Curtains for a C-Dory?

T

Tom Hruby

Member
I was unable to find any pictures of folks who have installed curtains in the 22.  Since we will be living in the cabin we definitely need some protection over the windows while we sleep and to keep the marina lights from shining in.  I tried some curtains but found they hang down away from the window because of the angle of the sides.  Also they tend to reduce the visual space in the cabin. 

What do folks do for curtains?

After a number of trials (and errors) I think I have come up with a solution that might work for me (I will post a photo in my album).  I cut a piece of 3/16 corrugated plastic to fit the window exactly and then glued fabric on the inside.  The panel fits into clips attached using the screws that hold the window together.  I glued 12mm circular magnets to the top frame, and then glued a strip of galvanized flashing to the panel.  The clips hold the panel up, and the magnet holds it to the window.  
For the curious: the fabric is a design by the Alaska artist Ray Troll.  I first learned about him through his T-shirts and really like most of his work (some of it can be really weird!).  I thought a pattern showing different kinds of plankton appropriate since I spent a good part of my life looking at these creatures through a microscope.
 
Tom Hruby":3l00salu said:
...  I cut a piece of 3/16 corrugated plastic to fit the window exactly and then glued fabric on the inside.  ...
Click to expand...

Problem with something corrugated plastic is you can't roll it up for storage when not in use. I have fabric curtains that are held in place by snaps. You can get snaps with screw bases which I used to replace some of the window frame screws.
 
My wife made window coverings out of Sunbrella. We attach them with snaps at the top and bottom. We got snaps from SailRite that basically replace a couple of the screws on the window. We used adhesive snaps on the top to hold a strap so we can roll up the curtains when not in use.

IMG_20200616_163725135.sized.jpg
 
The majority of C Dory owners just cut panels of sunbrella or have them made, with snaps on 4 corners, and the male mate on the window frame.
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Our last 25 had curtains laminated with light off white vinyl material on the outside, so the light transmission was diminished and the pattern does not fade.

There is a wood valance on the longer side windows, but just snap on for the windshield, and back door. The valance has 1/8" bungee cords to hold them in place when rolled up.


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rolled up above

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Curtain down, and Reflectix between the window and curtain

I also cut Refectix (mylar silver coated bubble insulating material), to reduce the heat transfer through the widows,
installed between the window glass and the curtain.
 
Tom, here is a link to the 22 I owned for about 10 years. The link will take you to the embedded album with my window coverings. They used a rv style track. I also have window coverings in my 25. Those use a curtain track system.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

On the 25, this material is sewed into the top of the curtains:


https://www.amazon.com/RV-Designer-...61403&sprefix=rv+curtain+track,aps,113&sr=8-7

I can't find the track, but it's just a piece that self sticks to the hull above the window. Then my wife made curtains out of sunbrella with pleats, just like home curtains. Colby
 
I wanted to contribute to this thread a couple months back, but temporarily lost the ability to post. Anyway, the window coverings that came with our C-Dory were made by Proctor Canvas near Duluth MN. They are a translucent fabric that, when placed, still allows light to enter the cabin, unlike Sunbrella. We think they are absolutely first rate in providing shade when needed without unnecessarily darkening the cabin. Proctor Canvas tells me that the product is called Aqualon Edge vinyl impregnated polyester and that the color is Coastal Ivory. They attach with snaps and no doubt Proctor Canvas can make up a set on order. Their phone is 218-628-2316.
 
clayhubler":1y9m9cbt said:
Colby,
I like your curtains for Midnight Flyer. Is this extruded aluminum or vinyl? Do you remember where you got these?
Thanks

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Click to expand...

The tracks are vinyl. A local guy that makes my covers, made these curtains for me. The tracks and the rope in the material, are RV items. They really worked out pretty well on my 22. What was really nice is how easily they would slide out if I wanted to completely remove them. Otherwise, to open them I rolled them up and then there was a velcro strap that held them up. My 25 has a different system, and open sort of like regular curtains do. Colby
 
Tom Hruby":nztfv7yx said:
I was unable to find any pictures of folks who have installed curtains in the 22.  Since we will be living in the cabin we definitely need some protection over the windows while we sleep and to keep the marina lights from shining in.  I tried some curtains but found they hang down away from the window because of the angle of the sides.  Also they tend to reduce the visual space in the cabin. 

What do folks do for curtains?

After a number of trials (and errors) I think I have come up with a solution that might work for me (I will post a photo in my album).  I cut a piece of 3/16 corrugated plastic to fit the window exactly and then glued fabric on the inside.  The panel fits into clips attached using the screws that hold the window together.  I glued 12mm circular magnets to the top frame, and then glued a strip of galvanized flashing to the panel.  The clips hold the panel up, and the magnet holds it to the window.  
For the curious: the fabric is a design by the Alaska artist Ray Troll.  I first learned about him through his T-shirts and really like most of his work (some of it can be really weird!).  I thought a pattern showing different kinds of plankton appropriate since I spent a good part of my life looking at these creatures through a microscope.
Click to expand...

That's a really clever solution! Thanks for sharing the details. I'm also struggling with finding the right window coverings for my 22. The corrugated plastic backing is a great idea. I'm curious, how well does the fabric block out light? And does the corrugated plastic provide any insulation? I look forward to seeing the picture in your album!
 
Ivan, To answer your questions:
1. I have one picture of the window covers in my album. I glued fabric (a Ray Troll print) onto 4mm corrugated blue plastic. It does let a little bit of light through but not enough to be a problem at marinas.
2. I found that in bright sunshine (usually tied up at a marina in the pm) the blue plastic heated the cabin too much. I then spray painted the plastic that faced the window with a white vinyl paint that reduces the heat.
3. The window frames has screws all around them so I attached two wire shelf holders to the bottom of each window.
4. I then glued 3/8 inch round magnets to the top of the window frame with double sided glue dots and glued 1/2 inch x 2 inch pieces of steel flashing onto the window covers. The panels sit in the shelf holders and are held up by the magnets.

We take the panels down during the day to make the cabin feel bigger than if we had curtains.
 
They covers look nice. What do you do with them when they are not on the windows. One thing about fabric curtains/covers is that they fold/roll up for storage.
 
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This is how we did our window curtains. I mounted aluminum slider tracks (sailrite.com) using the existing screws that hold the window frames.
My wife plated some Sunbrella canvas and sewed the slider ribbon snaps (comes in lengths) to the back of the curtains.

We love this set up, because it gives the inside a more cozy feel when the curtains are closed. Like a higher end Ranger Tug or larger motor yacht.
 
To answer the question from SSOBOL:

The window covers are stored in the Foc'sle. Together they form a block about 2.5 inches thick.
We decided that sleeping in the V-berth would be too much bending and scrunching for our old bodies, so we use it for storage. NMI was very accommodating and build a platform for us on the starboard side, instead of the sink and counter. They also added a 3/4 inch plywood under the glass rather than their honeycomb PVC to provide additional strength. They even did not charge us any extra for that change in the plans.

I then build a second berth on top of that. The helm seat is removable when the berth is set up. During the day it fits into four holes in the base of the berth. There are pictures of this in my album.

I sleep on the port berth with the table lowered. Since we had King Marine Canvas build us a "camper" canopy with "privacy" side, we do out cooking and food preparation in the cockpit on top of the box I build for our fridge.
 
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