How to Make Enclosure Side Curtains

X-HT-200661

To accompany the new powerboat bimini we made in our "How to Make a Replacement Powerboat Bimini" video (#200660XHT), we're going to outline how to make a full boat enclosure, piece by piece. Full enclosures around your cockpit can make your boat feel secure in inclement weather or when you're away. Today we're going to take a closer look at how to create the enclosure side curtains.
Video Chapters:
  • Installing Zippers to Bimini Top – 0:38 min.
  • Making Pattern – 4:55 min.
  • Patterning Clear Window Material – 14:36 min.
  • Making Inside Facing Strips – 17:26 min.
  • Making Outside Facing Strips – 21:56 min.
  • Sewing Binding – 29:23 min.
  • Sewing Zipper Along Top – 32:26 min.
  • Installing Zipper for Front Curtain – 35:35 min.
  • Installing Snaps – 38:09 min.
  • Materials List – 42:16 min.
Materials List:
  • YKK® #10 Black Separating Molded Tooth Zipper (Delrin® Double Pull Slider) – #104843
  • Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery – #104167
  • Dura-Skrim® Patterning Material #103134
  • O'Sea® Polished 30 Gauge Vinyl Window Material 54 x 110 Clear – #103734
  • Marine Grade Fabric – we used Sunbrella® Tresco Birch 46" Fabric, #4696-0000
  • Acrylic Bias Binding – we used Sunbrella® Acrylic Bias Binding Tape Cocoa, #103018
  • Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas – #129
  • PremoBond® Tex 90 (V-92) White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. – #123337
  • Polyester White Loop – #105033
  • DOT® Snap Fastener Hard Action Socket (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #333058
  • SnapRite® Snap Fastener Button 1/4" (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #104154
Tools List:
  • Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White – #102766
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine – #311502
  • Sailrite® Edge Hotknife Package – #103800
  • Grease Marking Pencil Yellow – #111002
  • Sailrite® 1" Swing-Away Binder – #100103
  • Sailrite® SnapRite® System (4 Dies & 100 Mandrels) – #104237 
  • Pres-N-Snap Installation Tool – #109011
  • Spring Clamp – #50211
  • Straightedge, Scissors, Marker
How to Make Enclosure Side Curtains Video 2

The configuration and setup of an enclosure is going to be different for every type of boat. Sometimes it takes a bit of creativity to figure out the best way to get all your enclosure pieces attached. Careful patterning and consideration of what you want and how you use your boat will help you to get the best configuration. We’re demonstrating on a powerboat, but the principles can be applied for a sailboat, too. For our Maxum 2900 SCR powerboat, the side curtains will attach to the bimini at the top and snap directly to the boat at the aft and bottom edges. The front edge of the side panels will attach to the front curtain, which we made in a later step (#200663XHT).

If you have a canvas bimini top, the first step for creating your side panels is to add a zipper to your bimini top fabric. If you have a hard top, you’ll want to use awning track and rope or fasteners to attach your side panels. You can learn how to install awning track in our aft curtain video (#200667XHT).

How to Make Enclosure Side Curtains Video 3
View of old side curtain.

After you have made a careful pattern, you can transfer your pattern to your clear vinyl. For this project we used a 30 Gauge O’Sea® vinyl. We chose O’Sea because it is UV, scratch, and chemical resistant and has excellent clarity. When sewing with your clear vinyl, you’ll want to be careful not to scratch it. We have some great tips for this in our "How to Protect Clear Vinyl During Fabrication" post (#300024XHT).

In this video, you will learn how to install zippers in your bimini top, pattern for side curtains, add facing strips, sew binding, install zippers, and install the curtains on your boat.