Window Privacy covers

R

Ron on Meander

New member
I've been thinking about having some privacy covers/curtains made. Does anyone have any suggestions or pictures of what they've done?
Pat, I read a post somewhere a while back where you said you and Patti had made your own. Can you describe what you did and do you have any pictures?
Thanks
Ron
 
Pat and Patti are out in the San Juans for the week-end. Just missed them over by Orcas Is. She did make hers out of matching Sunbrella. They are held up with velcro just like the factory ones.
 
We made individual curtains for each window using material from the fabric store and replaced some of the window screws with snaps headed screws to hold them up. The snaps to replace the screws were the most expensive part - don't buy them at West Marine - we've since learned there are cheaper places. Patterns were pretty easy - we just taped paper over the windows, drew the outline and cut 'em out. Sorry we didn't save them.

Mac & Linda
 
We did the exact same as Mac & Linda, had a blast doing it too. Takes a day or two to sew all the edges and install the snaps, but worth it. If I can do a reasonable job of this, I'm sure you can!

You can get mildew resistant canvas from JoAnn fabrics that matches many of the Sunbrella colors at a great deal less than Sunbrella if you are on a budget. It looks great and brings a smile every time we install them. My experience has been that the more you do on your own the more the boat becomes part of you.

"Chivita" Dave
 
Thanks all for your replies. I think it is probably something we'll do ourselves.
One other question. Where do you store the covers when not in use and do they take up a fair bit of space?
Cheers
Ron
 
Patty did not make ours, alas, we bought them with the boat for $$$ - she made a set for Halcyon, which she made from $unbrella and are almost exactly like the ones we bought, held in place with velcro, they look the same anyway. I will let her explain herself, I assume that if one can sew, borrowing a set to make a pattern is the key. I think she is not planning to use $unbrella for set for the new 25, as they don't need the weather resistance.


Ron on Meander":17dkwdvo said:
I've been thinking about having some privacy covers/curtains made. Does anyone have any suggestions or pictures of what they've done?
Pat, I read a post somewhere a while back where you said you and Patti had made your own. Can you describe what you did and do you have any pictures?
Thanks
Ron
Click to expand...
 
While I don't have any pictures of ours, the MOOSE came with interior window covers already made and installed by the folks who made our camper back (Proctor Canvas near Duluth, MN). The material is not Sunbrella, but a thinner, coated fabric of neutral, translucent color which still lets light in. The sections install with snaps and there are some extra snaps on the fabric to enable the covers to be loosened somewhat to allow a gap for ventilation. I numbered all the sections like a clock so I could easily figure out where they all go as it is no mean feat to figure it out the first time. Given that we are nearly always anchored in privacy, I thought we'd never have need of the curtains. But what we have found is that they are great for keeping the cabin from becoming a greenhouse on a sunny.
Al
 
While I'm sure the sewn fabric has a softer and more hospitabale feel and look, if the ability to sew (especially canvas) is a deciding factor, I'm sure one could find a fabric / plastic laminate (like the type of material used in mouse pads and place matts) that could be cut to shape and not have to have the edges folded over and sewn. Could even be fabricated with spray adhesive joining the fabric of your choice and opaque or translucent soft plastic sheeting. The easy part would be to set up the snap or velcro system to hold them up. Joe.
 
You can just line the cabin with the hook part of the velcro and go down to Wally World and buy terrycloth towels (which stick to velcro like velcro) and have curtains for $10 or so. Pick up a roll of plastic screen while you're at it and line a strip of velcro on that (the fuzz part) and now you've got a ready roll-up screen for the door.

This is how I lined mine:

CDT13.jpg
 
I agree, curtains are well worth the effort.
Instead of using sunbrella, we made ours cut to the window size, from a quilted material designed for its insulative value. They are like window blankets! We added a backing of synthetic upholstry cloth on the exposed side. The curtains do a great job of keeping us warm (or cool) as well as providing occasional privacy.
They attach with velcro.
When not in use they store in a small zipped duffel bag up in the berth.
- Rene
 
Had the custom sunbrella on my 16' cruiser and loved them. Don't have anything but make shift now for my TomCat, and love their mult-purpose got em and had it all on the boat anyway flexibility... Got me a bag or two of those plastic "clamps" that look like the ends of jumper cables in about 2" size....and a bag full of multi-size.... Then, I have bought some nice big navy blue 100% cotton towels... use em everywhere during the day...then hang them via the clamps on the little square "runner" that goes around all the factory windown.... Want to hold one up somewhere....add another clamp. Finished and ready for the next day...put your towels away, toss the clamps in their bowl...or leave them clamped to the windows for a quick grab... And they are real stylish in Alabama....grin. Zero extra dollars spent on the curtains.... and Sherryl can not believe that...
 
Ron,

Our canvas curtains fold up into a rather tidy package, maybe 15" by 15" by an inch or so. Since they take up so little space they get stuck where ever the person who took them off felt like sticking them. I used a regular sewing maching and sewed black cloth "pipeing" ("Piping"?) around the edges of the trimmed to fit canvas and sewed a black cloth webbing material in one inch by one inch squares where the snaps mounted through the canvas. I am by no means qualified to sew anything worth wearing, as my only other sewing experience was in a Junior High Home Ec class, but the curtains turned out pretty good.

My one great idea in doing this was to use green thread on the starboard side curtains, this cuts down the time it takes to figure out which curtain goes on which side.

"Chivita" Dave
 
Great ideas here. I picked up fabric and snaps from JoAnne's Fabrics (the snaps can be used with a #8 1" stainless flathead screw -- but the shank will have to be cut off just a smidgeon) and screws from Home Depot. Time to dig out the sewing machine and get busy :wink:
 
When Nanci and I made the curtains, we wanted to be able to leave them in place, for a homier feel. We used the snap tape made by Recmar, (from WM), and made tracks to fit the CD. Very happy with the results.
P1010009.sized.jpg
 
I realize this is an older thread but I'm in the process of rigging my Tomcat with curtains.

It seems the options are velcro, snaps in place of some window screws, or a snap track system of some kind. Here's the snap track system from West Marine:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... SiteSearch

I need to decide between curtains that would stay up but pulled out of the way vs. those that are removed and stowed (such as would be the case with velcro or snaps). I think I'm leaning to a track system that would keep the curtains up - create a more comfortable feeling in the cabin. Of course for the front windows they would need to be velcro or snaps and removed.

In terms of the track system above, I know it's sold in 3' lengths. Can it be cut to desired lengths and "end capped" to look nice? I'm probably not going to spring for Sunbrella. They would be nice but I just don't prioritize the cost for curtains. I want something to keep the sun and curious eyes out and if I need to replace the fabric every few years that's OK.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Matt, if I ever get to it, I'm gonna just have covers made for each window that snap on the corners. I don't like the idea of the tracks and leaving them there all the time. I've got ones for the head already and one that covers up the bunk area forward. Replacing the corner window screws with the male canvas snaps seems the easiest way to go.

Charlie
 
Matt, you can see the tracks I made in the picture above. They are made of Azek plastic lumber, cheap and easy to work. Just takes several passes on a table saw. Caulked to the hull with hot melt glue in spots to hold it till the caulk sets. Don't forget the masking tape. There's a few more shots in my album.
 
Back
Top