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Decorating interior of boat

34K views 26 replies 19 participants last post by  Freesail99 
#1 ·
We are days from closing on our Leopard 45'. It's a production boat and has very little character. It had been used for chartering. I was looking on line for decorating ideas but am having difficulty finding books on interior decorating for boats. Any suggestions?
thanks
 
#2 ·
Congratulations.

Decorating a large catamaran is much like decorating a regular home, with a few caveats--since you have more "wall space" than would be available in a monohull or smaller boat.

Photos should not be framed under glass, but should have either plexiglass or polycarbonate glazing. Don't use "picture hooks" to hang them--velcro for the lighter, smaller objects, screws for the larger, heavier items.
 
#5 ·
Keep in mind that even on a catamaran, things can move. Cats don't like weight, so if you have bookshelves, for instance, consider shelves made of doweling (painted, patterned, whatever) over solid wood planking. You could have hooks and line instead of bungees to keep them stable. Things like glass stowage, coffee mugs, plates and cutlery have to be thought through. I would suggest that for a cat, a good place to get ideas would be in RV "lifestyle" magazines, because the range of motion and stowage solutions are similar in both "vehicles". I've seen some very clever things in RVs that are easily adaptable to boats, mono or multi.
 
#6 ·
Fortunately, things tend to move less on a multihull, than on a monohull... ;)
 
#7 ·
jdlinda,
One of the best methods of obtaining ideas for "decorating" your boat's interior, is by visiting as many boats as possible at the many boat shows scheduled year round.

Since the sales and marketing people at these shows are trying to show their models as best as possible - the interiors usually are professionally designed and customized with tasteful appointments. You should find many ideas which suit your tastes.
 
#8 ·
Isn't this thread in the wrong place ? What does this have to do with provisioning ?
 
#14 ·
This is provisioning for the soul. Making your vessel home like and livable. Then after all is spent on decorations, there is nothing left for the larder and that puts us on a weight reduction plan.:rolleyes:
 
#11 ·
Does that mean Cam is getting a multihull??? BTW, only catamarans are more like RVs... trimarans aren't RVs... ;)
 
#17 ·
I totally agree.....

Nothing worse than getting whacked in the ear with an errant pineapple!!!!

But, LOL, actually I was referring to provisions ..... um..... POST consumption :p
 
#18 ·
If you'd like...

If you would like, send me the plans of the boat with existing pictures and the rough idea what would you like to get. I'll try to design something for you with architectural ideas those you can apply to your boat's cabin...
 
#20 · (Edited)
When you buy a boat that needs refit (almost done) along w/ all the interior cushions missing and major cleaning you learn to decorate! Luckily I have lots of women friends who were happy to help pick out fabric colors (I hate the usual standard boat interior colors).

Valerie (good taste and great w/ colors) picked out a funky olivey?/beige floral print pattern w/ a dark purple 6" or so band that will be running down the middle of all the cushions, inside mast cover, the curtains and it goes well w/ the Yellow hull. She will also sew it all up for me! :)
 
#21 ·
Your boat is your home. Live in the boat a bit before making major changes and then make the changes that fullfill your needs! I love my all cotton covered cushions and my curtains are lined with insulated lining that provides privacy at the dock, but also keeps the heat out in the summer! I've found creative ways to come up with more storage (I live aboard in the summers and love my shoes!)Mesh bags you can purchase at the dive shop are great. They are sturdy, come in all sizes, and you can hang them. Find a way to have fresh flowers on the boat! Just like your home though, it needs to be safe. Have fun and enjoy.
 
#22 ·
We have a few "knick-knacks" on board. We hold them in place with bedding tape. It's great stuff. I don't see it in the West Marine Pirates 'r' Us catalog but you ought to be able to find it in any working marina with a ship's store. It comes in rolls in several widths - I have some in half inch and some one inch. Just cut off what you need and stick it down. Seems to hold on just about anything - gloss varnish, plastic laminate, metal. And when you want to move it - just peel it up - you can even reuse it. It's like a miracle. But wait... there's more - order now and you will receive at no extra charge...

Saltwater Suzi has a collection of lighthouses we've seen and I (being of the cruder nature) have a collection of mermaid statuettes. We hold them in place with bedding tape and it holds just fine. Even in rough seas.

You can have all the decorations you want as long as you can either keep them in place or store them safely when you're sailing. We are at anchor or at the dock probably 95% of the time. My guess is that that is close to the norm. So decorate away if it's your home.
 
#23 ·
Some great ideas here. You might also want to take a look at other listings on Yachtworld, etc. to see what other people have done on Leopard 45s. At a minimum it will help you rule things out. :rolleyes:

Congrats.
 
#25 ·
I do our own sewing for pillows, cushions, etc. on our boat and consequently we have a riot of color to make the interior cheerful. We love the color even though it's contrary to the sometimes dreary nautical motif of some of the more conservative boats. And best of all, I can change out our designs, color scheme and fabric choice at will without breaking the bank!
 
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