1988 415 Aft MY, salon curtains or pattern

[joe and ali]

HI. The curtains in my boat's salon are, well, very ugly! I also have a white mini blind, which does serve a purpose, but I'd at least like to change the curtain "panels" -- and the front port/starboard angle of the front of the windows. You know, that tricky to cover triangle shape. The folks who owned the boat prior had new curtains made, but that front triangle section is toooo big and bulky and not a nice neat fit. They did a bad job. So bad that I can not even use the front section as a pattern. Arg! I would make them myself if I had a pattern. Or, if I had a part number I would TRY to order a pair. Or, if I had an old set that were the correct size, I could use as a pattern.....

Well, you get the picture. I think the salon curtains can really make or break the look of the boats interior. It is the one thing that I can not find online to buy.
Any suggestions or advice??
Thanks!

 

[rondds]

Joe:
If your boat's interior fabrics were designed like mine, you have the pinch pleated curtains that are fixed at the top and bottom. I thought it'd be an easy job to replace them but it is NOT! I commissioned my mom, who is not a seamstress by trade but who has made many a curtain, bedspread and dress (even some of my wee lad clothes back in the day). I gave her the old curtains and she pulled all the pleats and seams open and used them as a pattern. I can give you more details if you like but suffice it to say that it is extremely labor intensive. If you've got the coin you can try a custom interior place but I'd bet it'd run well into 4 digits for the panels.

I seriously doubt that you'll ever find a pattern for these things online or anywhere for that matter. From your sig pic it looks like they are a neutral color (?). Mine were horrible swirley teal and grey and pastels and HAD to go.

 

[joe and ali]

Yes, the origional were very teal and peach (gag!), that was what was on them when we looked at the boat. When we finally decided to buy the boat, they had changed the curtains to a tan. Fine, boring but better than the ugly colored things. Problem, too big. I have the same design as you stated. My wife sews, not a seamstress, but might handle this except that the front triangle panel is way too big. Whomever made the new set did bad. And I do not have the origional ugly teal/peach to use as a pattern. I'm not sure if the measuring thing will not be a nightmare or if she'll have a nervous breakdown.
and, no i do not want to spend a fortune. Thats why i thought a pattern??
oh well. thanks for the input, sympathy. ha.

 

[rondds]

The triangle presented the most difficult part for my Mom. She messed that up a BIT only on the port side - it's not really noticable. When you say they are to BIG, do you mean in height or in length (bow to stern)?

 

[joe and ali]

Actually they are big in height and bow to stern [length]. The snaps are a disaster too! She's gonna try to redo. The panels are fine as they basically keep the blinds in place. It will be a project where she'll need to bring the sewing machine aboard. A good early season job. I think the trick is how to measure keeping in mind the pinch pleat. I was even thinking of a solid piece of something covered in the fabric. The window is always covered anyway, so it might be a neat option.

 

[rondds]

EEESH! Good luck with it! Take some pix if you get a chance
RON

 

[joe and ali]

Hi there from Ali. Just an update on the curtain situation. Well, I made new curtains this past month. Joe and i went up to the boat and did some measuring. Actually, if it wasn't for Joe measuring those front/bow/angled windows that are like deformed isoslese triangles, I wouldn't have done it! So, thanks Joe for buying the poster board and making the templates.
From home/land, the finished product looks good... we have yet to get back up to try them out. Weather and time permitting, that should be soon. I made panels too that will do the job of holding the mini-blinds in place.
We've been up one time (when we measured) and brought back with us the carpets from the flybridge and cockpit. We had taken them home to clean and possibly replace at least one--the bridge was sooooo faded, an origional carpet, with the rubber backing still in great shape, but it being burgandy in color, was more white and pink in the center from years of sun. I bought some Rit Dye a few weeks ago and gave it to Joe to try. I've only ever used the stuff to tye-dye T-shirts, so the only thing I knew was to use hot water and rinse well after drying. Rinse very well!!
Well, Joe did a fantastic job! The carpet came up looking nearly new and the color was back! When we went up to measure and clean, we brought the rugs with us. I was off the boat (probably walking the dog), when Joe put the rugs down. When I came back, holy cow! The first thing I said was, "people are gonna think we're rich!" thats the crack up! haha. But really, the rugs looked so great!! Talk about a cheap fix (and some labor).... now, I just hope the new curtains fit.
So, when we get up again, I'll snap a few pics and post. Till then, I'm praying for sunshine. This global warming is freezing me out!

 

[joe and ali]

Hello all, {you too dave!}~
Okay, made the curtains at home, brought them up this past weekend. The triangles were tricky, had to do some adjusting, etc., did 2 panels on each side to hold the blinds and added little fabric strips to the miniblinds in the bow/ceiling area to add a little pop. May do something like that on the sides too next time we're up since i've got extra fabric. They are not perfect, but they look a heck of a lot better than those UGLY tan things! LOL
I was hoping the attachments would be a little more close up, but what can ya do?
Really, I am happy that they are done!! Stess over!

 

[rondds]

Looks good! Were the mini blinds there when you bought the boat or did you add them (to the forward windows, I mean)?

 

[joe and ali]

Yes, all of the mini blinds were there~ forward windows included, but they are a bit dated, so adding the fabric topper helped to dress them up. I used double sided tape on those and it works great! Sticks to the top valance of the blind really well. Thats what I'm going to do on the sides, inbetween the panels next time I go up. Easy-schmmeezy. ha. Hey, thanks for looking.
p.s. on the outside of the bow windows [triangles] is a sheer white with a white stripe, so that looks good too!