Window Privacy covers

If you're anxious to get out on the water, my "Bachelor Curtains" setup is quick and easy. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a great "sewer"? , I mean "One who sews...", so I just figured out a way to keep the window covers up and out of the way, but handy so you don't have to figure out which one goes where, etc, in a pinch.

Here is a link to Tom-a-Hawks 'curtains':

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php

John
 
I have never sewn before in my life. well, mabye a button or two.

I loved the way the curtains were on "Foggy Dew".

I copied their setup.

ordered the matching sunbrella material online...it was fairly cheap.
I think I ordered through http://www.sunbrellacentral.com/

I bought enough to cover all windows and the entire full length door..including making an exterior cover for the front windows and I paid under 100.00 for material and shipping. I also used the 3/4" binding for the edging.

Bought a cheap sewing machine from wm....and off I went.

Turned out pretty good.

Check out foggy dew's album here: http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
 
both wally mart (sewing dept.) and ace hdw. carry the brass snaps very inexpensively, with the tool to pound em together.
 
I got mine from King Marine Canvas - he had them "on the shelf" in the color I wanted and shipped them with enough Velcro to install them. I embroidered the logo on them.
Kinda pricey though
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Here in Florida and in the Bahamas it gets mighty hot and the velcro with the sticky back in the heat turns loose. It will not stay stuck to the inside gelcoat. For boats in the South I would recommend using the snaps.

My CDs name is CHARITY cause that is where all of my money goes.
 
They wanted almost $1000 for custom made sunbrella at King in Wash for my 255 Tomcat...and they never returned my e-mail!
so.....in the mean time 10 gunny sacks hung by plastic adhesive hooks...put NO holes in my boat and NO hole in my pocket!!!...... $20 total..they give it a rustic look...work fine...can be replaced and used as needed!!!

Dick
Orinda, CA
255 Tomcat "Shirley Mae"
 
We made our covers from a light weight fabric, snapped on to the frame, so when they are rolled up they take up very little room over the windows. So even though we can remove them we usually leave them in place. Strips of "stick to itself" Velcro hold the rolled-up curtains in place. There are pictures in our album under "interior".

Lori and Bob, on Grey C'Lune
 
Those are some great ideas! I think I'm leaning to the notion of fabric cut/hemmed to the size/shape of the window then fastened with snaps. I would add a few snaps to the existing window screws to avoid drilling or glue.

Thanks!
 
Ron & Matt,

Here's Sunbrella cut to fit with piping and reinforced corners. From Janet's canvas shop (sewing room). The snaps have a 1/2" screw and replace some window screws.
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We're just now in the process of having a camperback made, and the company is throwing in matching window covers as well. They're going to be attached by extra snaps and will roll up and down with upholstery tape tied at whatever height it's needed. I wanted to avoid velcro because we travel with dogs and velcro plus dog hair can equal a real mess. I'll post pictures when the project is done.

I decided not to have curtains made for the aft windows and the door, because the camperback will be back there. It's not too late ... can anyone present a good case for having them versus not having them?
 
Roscoe":3vjtkhdd said:
We're just now in the process of having a camperback made, and the company is throwing in matching window covers as well. They're going to be attached by extra snaps and will roll up and down with upholstery tape tied at whatever height it's needed. I wanted to avoid velcro because we travel with dogs and velcro plus dog hair can equal a real mess. I'll post pictures when the project is done.

I decided not to have curtains made for the aft windows and the door, because the camperback will be back there. It's not too late ... can anyone present a good case for having them versus not having them?
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There may be times when you will not have the camperback on (perhaps just the bimini top) and will want privacy in the cabin. Or, if you are at a dock and have another boat behind you, they will be able to see in through your aft window in the camperback. When trailering, we have the bimini strapped to the cabin, but our window covers are up to keep it cooler in the boat, and keep out any prying eyes. Also, when it's cold out, the window/door cover gives you one more layer of insulation. Our window covers go in anytime the boat isn't being used - protects the interior from UV.

That's 5 good cases, but I'll be other Brats come up with more. :wink:
 
In addition to Jim's reason's I've found that when anchored out at night or any where mosquitos or sand knats are a problem they are really attracted to the light from the interior of the boat. No matter how good your screens are they always seem to get in. With curtains all around blocking the light they aren't nearly as bad inside the cabin.
 
Lots of good cases. Thank you, Jim and Marvin. I called the canvas maker today and he's going to add those three window covers to the job.
 
Anyone have templates already for the CD22 or know of a good place to get something made out of Sunbrella/or similar for a good price. The local guy wants $600 for our little CD22 and I thought that was a bit spendy. I do like the curtain or snap idea and would like to do something very soon as we are going to be sleeping more now the weather has warmed and we have a bit more time to enjoy the boat. :smileo
 
Another thing to consider is getting individual interior covers for the forward-facing windows. The factory provides a useless cover that snaps over the outside of those windows, but why go out and hassle with that when you are ready to go to bed? Also, you shouldn't trailer with the factory cover in place because it will abrade the window glass.

Warren
 
bshillam":w8m6r7a4 said:
Anyone have templates already for the CD22 or know of a good place to get something made out of Sunbrella/or similar for a good price. The local guy wants $600 for our little CD22 and I thought that was a bit spendy. I do like the curtain or snap idea and would like to do something very soon as we are going to be sleeping more now the weather has warmed and we have a bit more time to enjoy the boat. :smileo
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If you don't have a local place to buy Sunbrella (and check that it is the marine grade Sunbrella, there are other fabrics they make), you can order it from places on the internet, like Sail Rite.

There would be nothing to making patterns for the windows - hold some craft paper up to the window, tape it in place, and cut or tape more paper until it fits. Cut out the fabric, sew on some black binding, and put the snaps on.

We paid about $600 for our window covers - a price that I thought was too much, but we were heading right out from the factory to cruise with our boat... no time to make covers (and we were 2600 miles from home). Joan has made other stuff from Sunbrella (cover for v-berth hatch, motor cover, round bag for the camperback sides, etc.), and she says a typical sewing machine can handle that. Putting in snaps is... well, a snap. You can buy the kit at West Marine (or Lowes or fabric/hobby shops).

HTH
 
We adapted the "factory" interior cover for both the CD 25 and Tom Cat to inside use. I agree that it might be better to have individual foreward covers.

Of all canvas work, the window covers are probably the easiest to make. Just cut the fabric with a hot knife (soldering iron with a flat blade will work. Sail Rite sells both the Sunbrella and edge binding. Most good machines will sew this material. But you want a larger needle and dacron thread for the binding. There are any number of good kits to put the snaps in place with. The one I own has dyes which fit on a pair of square jawed vise grips. I burn the holes with the tip of a soldering iron (pointed blade) and back the snap with a small piece of dacron sail cloth. (Sticky back material sail repair works well, and spreads out the load.
 
Can anyone suggest a shop that may already have the patterns for the Tomcat windows?

Thanks
 
I received my curtains from Kings Marine. I went to install them yesterday but soon realized the snap posts that came with them are too long. When I cinch down on the snap (over a test piece of canvas) the post material spreads out of course. This prevents the male end of the snap from fitting into the female end. Has anyone else had the same problem? Is it just a matter of getting snaps with shorter posts?

I will call Kings Marine today as well.

--Matt
 
Does anyone know a good source for the screws with snap heads that replace the window frame screws to snap curtains onto the window frames? Thanks!
 
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