Tag Archives: Velcro

Cover the Cables

The Captain is upgrading our electrical shore power cables. Considering the small investment in the cables (although the value of any fire safety improvement is unquestioned), we want to cover the cables to reduce the potential detrimental impact of sun, weather and dirt on the cables.  So another Sunbrella cover. First a bit about the cables…We bought the SmartPlug cables at Defender during their annual warehouse sale in April. These cables are supposed to be safer because they have 20 times more cross-section connector area than traditional marine power plugs which were designed in the 1930s.  The design should reduce the chance of overheating and fire. The plug connector allows an easier snap-in connection rather than the older threaded Read more [...]

Screen Out the Bugs II – Companionway Screen

In attempt to continue the war against flies, I made a companionway screen to use in conjunction with the plastic mesh inserts I'm using in the portlights and hatches which I wrote about in a recent blog about hatch screens. The mesh may not be small enough for no-seeums, but I am using a bug spray on the screens to address the smaller nuisances. I found black screening at the local marine consignment store and bought 2" black binding from Sailrite.  With a batch of measurements, I came up with the screen size.  This screen attaches to our existing navy blue companionway cover with Velcro.  When I remake the companionway cover, I'd incorporate the screen and better coordinate the color scheme with a more neutral color.         To Read more [...]

Sport-A-Seat Covers–Part II

You’ll recall a recent post on my Sport-A-Seat cover project.  About the same time our friend, Prue Preston on Exuberant, was planning to do the same project.  We each had different approaches so we thought we'd see what worked best from each attempt.  Prue did an excellent job and gets high marks for fit and finish.  She admits to some cursing and seam ripping but don’t we all! Prue selected this lively stripe from several very nice Sunbrella swatches to go with their recently redone cockpit cushions and the boat’s color scheme.  They have a very pleasant Hylas cockpit used, besides the obvious passage-making, for happy hours and late morning Christmas mimosas (in champagne flutes no less). She did a great lay out to maximize Read more [...]