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Leaving Canopies on the Beach

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:53:50 +0000

Apparently, leaving canopies on the beach is an issue around Tampa, according to Florida newspaper The Beach Beacon. But, according to this article, it’s not the polyethylene or polyester canopies that are being left behind but, instead, the steel frame of the canopies. As a result, the frame is washing up and getting caught between the erosion and coastal construction lines, as these public beaches, like several in Florida, have received some coastal reconstruction to reduce erosion damage. What type of threat do metal steel canopies pose for the environment? Although a canopy or tarp, theoretically, may tear and, like plastic bags, may have animals getting caught in it or attempting to consume it, the metal structure is simply litter.

If the steel structure of a canopy is left on the beach and goes out to sea, the metal will eventually rust. Although not as harmful to marine life as plastic or Styrofoam items, anything that is litter going out into the ocean may harm marine life – and steel components may be harmful to larger marine creature. If you don’t know about how harmful litter of all types is to the ocean, Green Eco Services has a page detailing the effects of litter on marine creatures.

If you’re a beach goer, what can you do to prevent beach litter? The first thing is to take your canopy home. Most steel pop-up canopies are easy to transport and take in a car, so when packing up your things, remember to bring both the canopy and steel structure. If you see others leaving their steel canopies on the beach – but taking everything else with them – remind them about the canopy they’re leaving behind or, if the canopy is already abandoned, contact any local authorities to report the abandoned canopy. Although a steel canopy frame may be alone on the beach, the tide may rise and drag it out to sea.

Canopy Client Expands its Offerings

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:27:09 +0000

As we manage several clients that sell a combination of tarps and canopy structures, it only seems natural that nearly all would carry some combination of these products. This client of ours, Canopy Hut, recently expanded its products in terms of structures. Generally, a canopy website has a blend of both permanent outdoor shelters like portable garages and pop-up canopies, such as EZ-up canopies, party tents, and wedding tents. Canopy Hut expanded its offerings in both of these areas, including adding such additional permanent structures like RV and boat canopies and other pop-up structures like trade show canopies.

For permanent outdoor canopies, what is the difference between a portable garage and an RV or boat shelter? Typically, it’s the size and the selection on Canopy Hut’s new product pages reflects this. The shelters on the boat canopy page can cover at least one boat, while the RV shelters are all long canopy structures with walls designed to cover at least one RV. The larger RV shelters are both wide and long to hold two RVs. In addition, other permanent outdoor shelters Canopy Hut now carries include car canopies, which are enclosed or open carports for one or more cars to fit under in all kinds of weather. All of these permanent outdoor canopies are by Shelterlogic.

The other new products now offered by Canopy Hut are temporary shelters that can be set up outdoors with ease. These shelters are called party tents, pop-up canopies, or wedding tents depending on the size – wedding tents are typically the largest of this kind – and Canopy Hut now has trade show canopies. If you’re planning on attending a trade show outdoors with many items to protect, one of these canopy structures can be folded up in your car and can be set up quickly once at the trade show. As this canopy is only for temporary use, it is designed to be taken out, put up, and transported with ease.

Protect your Boat: Portable Garages and Tarps Over Shrink Wrapping

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:24:47 +0000

A boat is a seasonal vehicle and, while you may get a lot of use from it during the summer, it generally stays in storage for the winter. But storing a boat for six or more months involves adequate protection that should repel UV rays and keep out moisture and water, which will create mildew and dry rot. Popular methods of protecting a boat during the winter include shrink wrapping, tarping a boat, and storing it in a portable garage.

Shrink wrapping a boat is similar to shrink wrapping for any other product, but the primary downside of shrink wrapping a boat is its lack of breathability. The typical material is a plastic, flame-retardant UVI (UV inhibitor) which, when used with heat shrinking or welding methods, seals in moisture. Although the material is somewhat better than not protecting a boat, the sealed moisture will lead to mildew and dry rot. In addition, a heat shrinking package for a boat costs about $200 for storage for one year.

For the most economical option, tarping a boat with a heavy-duty poly tarp is your best bet. Although the tarp will typically last one winter, its durability to the elements will protect your boat. Polyethylene, as a material, is a breathable material will keep out moisture but, due to a high dernier of fabric weave, the polyethylene will also keep out moisture. In addition, a heavy-duty poly tarp is often UV treated and will protect the paint from fading and surface material from cracking.

A long term option for protecting a boat is a portable garage. A portable garage can store other vehicles during the year but the structure is breathable and, like a tarp, is UV treated, as well as anti-fungal treated, and will keep out water and UV rays and will allow for air circulation.