Window Curtains/Covers for a TC255 - Where to buy?

C

Captains Cat

New member
I need something to cover the windows and the glass door of the TC 255 on the inside for privacy :smiled . It came with sunbrella covers for the head windows that snap on and I thought I'd continue that theme. Another Brat said he bought some from King but the quality wasn't up to what he thought it should be. He also removed the corner top window screws and replaced them with the male part of a stainless Snap Assy and put the female part on the curtain, also sounds like a good idea. :idea:

Does anyone know if any of the canvas mfrs have templates for the TC 255 windows? If so, I'd order a set, without any snaps. And, if you don't mind my asking, how much you paid if you bought any?

Thanks...

Charlie
 
We got nothing but high quality work and great service from Dave and King Marine canvas for all the canvas work on our CD-25.
Eric
 
Hi Charlie,

We have the King window covers on Wild Blue. They are top quality, sunbrella - look good, function well. With the regular use we have given them, we have had to replace a couple snaps, and added snaps to the middle of the long side window covers to keep them from sagging. As I recall, the price was around $600, which seemed very expensive to us.

We would have made the covers ourselves had we not been picking the boat up at the factory, with the intent of immediately cruising. The window covers would not be hard to make: some paper to use as a template, and buy matching sunbrella; Cut out the fabric, sew black edging on, and install the snaps. Joan made a cover for the v-berth hatch when we got home. She ordered the sunbrella from a local canvas shop at $25 per yard, and also made a sunbrella bag for the (rolled up) camperback (when not being used) and a motor cover.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We got our window coverings from King Marine. Actually, it would have been cheaper to get them when we got the boat. However, the work was good, and they supplied the snaps for me to install. I installed the front window covering on the inside, even though it was sized for the outside. I didn't want to crawl outside, upfront to install it. Worked well.

The gentleman operates out of his cell phone. As far as I can figure he has no office. He was helpful, and way cheaper than getting it done in San Diego.

Boris
 
Charlie,

Jim B. has the right idea and process. If you have a seamstress around the house, they come out wonderfully and lots cheaper, even with Sunbrella.
P6160024.sized.jpg
 
I had made several comments about canvas work to Charlie. My comment about the "curtains" were: "The sumbrella "curtains" are OK--but the re-enforcements are not in the correct places". I was not happy with the workmanship on the camper back for the C Dory 25. I used King because I didn't have time to have my local canvas shop do the work--long story. The back did not fit properly, the raw edeges of the Sunbrella was not properly hot knifed or sealed, and started to unravel, the finish work was not to the quality of our local canvas shop (Pedersen Marine Canvas, Pensacola). I am going to have to have some of the back redone--or do it my self.

I had a quote for a slant back for the C Dory 25, which I thought was very high--and I will do this myself.

To put this in perpective; I have done some of my own canvas work and sail work for along time, but working with heavy clear vinly is more than my machine will do easily

I got two sets of "curtains" for my Tom Cat--shipped from the factory as a "gift" or "premium" because I had done my own repairs on the defects on the new Tom Cat (along with two C Dory Caps). The first set of window coverings were the wrong color, so they sent another set, and said to keep the first set. I used the first set on the CD 25 (basically same size windows). I don't know how the "factory" sets up the window coverings, but as Charlie said, I removed the corner screws on the inside of the corners of the windows, and in the center of the side windows. I replaced these with the male snap fasteners. I sewed in my own extra re-inforcements, since the "Factory" re-inforcements were not in the correct place. I also like to insert a piece of 8 oz dacron sail cloth inbetween the layers of Sunbrella to give better tear resistance. I also put the hole thru the Sumbrella & Dacron with a hot knive (soldering iron)--again to prevent tearing. (since these window covers were "free" I shouldn't complain...) I use a fitting on square jaw Vise Grips to set the snaps. It is just as fast and good quality as a dedicated tool. There are a number of dyes which work with all of the variious types of snaps.

60" Sunbrella is $17.75 a yard, 46" Sunbrella is $14.50, Sunbrella plus (urethane coating on the back in 60" is $22.75 a year and Sunbrella 1" binding is $.35 a foot (or you can turn the cloth back over, which I prefer to do for the hem and re-inforcement) from Sail Rite. http://www.sailrite.com/ I stick with Sunbrella, because it matches the interior, is very sun light fade resistant, and wears well (we figure 10 years out of a cover with re-stitching.

Patterns are fairly easy to make for the windows. Newspaper, craft paper or wrapping paper can all be used.
 
Charlie,
I know everyone likes the matching fabric, but consider a lighter color for the inside privacy shades to make the cabin seem brighter in the evenings. I used a cream colored fabric called "Top Gun" and have been very happy with it. It is much stiffer and stronger than Sunbrella, required no additional reinforcement and was cheaper. It was easy to sew on a home machine and since it is coated it doesn't need a hot knife to seal edges. I used the corner screw technique like others.
 
Charlie - did you every find a place for this work? I'm looking to do the same on my Tomcat. I wanted to check the pricing for the interior sunbrella fitted with snaps, etc.

Thanks
 
CAVU":qktify71 said:
Charlie,
I know everyone likes the matching fabric, but consider a lighter color for the inside privacy shades to make the cabin seem brighter in the evenings. I used a cream colored fabric called "Top Gun" and have been very happy with it. It is much stiffer and stronger than Sunbrella, required no additional reinforcement and was cheaper. It was easy to sew on a home machine and since it is coated it doesn't need a hot knife to seal edges. I used the corner screw technique like others.
Click to expand...

KEN-

Nice find!

I've been looking for a material like this that would look good, require only good cutting technique with scissors, no hot-knifing, and no hemming of the edges.

Will it accommodate the common upholstery/canvas snaps used on Sunbrella fabrics so that it can be quickly snapped into place with the complimentary fittings held in place by the existing window frame screws?

Here's a source of information and prices I found for "Top Gun Fabric". Do you have a better one?

Thanks for a great find!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Joe, welcome back! We missed you... :love

Right now, I'm sitting here with my transplant knee hurting like he... and that's after 4 years or so. Hope you have better luck. It was a full titanium transplant and has never been totally pain free. Every once in awhile, I come down wrong on it and it pains me something awful for a couple of months or so. It's somewhat permanantly swollen too....

Not good. I think I'll go back to the Dr but he's no longer in business so I'll have to find a new one.

Keep up with the range of motion exercises, I did but still can't kneel on that knee.

Sorry to sidetrack the thread, back to the Prop Issue!


Charlie
 
Dang it, Charlie, sorry to read that the knee still giving you trouble. Three fingers instead of two -- GOOD single malt scotch will help. :wink: Works for me - whatever hurts.

And Joe - I've been off the air for a while and just read about your knee replacement. All best wishes for a rapid recovery -- and remember, everything hurts more when you get older. Just ask Charlie!

Dusty
 
Charlie-

Sorry to hear about your knee.

I actually have a new hip, not a knee, which I've been told is usually less problematic.

Anyway, pain is a part of life when you're older, and I've come to accept it.

I just don't want to be forced to give up any of my great boating hobbies as a result of these issues.

Good thing the titanium hip bone and socket aren't magnetic, or they could mess up my compass and other more sophisticated electronic displays.

Guess I'll have to get one of those cards that gives me an Official Permit to Carry a Concealed Orthopedic Device During Air Travel. Wouldn't want to have to be strip searched and X-Rayed on the conveyor belt for every trip!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Rick Karr in Oak Harbor built the camper back for my TC255. I am very pleased. He made 2 sets of panels for me, one with eisenglas windows and one with screens. I don't know if he worked from patterns that he saved but you can call him at (360) 929-8600. I found him through Les at EQ.

Warren
 
To follow up on this thread, I acquired interior curtains from Kings Marine Canvas. The first set did not fit the windows at all. Dave was helpful and went to C-Dory determine the exact sizes and sent replacement curtains that fit perfectly. He also sent the snap kit.

I began the installation process this weekend. You need a snap kit that uses a steel base to hold the snap and to pound the top down with a hammer/special tool. You would not want to do this hammering on your boat. This system works pretty well. It was time consuming because I marked then installed one snap at a time. You would not want to make and install multiple snaps in case you needed to snug up a section before the next snap, etc.

There were a few instances where the male snap head screw was too short to fit into the existing screw holes. For these I will need to grind down the heads on a few existing window screws (that are longer than the snap studs) so it will bite. I only had to do these for three out of about 20 snaps.

For the door, I will need to drill new holes to accept the snap studs. I spoke to Dave who was once again very helpful, he confirmed his experience that the screws around the door frame are thicker and will require new holes. You can't buy larger snap heads to fit inside the snap.

Just curious how the installation experience went for others. It was time consuming for me climbing in and out of the boat via a ladder but they look good.

One comment, I don't know of a single owner who wants to climb to the deck to snap on the curtain. I too installed the snaps to fit on the inside. As a result for the front windshield, some of the snaps locations do not align with the reinforced area. I will make a point to carefully unsnap these areas.
 
Captain Matt ,

I did what you did: order the canvass from King after we bought the boat, and installed them myself. Actually, when it came time for Judy to sew the inside curtains, she called King Canvass and ordered them. Never told me the price nor did I ask.

It worked out well. I installed more snaps than King sent, so I just bought more. Found out that snaps at Wast Marine cost 6 time more than at the local marine store. Instead of the anvil approach, I bought a set of modified vise-grips from Defender (Grip Fast Kit, P/N 753173,) which were less stressful. This bit of advice is too late, but anyway....

Also, I stripped a couple of holes, with JB Weld to the rescue. I had to get longer screws for the male snaps that screw into the windows (as opposed to the door,) because there's a ridge along the windows and I couldn't snap the canvass. The local industrial supply had nylon standoffs that slid over the long screws and held the male part of the snap out far enough.

I wholeheartedly agree that going outside to install the canvas over the front windows is ridiculous. And even worse is going outside to take it off. I'd like to speak to the dummy who started that. I like the way Dreamer has 3 ea separate covers for the forward windows. I think I'll try that on Judy. Since the forward cover is so long, I used a couple of twist curtain fasteners. They also come with a stud, and support the canvass along the top better than a snap. In my humble opinion.


Post a picture when you're done.

Boris
 
journey on":1yk2yd1h said:
I wholeheartedly agree that going outside to install the canvas over the front windows is ridiculous
Click to expand...

Not only that, the factory says don't trailer with the outside cover in place because the flapping will abrade the glass!

Warren
 
Thanks for the replies.
Did you guys drill into the door frame to get holes that would accept the snap studs? Any tips/warnings about drilling into the frame? I would of course make sure the new holes are drilled parallel to the existing screws.
 
Matt, I'm not down at the boat to look but why couldn't you remove a door glass screw and replace it with a snap screw fitting? Even epoxy it in place if necessary?

Charlie
 
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