There is no better feeling than heading out to the ocean, sea, or lake and enjoy the warm summer breeze as your lounge or relax on your boat with friends and family. But while out there, the sun can get a little bit too hot making you feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
Well, the perfect solution to your problem is getting the Best Pontoon Boat Sun Shades to make your boating experience more enjoyable and pleasant.
The Pontoon shade should be amongst the first boating accessory in your list; it should not be any regular sunshade but a pontoon boat umbrella that will cater to your individual needs and preference especially when it comes to durability, comfort, transportation, and user-friendliness.
The Sunshades are a vital addition to any boating or fishing adventure and it imperative to choose on the best brand. Currently, on the market, there are different types and brands to choose from which can be quite overwhelming especially if you don’t know what you are looking for.
If you are in the market for one you are in the right place; For this buying guide and reviews, we have extensively researched and selected the best pontoon boats sun shades. So, buckle up it’s going to be quite a ride!
What makes a good pontoon boat sun shades?
We all have our taste and preference when it comes to the selection of a pontoon sunshade. But, before delving any deeper, we will first identify the factors or features that we need to pay special attention to when it the market for one.
Here are some of the qualities that you should always look out for:
Durability
The boat shades are designed with different materials and fabrics to withstand harsh weather conditions. It’s always recommended to go for a sunshade that’s made of high-quality materials serving you for years providing you with full value for your money.
Design and style
We always want to stand out from the rest and yes even in water! No one wants a mismatched and ugly boat sun shade its an eyesore. Always go for a pontoon shade that will properly fit the dimensions and color of your boat.
Price
I advise my readers to always do prior research to know the prices of different brands when the cost is factored into the buying equation you’ll find a shade that will fit your needs. However, never compromise on quality as cheap one might be costly in the long run.
Maintenance
Most buyers always fail to factor in the care and maintenance of their boat shades, this should be a priority when buying a pontoon boat shade. Your shade must be fairly easy to clean and maintain.
Also, ensure that the parts and components of the shade can be quickly disassembled for a quick cleaning as it will be vital for the overall performance and health of your boat.
Material
Most Pontoon shades on the market are designed with frames made of either aluminum or stainless steel. The covering shade area should be made of a UV-resistant and durable fabric material.
Best Pontoon Boat Sun Shade 2022
Table could not be displayed.MSC 4 Bow Bimini Top Boat Cover
For those in the market for a sturdy and spacious boat cover, then MSC is the perfect option for you. The pontoon boat shade covers are made of high-quality marine-grade 600D polyester canvas with a dual PU coating enhancing its overall strength and durability.
The boat shade is also designed with 1” anti-rust and a sturdy aluminum frame that will cover the entire boat and hold it for years to come. Amongst its amazing features, the boat shade comes with a wide range of sizes providing you with a large pool of options that will sufficiently cover and fit your boat.
Other exciting features of the boat cover are its easy setup or store providing you with the ultimate convenience and portability as it doesn’t take up too much space. The pontoon shade is designed with a mesh storage compartment that will keep everything organized and in place ensuring your boat is clean.
MSC is also designed with one storage boot and dual support pole that ensures it does not cave in under windy or turbulent climatic conditions thus making sure you are fully protected and covered.
Pros
- Provide sufficient space
- East to set up
- Robust and sturdy build
- Durable
Cons
- Some have complained that the front straps wear fast
- The manufacturers manual is not helpful for amateurs
Leader Accessories
The leader Accessories is another wonderful pontoon boat umbrella that will cater to all of your needs. The boat shade is quite similar to MSC4, the shade is made of Marine-grade 600D polyester canvas with a 600D solution-dyed fabric with overlapping stretching makes it sturdy enough and also boosts its durability.
The boat shade is designed with a one-inch diameter aluminum framework with dual-walled bow legs allowing for faster mount release as well as provide your shade with enhanced strength that can withstand high speeds and adverse weather conditions.
The fabric used has an overlapping stitching system that enhances its longevity, additionally, the fabric used is UV resistant that maintains the integrity and color ensuring you can use for years to come.
The Leader accessories mounting hardware’s are all stainless steel with a zippered storage boot that’s color-coordinated making it easy to disassembled and store your boat shade with ease.
What impressed me the most is the fact that the pontoon shade comes with six varying sizes which ensure that you’ll get a shade that will perfectly fit your boat. The shade also comes with 4 adjustable nylon straps located at the rear and front of the boat.
With regards to the design and styling scheme, the sun boat shade has 13 fabric color options providing you with a wide selection base of colors that will complement your boat interior and exterior.
Pros
- Come with stainless steel mounting
- Multiple color and sizing options
- Its UV resistant
- Quite affordable
Cons
- The installation manual is not comprehensive
- Slow customer service support
Taylor Made Products, AnchorShade III Sun Shades
If you are looking for a simple but functional pontoon sunshade, then Anchor Shade III should be at the top of your list. The sunshade is fitted with straps and center posts for quick and seamless mounting allowing for simple operation even a year old could do it amazing right!
The pontoon boat sun shades are primarily made of nylon providing you with optimal sun protection as it has the capabilities of blocking more than 85-90% of harmful rays ensuring both you and your family receive robust protection while in the water.
The shade has all the convenience that you need especially for those people who like less complicated tools, Anchorshade III comes with an adjustable pole lock that can be raised to up to 8” high.
Its adjustable straps are made of the non-corrosive powder-coated aluminum frame thus providing you with plenty of mounting flexibility. The entire unit is completely lightweight allowing for easy portability and storage.
The nylon top fabric used by the unit is fade and mildew resistant boosting its overall durability ensuring it maintains its quality and originality for a long time.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to uses
- Has adjustable straps
- Excellent quality
Cons
- Not suited for fast speeds
Taylor Made Products Easy-Up Gazebo Shade Top
The Gazebo shade top will provide you with spacious shade compared to other brands on the market. With wide dimensions, the pontoon boat can sufficiently accommodate 96- and 102-inches wide boats, additionally it can also extend up to 8 inches ensuring you are sufficiently covered.
For robust support, the Gazebo is designed with a shock-corded fiberglass pole framework which ensures it can withstand high speeds as well as turbulent winds. Additionally, the pole framework can also be disassembled easily for simple storage as it does not take up too much space.
It’s also made of6.25 oz acrylic-coated polyester materials that are UV-resistant protecting you against harmful sun rays, the unit is designed with a large interior radius that will provide you with sufficient headroom allowing for free movement while in the boat.
For style loves, you’ll be glad to know that the sunshade comes with 9-color options providing you with plenty of choices to select from ensuring your taste and preference are fully catered for.
During delivery, the unit comes with a complete set of accessories such as storage bag, hardware, frame, and a shade reducing the cost associated with the purchase of extra tools.
Pros
- Ease of use
- Provides convenient storage
- Compact design
- Has sufficient shade space
Cons
- There have been complains with regards to its durability
The Shady Monkey
At first glance, most people may dismiss the Shady Monkey due to its small size but what they don’t know is it’s amongst one of the strongest and robust umbrella shades of the market.
The pontoon boat shade covers are designed with the unique safety pins that will firmly hold your sun shade or pole in place regardless of the weather conditions. Note that you will have to drill the holes yourself with dimensions of 5/16″ diameter before inserting the safety pins.
The unit is made from powder-coated steel is rust and mildew resistant ensuring your umbrella will serve you for more years to come enhancing its strength and lifespan.
Despite its small stature, this ‘bad boy’ packs a punch as it can sufficiently hold flag pole of the umbrella, with diameters of 1 1/2” to up to 3/4″.ensuring you receive convenient shade space.
Customer satisfaction is the number one priority for The Shady Monkey as it comes with a lifetime warranty providing you with complete peace of mind while in operation as you’ll be completely covered in case of damage or defect.
The only drawback with this amazing unit is it an accident is placed in the wrong spot when disassembled.
Pros
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Lightweight
- Easy to store
- Affordable
Cons
- Some users have complained it provide limited shade space
Sport-Brella Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella
For those who want a versatile pontoon shade that can be mounted anywhere, the Versa-Brella is the perfect option for you. It’s medium-sized making it just perfect for your boat protecting you from the sun and wind.
The umbrella shade canopy will provide you with a UPF 50+ Protection providing you with all-round protection keeping your skin safe from 99.5% UVB and UVA rays. The unit is fitted with a universal clamp that can be virtually connected to any surface providing you with convenience wherever you go.
Its 4-way swivel that moves 360 degrees will protect you against sun rays from all directions ensuring you are fully covered at all times. With a weight of 1.8 lbs. and dimensions of 36″ high, 3.5″ wide and 3.4′ x 3.5′ when fully opened, Versa-Brella can be easily carried or broken down.
Pontoon boat umbrellais fitted with dual button hinges that will enable you to easily adjust your umbrella shade to any angle which sufficiently blocks the sun.The sunshade is made of a rugged fabric that won’t tear or rip providing you with robust protection against sun rays.
Versa-Brella is fitted with a heavy-duty clamp that will firmly hold it in place preventing from topping over while you are enjoying yourself in the water.
Pros
- Easy to store and transport
- Durable
- Can be adjusted to any angle
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Cons
- There have been complains that it falls off at times
- Limited shade space
Conclusion
Choosing the best pontoon boat sunshade doesn’t have to be a hard task, we have compiled six of the best pontoon shades on the market that will be the right fit for you.
The last thing that you need is your boat shade flying off, the umbrella shade we have discussed will securely fit on your boat even in the strongest winds and they are also versatile that can be used either on the boat or for personal use.
We’ve also discussed various features and functionalities that you should pay special attention to so that you don’t get disappointed when it’s delivered. With that, I wish you happy cruising. Ciao!
My name Is Larry Noel, the voice behind BoatCrunch.
I’m a boating enthusiast that loves nothing more than being out on the water. So much so that I’ve acquired a Degree in Marine Biology (MB) as well as a degree in Ocean Engineering (OE).
I’m very familiar with a wide range of different boats and I’ve owned a variety of different boats myself however I have a particular obsession with Pontoon boats. I’ve lived all across the United States and always kept company in the form of boats and now my loving family.