There was a little too much time on the hard for Double Dutch before its new owners started the restoration.

We purchased Double Dutch, a 1982 Catalina 30, in October 2001. She was a pitiful site, after having sat on the hard at a marina in Fernandina Beach, Florida for over two years. The first time I saw her, I told my husband, “Let’s go home, I don’t want this piece of junk.” Thank heavens, Scott had more insight into what Dutch could be at that time than I did.

We stayed a couple of hours and went back home and I had a few weeks to mull it over in my mind. When the owner called and told us we could have her for the price we had originally offered him, we were floored, but we grabbed her immediately, even though we had not yet sold our Catalina 27.

So we bought her, moved her to Panama City, Florida and began the “restoration”. Her canvas was in fair shape. Nothing to write home about. She did have newer interior cushions than the original 1982 Catalina plaid. The previous owner had changed all the canvas on the outside to Hemlock Tweed Sunbrella (a dark green with a black thread in it), and they had the interior cushions covered to match. Not bad, as dark green is my favorite color.

But the bimini and sail cover were both well worn. I did a lot of patchwork on the sail cover from the very beginning. We eventually had a new bimini and zip-off windshield made by a local canvas maker. That was not cheap and got me to thinking that I could have made that myself and saved about $500 in labor alone!

A tent like this one works well in both tropical deluges and piercing sun.

We got a new main sail in September 2003, and the sailmaker made a great sail cover for only $190, and we felt we got a great deal on that. But for smaller things like cabin top hatch opening covers and companionway hatch cover, the quotes were exorbitant. So I decided that I could make those kinds of things myself.

I began watching Ebay for good deals on the Sunbrella and over four years ended up purchasing at least four different lots of Hemlock Tweed. First, I made covers for the cabin top hatches. They were not that difficult. Our hatches could not be drilled into for snaps without cracking the frame or the Plexiglas, so I decided to use thin shock cord elastic in them instead. Easy…Just carefully measure the size of the hatch, add 3-4 inches to that and use a hot knife to cut the Sunbrella. Then, sew your pockets on all four sides just like you would be hemming a curtain. Leave an opening so that you can insert your cord elastic. Once it’s all in, secure it well with your sewing machine, and sew up the opening. Voila! Hatch covers that will slip over the hatch and will stay on while your hatch is open!

I made the companionway hatch cover not only to protect the teak hatch boards, but to help keep the water out of the boat in blowing rains. The older Catalinas have a sloped companionway which is extra wide at the top. Everyone that I know who has these Catalinas complain that the boards always leak. This cover keeps the rain out, and we can also use it when we are on the boat at the dock for privacy. It also helps to keep the air conditioning and heat inside the boat without having to put the boards in and out each time we come and go.

Next, I decided that we needed a really nice binnacle cover. I looked around at the fancy ones made by the local canvas makers and priced them. Whew! No way. I took careful measurements, went home and ordered the zippers from Sailrite.com. I worked on it one week and the next time we went to the boat, I took it to test fit. Oops….some more adjustments needed to be made. I took it back and this time we took the sewing machine with us. Because, YEP, it needed more adjustments!

But the bimini and sail cover were both well worn. I did a lot of patchwork on the sail cover from the very beginning. We eventually had a new bimini and zip-off windshield made by a local canvas maker. That was not cheap and got me to thinking that I could have made that myself and saved about $500 in labor alone!

Voila! The binnacle cover in action. The only problem with new canvas is that it looks so good you can’t stand to live with the old stuff and end up replacing it.

Every binnacle is made differently, so measure yours carefully. I was so happy with the way that made the cockpit look that I decided the old blue Sunbrella cockpit cushions were really detracting from all the beautiful Hemlock Tweed colored canvas. SoI went back to Ebay and found more of the Hemlock Tweed. I bought enough to re-cover all three cushions for the Catalina 30 cockpit. I then ordered new zippers from Sailrite.com because the zippers in the cushion covers were all broken and rusted closed. Once I got into the cushions, I realized that the foam was pretty well worn out also. Scott and I then made a trip to Jo-Ann’s Fabrics in Tallahassee to obtain new high density foam. This project cost me more than I anticipated, but it was still cheaper than having a canvas maker make them for us. The old covers make great patterns, so don’t toss them until you have cut your new fabric.

One weekend while anchoring out, it rained and we had to shut all the hatches. That made me realize that one of those cute “tent thingies” I had seen on Catalinaowners.com would be great for the front hatch and also over the companionway hatch. I knew I had some left over awning material, lighter weight than Sunbrella, so I decided to try it. I measured how big I wanted it, so that I could interchange it from the front hatch to the companionway hatch. I then cut four triangles, and sewed them together, putting a stainless steel D-Ring at each of the four corners and at the top of the “tent.” Now, we can get air into the boat if it rains while we are at anchor. The best part—it only cost me about $5.00 to make it.

Just recently Scott and I tackled our last canvas project. We decided that the expensive zip-off windshield the canvas maker had done for us, really needed to be protected more from the hot Florida sun. So we made covers for the plastic, and put the twist lock fasteners on to hold it better.

We have found that these type stand up better than the snap fasteners. Most of these items were sewn on my 1976 Singer Zig Zag home sewing machine. You just have to sew slowly, use the right size thread and needles. Sailrite.com has wonderful help tips on sewing canvas. I finally broke down and bought an industrial type machine with the “dog feet” and find that I still use my old Singer about half the time for my boat projects! The bottom line is that you are only limited by your imagination on what you can make for your boat!

Got a Project or Adventure you’d like to Share? E-mail us at cboyle@sailjazz.com

Suggested Reading:

Deep Pockets--A Simple Sewing Project by Don Casey www.sailjazz.com/editorial/read/122
Home Sewn--Doing Your Own Canvaswork Saves Big Bucks by Don Casey www.sailjazz.com/editorial/read/85