If you are anything like me then you have a list of jobs and projects on the boat that you promise to get around to one day but never seem to. Well one of those on Mallard has been the installation of an Oceanair screen which I have just got around to after what must be 3 years. These really are a beautifully made piece of kit and to my mind at least look fantastic. Available in a variety or standard and custom sizes they blend seamlessly with deck hatches from Man ship, Lewmar and the like. The model that I have installed is the surface model as shown above but you can get recessed models which can be incorporated into the overhead providing you have room, I don't. Even so the surface models are very smooth and stylish and hardly project down from the overhead at all.
The screens come with easy to follow installation instructions but I have found that it pays to take time to ensure that the mounting surface is square and true. Any distortion or twist in the substrate will similarly impart twist into the screen which will then not operate correctly.
It really is two in one product as a mesh bug screen pulls from one side and a blackout blind pulls from the other. The former keeps even the Maine black fly at bay and the latter turns day into night which as I like to sleep in total darkness suits me just fine. A strip magnet runs along the front edge of the bit you pull over and keeps the blind securely closed and also as you can see from the top photo both the screen and shade can be pulled to meet in the middle thus varying the amount of light getting through into the cabin. Easy to install, they look good and work perfectly, all in all a great product and a nice upgrade to the boat.
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