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Boat Sun Shade Poles That Drop Into Any Rod Holder
Sunfly Poles makes carbon fiber and aluminum boat sun shade poles that mount into your boat’s standard 1.5 inch rod holders with no drilling and no support straps. Built by Canvas Designers in Riviera Beach, Florida, every pole deploys in seconds, holds steady offshore, and pulls off clean when you don’t need it.
• Fits standard 1.5 inch rod holders, no drilling required
• Patented 316 stainless steel duo cam cleat for fast, secure tensioning
• Fixed 6 ft and 8 ft pairs in carbon fiber and aluminum
• Made in the USA, marine fabrication since 1985
Benefits of installing a sun shade on your boat
A good boat sun shade does more than keep the sun off. It makes the deck usable through the middle of the day, protects the people and gear on board, and comes off without leaving a mark on the boat. Here is what a Sunfly Poles setup delivers.
Protection from harmful UV
A Soltis 86 mesh panel blocks about 88 percent of solar radiation while letting heat escape. That cuts direct UV exposure on long offshore runs and helps prevent sunburn and heat fatigue for everyone on board.
Comfort in hot weather
Shade lowers deck surface temperatures and creates a cool zone where passengers can relax, fish, or eat without sitting in constant heat. In a South Florida summer, that is the difference between a usable deck and an empty one.
A better fishing experience
Shade gives anglers a cooler place to work and cuts glare off the water, so the crew can focus longer. Rod holder shade poles also keep the overhead space clear, so rod tips and outriggers stay clear during a fight.
Fixed-length poles placed where you need shade
Sunfly poles come in fixed 6 ft and 8 ft pairs. You pick the length that fits your boat and place the pair where you want coverage, on the bow, in the cockpit, or on the aft deck. A second pair adds a separate shaded zone.
More usable deck space
Because the poles drop into rod holders you already have, they do not eat casting room or walk-around space the way a fixed frame does. Seating, dining, and lounging areas stay open and shaded.
Protection for your boat and gear
Constant sun fades upholstery and degrades electronics and deck surfaces. A Sunfly shade panel cuts that exposure, which helps preserve the condition and resale value of the vessel.
How rod holder shade poles compare to other boat shade options
Rod holder shade poles win on the things that matter for real marine use: fast install, no drilling, offshore stability, and clean removal. Here is how the common options stack up.
About Sunfly Poles
Sunfly Poles is a brand of Canvas Designers, a marine fabrication shop on the South Florida waterfront since 1985. For more than 40 years the team has built and repaired marine canvas, shade, and rigging out of the facility at 1500 Australian Avenue in Riviera Beach, Florida.
Sunfly Poles grew out of that work with one goal: give boat owners a shade system that is genuinely easy to live with. The poles drop into existing rod holders, need no drilling and no support straps, and come off in seconds. Every pole is built and tested in the same South Florida conditions our customers run, and backed by a 1-year limited warranty.
Our shade poles and marine accessories
Sunfly Poles offers carbon fiber and aluminum shade poles plus the accessories that complete the system. Every pole pair uses the same 1.5 inch core, the patented 316 stainless steel duo cam cleat, and angled Delrin base inserts.
Anodized Carbon Fiber Sunfly Shade Poles
The flagship pole. A high-grade carbon fiber core with marine anodized aluminum fittings for an extra layer of corrosion resistance and a clean finish. Sold in fixed 6 ft and 8 ft pairs with a 1.5 inch diameter that fits standard rod holders. Carbon fiber is strong and light, which makes for a stable setup that installs and removes fast.
Powder-Coated Carbon Fiber Sunfly Shade Poles
The same carbon fiber core as the anodized pair, finished in a durable color coat with multiple color options. The coating adds another barrier against UV and salt spray while letting you match the boat’s canvas or hull accents. Sold in fixed 6 ft and 8 ft pairs, ideal for a removable shade setup.
Anodized Carbon Fiber Topping Lift Pole
The topping lift pole raises the center of the shade panel for better water runoff and rod clearance at the fighting chair. It features a custom Delrin top pulley fitting, a patented 316 stainless steel duo cam cleat, and a carbon fiber lifting arm in 3 ft or 4 ft lengths with anodized or powder-coated fittings. Recommended for flybridge and larger vessels from 45 to 100 ft.
Powder-Coated Aluminum Sunfly Shade Poles
The budget line. Powder-coated aluminum poles use the same 1.5 inch rod holder mounting system as the carbon fiber poles, in fixed 6 ft and 8 ft pairs with several color options. A dependable, lower-cost foundation for a boat sun shade setup.
Sunfly Shade Pole Bags
Storage bags built from durable WeatherMAX marine fabric with strong UV resistance and water repellence. They protect the poles from nicks and make the system easy to transport and stow, which matters for boaters who remove and reinstall their setup often.
Frequently asked questions
Find the right boat shade system for your vessel
If you want shade that installs in seconds, holds in offshore chop, and leaves no hardware behind, Sunfly Poles is built for it. Carbon fiber and aluminum poles, fixed 6 ft and 8 ft pairs, topping lift poles for larger boats, all mounting into the rod holders you already have.
Browse the lineup, or call (561) 848-2111 to spec the right pole length and configuration for your boat.
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