South Coast Sailboats
Curtains for side windows and front bunk
One of the basic additions that was made early on was to add
curtains to the sailboat. When sleeping on the "Kickback",
if you don't want to rise with the sun, you need darkness in the
cabin.
This was an easy project to implement. I was looking for three
sets of curtains, one pair to split in the middle for each side
window, and another pair to cover the entire front berth area.
The side window curtains should be dark material (in my case dark
blue), preferably doubled up for added light blocking. The purposes
of the curtains amid ship were two fold, first it would give some
privacy to someone sleeping up in the bow when sailing, or at
anchor. It is also a great way to hide from view all the gear
that just gets tossed up into the nose of the boat on occasion.
Additionally, on the "Kickback" our head is located
in the starboard storage locker under the front berth. This gives
someone a little privacy when using the head (you gotta think
about the women aboard in order to keep the crew happy).
While a friend cutup and sewed the curtains, I installed plastic
tracks above the windows and across the cabin roof from side to
side amid ship. After the curtains were assembled, I then had
to sew on the little plastic pieces that fit into the slots of
the curtain track. Once the curtains were fitted with the slugs,
I just slide the slugs into the tracks, and then installed a nut
and screw to keep the slugs from sliding out of the tracks.
There was one other addition to the curtains that was made
at a later date. This was to install Velcro strips to the middle
joint in each of the curtain pairs, and another to join the side
curtains to the front curtain. This helps keep the curtains in
place when closed and also eliminates more light, by closing up
the gap between the curtains when pulled closed.
Just a construction note: Tracks and slugs should be made
of plastic. Attaching screws and track screws and nuts should
be made of stainless steel. This prevents condensation from rusting
your hardware and staining the curtains after being installed.