You bought a catamaran for the space and stability. The promise of outdoor living that monohulls just can't deliver. But here's the bit that most cat
owners discover, that gorgeous forward deck, potentially the best lounging real estate on your entire boat, sits empty when the sun is much above the
horizon.
The tropical sun that drew you to cruising in the first place becomes the enemy. The foredeck becomes a no-go zone from 10am to 4pm. And that "outdoor
living space" you dreamed about? It's really just an outdoor solar oven for the middle 2/3 of the day.
We heard this from our customers for years. After 38 years of making the world's most durable
catamaran trampoline nets, we kept getting the same request: "Can you make something to shade the bow?" We
passed at first, we said that shade systems weren't our specialty. But when the requests kept coming, we spent six months in R&D to build something worthy
of the Sunrise name.
The result is the Sunrise SHADE: a catamaran bow shade system that actually gets used because it's designed to
be fast enough to set up to be practical.
Why Most Catamaran Shade Solutions Fail
Why haven’t you added shade to your boat yet? Chances are you haven’t found a solution you believe actually makes sense. There aren’t many options out
there and those that are out there are less likely to be used because of the time they take to set up.
Traditional catamaran awnings require a halyard. That means climbing forward, running lines, and spending dozens of minutes rigging everything up. By the
time you're done, you're sweating, annoyed, and questioning whether it was worth the effort. You know that in reality you’d probably skip setting it up so
you don’t get one.
Other systems require poles which require hardware installation on your boat, complicated tensioning, and a degree in mechanical engineering to get right.
These might work well for superyachts, but they’re not ideal for most sailors.
The Sunrise SHADE System solves all of this with three core design principles: speed, stability, and style.
What Makes the Sunrise SHADE Different
Lightning-Fast Setup (Under 3 Minutes)
We partnered with NiteIze to develop a proprietary tensioning system that makes setup genuinely fast. Not "fast for a shade system", but actually fast.
We're talking wrap-the-jib, clip-the-corners, tension-and-done in under three minutes.
Why does speed matter so much? Because fast setup means you'll actually use it. Every day at anchor. Every time you drop the hook for lunch. That's the
difference between a product that transforms how you enjoy your boat and one that collects mildew in a locker.
No Halyard Required
The Sunrise SHADE System includes a soft jib wrap that we designed & manufacture for a forward attachment point that is soft on your jib sail. The SHADE
System uses this forward anchor point and an attachment point on your mast to create the tensioned “spine” of the system. You then just tension out to the 4
corners using our custom manufactured tensioning devices. This means you don’t need a free halyard! No climbing the mast. No running lines through blocks. No
hassle. Your halyard stays free for the optional hanging chair feature (more on that in a moment).
Built for Wind
We use architectural-grade HDPE shade cloth. This is the same material protecting luxury resort pools and high-end outdoor installations. This isn't sailcloth
or wind catching acrylic fabric. HDPE allows wind to pass through the material, which means the Sunrise SHADE stays stable in winds up to 22 knots.
The material carries a 10-year manufacturer warranty. We back the complete system with our 5 year Sunrise warranty because
we know it'll hold up.
Custom-Fit for Your Exact Model
Here's where 38 years of making custom catamaran nets pays off. The Sunrise SHADE System isn't one-size-fits-most. We build each shade to match your specific
boat model—whether you're on a Lagoon 450,
Leopard 45,
Fountaine Pajot Elba 45, or any of the hundreds of models we have on file.
A custom fit means proper coverage, clean lines, and a professional look that enhances your boat's appearance rather than detracting from it.
Dyneema Floating Tensioning System
We borrowed design elements from our premium trampoline net construction to create a Sunrise unique floating tensioning system using Dyneema line. This
distributes load evenly, prevents stress points, and keeps the shade taut without over-tensioning any single corner thus improving its durability by reducing
point stress loads. We’re pretty proud of this detail 😊.
Thoughtful Details
We added a webbing loop underneath for hanging a Bluetooth speaker or light for evening use. There's also a loop on top if you want to optionally attach a
halyard to create a slightly different shade shape. These small touches came from real-world testing and customer feedback during our development phase.
Transform Your Foredeck Into a Second Living Room
"Like Adding Another Room to the House" That's what one of our customers told us after installing their Sunrise SHADE System. And honestly,
that's exactly the transformation we were aiming for.
When you combine the Sunrise SHADE System with a comfortable trampoline net upgrade and a few of our
Sailor's Pillows, you're not just shading your bow, you're creating a genuine second living space. One customer put
it perfectly: "It allows me to enjoy my full boat even in mid-day sun."
Think about what that means for daily life at anchor. Morning coffee on the bow watching the sunrise. Midday reading without retreating to the salon. Afternoon
cocktails with guests spread across comfortable nets. Evening lounging under your speaker playing music as the sun sets.
The foredeck goes from "that place we walk across to get to the jib" to "the best spot on the boat." And let’s be honest, after months living on the boat
couples can really benefit from having two different outdoor places on the boat to relax and read in peace.
The Hanging Chair Feature
Here's a feature that surprises people: if you have a spare halyard, you can hang a pair of chairs underneath the Sunrise SHADE System with a simple bridle
line from the halyard to the pair of chairs and a pair of light forward tensioning lines to balance the chair’s desire to swing back towards the mast.
Our design is intentionally designed for this, creating a shaded sanctuary perfect for reading, napping, or just swinging gently while watching the anchorage.
It's one of those unexpected delights that makes guests ask, "Wait, you can do that?"
Creating the Complete Forward Living Space
The Sunrise SHADE works even better when paired with the Sunrise Suite of forward catamaran products. If you're still on OEM trampoline nets—those cheap,
barefoot unfriendly, saggy, wear-out-in-3-years nets that came with your boat—you're missing half the equation.
Our 3/8" Offshore trampoline nets transform the bow into a barefoot friendly, pet friendly lounging
surface. Add a few Sailor's Pillows (designed specifically for marine use with Sunbrella tops, UV-resistant mesh
bottoms, and tie-down clips so they don't blow away), and you've genuinely doubled your outdoor living space.
At the end of the day, you’re talking about 50% of your outdoor living space on the boat. A few pointed investments and you greatly expand your floating home’s
usable space. A shade over premium nets with purpose-built pillows? That's the catamaran lifestyle you signed up for.
What's Included with Your Sunrise SHADE
Every Sunrise SHADE ships complete and ready to install:
- Your custom-fit SHADE in your choice of color (Gray, Black, Lime Green, Charcoal, or Yellow/Orange with other custom colors available)
- Sunrise purpose-built hand-sewn storage bag for transport and protection
- Sunrise designed & manufactured Soft Jib Wrap with stainless steel carabiner
- EZ Tensioning Devices for each corner (1 large, 4 small)
- Tensioning line matched to fit your system
- Detailed instruction sheet and installation video access
Dimensions pack down to 32" x 23" x 5" at approximately 25-35 lbs, compact enough to stow easily when not in use.
The Order Process
Getting your Sunrise SHADE System is straightforward:
Step 1: Select Your Model Choose your catamaran make and model from our dropdown. If we already have your boat on file (and we have a lot of
models on file), that's all we need for a standard order.
Step 2: Provide Measurements (If Needed) If we don't have your exact boat on file, we'll contact you for five simple measurements. It's a quick
5-minute process for two people.
Step 3: Customization (Optional) Need to accommodate solar panels or other equipment? Select the customization option and we'll work with you
on modifications.
Step 4: Production & Shipping Standard orders ship in about 4 weeks. Need it faster? Our Rush option gets your SHADE shipped in 2 to 2.5 weeks.
We ship worldwide, your boat's location doesn't limit your options.
What Cruisers Are Saying
"Our new catamaran shade was an absolute lifesaver on our trip to the Bahamas. It goes up in minutes and provides an amazing amount of shade on our foredeck
allowing us to sit out front and enjoy the views and the cool breezes without getting absolutely scorched. We are very impressed with the construction quality
and how easily it is attached with easily removable straps and tensioners."— Eric Fisher
"We recently added a new shade to the forward bow of our Leopard 40 sailing catamaran, and it's been a total game changer—especially in the hot Texas heat!
Being able to enjoy that space comfortably, even on the sunniest days, has made a huge difference. What really impressed us was its durability. We accidentally left
it up during a storm with 30-knot winds, and it held up like a champ—no damage at all." — Ashley Stone
As featured on the Parlay Revival sailing channel.
Ready to Transform Your Foredeck?
Your catamaran's bow is too valuable to ignore for half the day. The Sunrise SHADE makes that space usable—actually, genuinely usable—with a setup so fast you'll use it every time you anchor.
Pair it with upgraded trampoline nets and Sailor's Pillows, and you've created the outdoor living space that drew you to catamaran life in the first place.
Contact our team at (727) 526-9288 or info@multihullnets.com with your boat model. We'll get you a quote and let you know if your model is already on file or needs custom measurements.
Or select your boat from the dropdown on our SHADE product page and order directly.
Your foredeck is waiting.
Regards, Matt, Mike, & Caleb Sunrise Yacht Products Hand-sewn in FL since 1987