above us. Good rinse with a hose or better yet a steady overnight rain shower clean it right up. 8 years and it looks good as new. When I have to replace the canvas it will be black.
 
I have black and I have no problem with heat. I don't use my plastic curtains much so mostly it is just the Bimini up.
 
We have the 3-black tops as well as the rest of the camper canvas is black. No issues with fading, nor cleaning, but as Frank says, I would gladly give up the " new look" for cooler temps under the tops. There has got to be a 30* difference here in the south. Never again...

Bennett
 
If/when I replace my canvas the only color I'll consider is black. I think it's the sharpest looking color on the boats in my marina. Can't be beat. I'm the type that might give up a little in maintenance department for a look I prefer. I also drive a black vehicle in a state that uses road salt rather extensively. I guess it all depends on how bad you want the look...
 
In the summer on Lake Michigan black measured 15 degrees hotter on the canvas surface than the wheat color. It seems reasonable that Florida heat would be twice that. I switched to black tops and camper and love it.

MM
 
Thanks everyone for your responses. The heat under the canvas was something I didn't even think of. It can get mighty warm and nasty humid on the Chesapeake Bay, so that might be a concern. However at most all we ever have are the three top canvas pieces; I haven't used the side or front curtains in a long time.

Now I'm really torn between the two colors! Black would look better, make the boat more appealing when it comes time to sell, and may even give it more re-sale value. But then it may torture my guests trying to hide from the sun underneath it, and might make my maintenance of it increase (and I think I spend way too much time maintaining this boat vs. enjoying it now!).

Oh, and my carpet will need replaced in the next year or two, so if I change canvas colors, I can coordinate the carpet to match then.

It's not like I can afford to change the color whenever I want either. Decisions, decisions...

Thanks again,

Tom
 
I had black canvas on my last two Sea Rays and everything that has been posted about it is true -- looks great, can get hot, can show dirt, etc. One thing that I didn't see mentioned is how dark it feels under the black canvas. I loved the look of the black canvas but I felt like I was in a cave even when I had the canvas on my 280 extended the way you have it shown in your sig pic. It's hard to describe but all I can say is that it always felt dark under the black canvas. Being under the tan canvas on other boats always felt more light and airy to me while it still gave you protection from the sun.

My opinion -- black looks better but tan is more comfortable and a more usable/livable option.
 
Gunn, one thing that hasn't yet been mentioned is the tolerance of people on board for hot weather and hot temperatures.

I don't do well when it gets real hot. This weekend, for example, we're supposed to be over 100* both Saturday and Sunday. I'll either be in the pool or in the air conditioned house.

I have white bimini tops both upper and lower. They're not Sunbrella, but a material called Stamoid, which is like a 'plasticized' fabric. It's soft, flexible, easy to clean and probably more durable than Sunbrella. My last two Sundancers had blue canvas and it definitely got hot inside, even with all the side curtains removed.

Speaking just for myself here--I'd never go back to a dark color for bimini tops.
 
We love our black canvas, suppose with the white hard top it helps from getting to hot in the cockpit.
image.jpg
 
bankyf said:
Oh... did you add cockpit AC when you stopped using black canvas?
Click to expand...


No. The black canvas was on a 390EC I owned from 1989 to 1997. I sold it and bought the 450DA in 1997 and it has always had the linen tweed/gold color option. Same beam boats, same slip, same location, same usage patterns, etc., so it is really a direct comparison. And, my 450DA does not have cockpit air. It wasn't available in 1996 and so far, the engineering aspects of adding about 30K BTU's of cooling, the wiring, generator capacity, duct work and the cooling system & plumbing add up to the investment making very little financial sense.
 
We added black canvas to our 1986 300 weekender. Redid the bootstripe in black as well. Looked great. But it was huge mistake comfort wise. When cruising on the lake it was very nice. Once in a slip, we could not stand to be top side until the sun went down. Sitting at the helm and trying to read was like being in a sauna. Thinking a lighter color would be more comfortable, we went with grey sunbrella on the 370 Express. Another big mistake. Spent daytimes in the a/c down below when cruising. This boat, white hardtop, white sunbrella drop and aft curtains and a/c. We alternate between the helm seating until we get chilly and then sit outside in the aft cockpit to warm up. Perfect solution for us.
 
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