About Us
Located on Florida’s Sun Coast, Blackstick is
family owned and operated and American made. Our mission is simple: to make
easy, reliable, cost-effective custom boat shades to make
your time on the water longer, cooler, and healthier.
For over a decade, The Blackstick has been providing
shade solutions for boats of all makes and models using a
patented carbon fiber technology. This technology allows
us to manufacture shade poles that are extremely durable
and break down in the center, saving you precious space.
Our family relocated from the Hoosier state and acquired
The Blackstick in November 2024 amid back-to-back
hurricanes. To say we were on pins and needles is an
understatement. For us, The Blackstick was our
opportunity to take a business with tremendous potential,
implement our mission, vision, and values, and grow it to
leave as a legacy for our children.
Our values are simple:
do what we say we are going to do, when we say we are
going to do it. Prioritizing quality and customer
satisfaction. These values drive us every day and will help
us achieve our vision of becoming a dominating provider
of boat shades in Florida and serving clients around the
world. It is because of your partnership that we will be
able to accomplish this goal. We look forward to doing
business with you!”
– Austin
What we’ve accomplished so far
Since opening its doors 11 years ago, The Blackstick has proudly produced and delivered roughly 1,700 shades to customers around the globe. That means we've also hand produced over 5,000 Blacksticks making the boat shade industry easier one shade at a time. From Dubai to Hawaii, Tampa to Cape Cod, we're just getting started.AS SEEN ON
Every boat is unique and we're here to help determine which shade is best for you.
Our goal at The Blackstick is simple: provide easy, reliable, cost-effective shade to make your time on the water longer, cooler, and healthier. Our patented system does just that. Fill out the form on the right to get started. Future you will thank yourself, because your boating experience deserves only the best.
What our customers had to say
Frequently Asked Questions
The patented carbon fiber pole designed for fast, durable, and hassle-free shade—because your boating experience deserves the best. The patented carbon fiber pole designed for fast, durable, and hassle-free shade—because your boating experience deserves the best
The patented carbon fiber pole designed for fast, durable, and hassle-free shade—because your boating experience deserves the best
How easy is the system to set up and take down?
They system can be put up or taken down in under 5 minutes.
How is the shade attached to the hard top?
Customers have two options.
1. Loop webbing straps around any available tubing.
2. Drilling small holes into the hard top to install stainless steel padeyes and fastening
them with small screws.
Do you have a universal kit?
We are in the process of developing a universal kit. Due to variations of rod holder placement and degrees on each boat, each shade is custom to the boat.
I live outside the Tampa Bay area; can you help me?
Absolutely! We can send you incredibly easy instructions for taking all the measurements you need for your shade.
What makes your system different/better?
Our poles. Made of extremely light weight and durable carbon fiber, our poles break down in the middle allowing for easy storage and space saving (forever important on a boat!).