Curtains

[John Galt]

I've got 7 ports on my boat. I bought 7 small curtain rods that came with the little holders which fit in the ends. Pre-drill the holes and screw them in. Then on to the dollar store. 14 kitchen hand towels folded in half, and draped (sorry) over the top of the rods. Even out the lengths, no sewing, no hassle. A good dollar store has lots of colors and patterns to choose from. Cotton? I throw them in the laundry every third wash or so. and they stay clean and new

[Hudson Force]

There is a plastic mesh that is sold in craft stores as a needlepoint "canvas". This material, sold for less than a dollar/square foot, can be cut to match the inside of a portlight frame. We find them firm enough to hold their position when we bend them slightly to fit in our ports. They are often found in a variety of colors. Simple, cheap, plastic, easy to clean......my kind of stuff!

[Pelagic]

The previous owners did a wonderful job with the window treatments and I would replace them exactly the same way they did.


The port hole curtains:

• Hung on an aluminum track, powder coated to match the teak, with plastic roller slides.
• The hem at the bottom has lead shot sewn in, so that it hangs and slides evenly and easily.
• They are lined so as to darken the sleeping areas to a nice glow and the warm pattern matches the bedspread or seat covers to provide a pleasant ambiance inside.
• When sailing, they all have button snap retainers to keep them withdrawn and held in place.

For the large Pilothouse windows:

• They installed custom fitted pleated window blinds that slide up twine tension guides to magnetic catches on top.
• They batons can be opened to any position and compress to a small profile when not in use.

I personally don’t like external window covers for a few reasons:

• The fasteners usually become a corrosion issue with the paint or steel house
• They get dirty and salted up, so have limited lifespan when the UV reacts with the dirt.
• Most importantly, they are either “on or off” so you are committed to going outside to alter if your situation desires more privacy or visibility.

[NatKat]

This is the most complex advice I have ever seen on curtains in my life!
Curtains are rectangular pieces of fabric.
For a boat, sew 2" hem on top & bottom so you can run a curtain rod through both. Our boat has rows of windows in the cabin similar to most boats.
Previous owner hung 1 curtain rod above the windows and 1 below.
Owners wife sewed the curtains (see above). They stay on the rods, don't flop around, open & close without a bunch of drama or extra parts, and you can take them off & wash them if they get funky.
This is an easy sewing project for beginning sewer (perfect first project on a borrowed sewing machine) and piece of cake for intermediate / advanced sewer (i.e. CHEAP if you have to hire or barter it done)

Good luck & happy sewing.

[ggray]

I fitted covers as per Drew on the main cabin "glass"of our last cat as well as the current boat.
However for lower ports or fixed lights I have fitted interior curtains similar to NatCat, except rather than rods to secure, I stretched shock cord between small knobs, or you could use hooks.

[alicebarrie]

are you there, is your boat had a window curtains?

[thomm225]

Have you considered shades?

I replaced the PO's old curtains with shades on my boat. I think they cost $200.00

Four screws and four holes is all that's required for the smaller windows.

They snap to secure on the bottom, and can be raised and strapped off at the top

[jeff356]

We have Oceanair pleated shades on side windows and lewmar hatches which I love but the small fabric straps to keep them up are dry rotting and I need to remake more with the correct snap.
Also keep sunbrella covers on hatches and 2 skylights to keep boat cooler and for privacy.
All seem to work well and look good.

Jeff

[TheOffice]

On my last boat I found kitchen valances with a nautical pattern.
Shock cord works in place of a curtain rod.