Window coverings?

[mrsadm]

I *know* this is a ladies' thing. The "Ship Shades" on our new (old) Catalina are in horrible shape and have to go. I have been unable to find any source of stock, off the shelf sailboat window curtains. Does anyone have a source for something like this?

If I have to go custom I can just sew them myself but I was hoping to just order some.

Thanks for any pointers.

[RAGTIMEDON]

My wife uses hand towels, with a small cup hook on each side of the ports to hold them up. Works well, easy and inexpensive to replace.

[FarCry]

Reynolds wrap, shiny side out. Keeps "them" from reading your thoughts. The guy in the slip next to me uses it. I may be embellishing a bit on the "thought blocking" capabilities.

[TrueBlue]

These people are just a few miles from us and do good quality, but very reasonably priced portlight coverings ( BTW, they're not called windows on boats )

Bristol Shades

[capttb]

In the past I've been happy with shades from
Odyssey Sail - Sailing For More Than 30 Years™
but call them, rumor is they may be gone. Pleated shades also available from Catalina Direct, but looks like True Blue's place does really nice work and is close to you.

[christyleigh]

Originally Posted by capttb

Pleated shades also available from Catalina Direct, but looks like True Blue's place does really nice work and is close to you.

The shades in TB's first 2 pictures are basically the same as what comes on the newer Catlinas. The difference being that they attach at the Top of the window, velcro strapped there when open, and hang down and velcroed below the (window)...... edit - alright Port for the Trivia Pursuitists .... when closed to little velcro patches. Waayy...Over priced though from Catalina I think.

[TrueBlue]

If you have the basic skills required to first measure the openings, make a cardboard template, trace and then cut out the shape on an inexpensive pleated blind from Home Depot ($8-$10), why not make your own?

Just remove the top box assembly, cords and toss in the trash. The plastic retainer clips and velcro are available wherever blinds are sold (sounds like an infomercial).

You could probably cover 3-4 portlights with just one 3 ft x 6 ft blind.

[christyleigh]

I did what TB describes for the portlight in the center of these 2 shots of my much modified C320 interior. The 2 large portlights have the standard Catalina shades. The small one in the center had none so I made teak tracks, attached a piece of teak on the bottom for a weight and also to secure it in the Up position -

[Mary51]

I've used curtains sold as "valances" from a curtain catalog. The po had shockcord fixed above the large portlights, and I hung them from the shock cord as if it were a curtain rod. You can get a variety of prints or colors, and they open like curtains (probably because they are curtains.)

Mary

[Valiente]

You could even use scored sheets of Coroplast

Coroplast - The Leading Manufacturer of Corrugated Plastic

to do this. Cheap as hell, but durable, takes a rivet or a grommet, and can be "pleated". Comes in all sorts of colours.