Traditional Rod Holder Shade
The shade that started it all! Our traditional shade uses the rod holders in your bow or stern to hold the Blacksticks. Attached to the sticks on one end and your hard top at the other this system allows for easy deployment in less than 5 minutes, giving you easy, reliable shade.
The Blackstick® Difference
Learn our difference from others and why you should choose BLACKSTICK®
Tougher, More Flexible Boat Shade
Strong Carbon Fiber
Easy to assemble
- Blackstick® is a very flexible pole that provides self tension of the shade with a small working load (14 to 20 lbs). The spring action in the stick is constantly exerting a force to pull back the shade but will flex inward to absorb external forces such as increase in boat speed or wind gust. The give and take result is less stress at the rod holders. The traditional stainless, aluminum and carbon fiber prepreg roll wrapped shade struts are stiff and a greater load is transfer to the rod holder.
- Rod Holders are the receiving point for Blackstick®. The rod holder’s 9 inch tube that extends below the gunnel provides a strong support for the stick and reduces the stress at the load bearing point on the deck by transferring the load downward along the tube. This is kinder to the structural integrity around the rod holder.
- A&P Technology carbon fiber dry braid sleeve provides an evenly distributed load throughout the stick due to the continuous braid structure, mechanically locking in the weave. This combination makes a strong, high torsional strength, fatigue resistance, improved interlaminar shear pole.
- Blackstick®’s breakpoint is a balance between maintaining form during normal conditions but will give way due to extreme forced placed at the receiving points (Rod Holder or Mount). Actual Incidents – running in to pilings, mangroves, bridges, boat lifts, excessive speed, excessive speed trying to out run a squall line (Squall Won), bad weather, falling on to the shade and a really bad shade design that pools water. I rather the sticks break before causing damage to the boat’s receiving point. It is an easy fix. I just replace the bottom section of the stick.
User Friendly
Sticks are custom size for each shade for a perfect fit and breakdown. A second snap hook can be added to line to lower the shade. They are not telescopic. No guessing at the height adjustment for the sticks, no maintenance at the tube clamp (throw latch) due to occasional slippage and binding of the tubes due to salt deposits, dirt and grit.
The patent breakdown point is the taper transition from smaller tubular diameter to a larger diameter that forms a socket for receiving another tubular pole. When under tension the receiving pole is held in place. No mechanical parts to hold the pole in place .
The sticks are 1″ with a 11/4″ bushing at the rod holder end, light weight and small in size for easy stowage. Shade and sticks fit in one bag.
Clamcleat® and micro swivel block for easy set up from cockpit.
- Boat speed – Stern shade you can run 20 to 30 knots. Bow shade trolling speed. 15 knots
- No tooling performed on the Clamcleat® or micro swivel block. Tooling can add stress fractures.
- No dissimilar metals touching carbon. Corrosion is an issue when stainless or aluminum interacts with carbon in a salt water environment.
- Color Carbon Fiber Pole – Carbon’s natural color is black. The only way to color the CF pole is to use a dyed fiberglass, Kevlar or hybrid of both on the last layer of the pole or paint them. I choose painting to keep Blackstick 100% carbon. We use a two part polyurethane paint for clear coat and white.
- No tag line – The flex action of the stick under a load prevents the bell and stick from moving. So, no deck hardware.
- Rod holders – Sticks can be used in small to large I.D. rod holders. A 12″ bushing is used at the rod holder end.
- Wall thickness – 099 inch for normal shade and a thick wall .1221 on bottom half of sticks for super big shade jobs.
- Fabric – Serge Ferrari Soltis 86 is a 14% micro-ventilated mesh that blocks up to 88% of the solar raditaion while maintaining air flow and prevents pooling of water. The patent Precontraint technology provides excellent dimensional stability preventing over stretching and tearing of fabric over time. Soltis 86 is UV, mold resistance and easy to clean.
- Manufactured in the USA.
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
Ready for a better boating experience?
Get expert-crafted solutions for your boating shade needs. Fill out the form below to get started!
Got some questions?
Call us to 941-297-9683
Email: info@theblackstick.com
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!).