R21 EC Pilot House Privacy Question

[Razsmom]

My husband and I recently acquired a 2015 R21 EC. We have the canvas that wraps around the outside of the forward windows of the pilot house. Of course, there are the curtains for the windows to port and starboard, but what do you do about the aft windows and door for privacy? There are snaps already in place above the aft windows and door, so I don’t know if the previous owner had these installed or if they were standard for this model boat. If done at the factory, is it possible to buy a curtain already fabricated for this purpose, or do I need to design and make one myself? Or, does anyone have a more simple modification that could be taken into consideration? Thank you in advance!

 

[Pilotnavigator]

The factory delivers front and rear privacy screens. Option was for phifertex or sumbrella, one can allow some visibility. We got the front ones and the inside ones with our boat. Previous owner must not have passed them on to you. You can easily sew up some curtain material and add snaps to cover the rear. We cruise with a full cockpit cover so we never use our rear curtain on the inside.

 

[Razsmom]

I thank you for taking the time to answer my question. Unless someone would be willing to sell me their unused one, I'll look into having one made. We are in the middle of renovations, so it would be difficult for me to sew one up right now.

 

[johnniethek]

One of the things I did with my R-21 EC was have the forward snap fittings mounted inside the cabin instead of outside. That way if it's windy or rainy, you don't need to get outside to attach the front privacy screens. Much, much easier than having to scramble outside to mount the screens.

 

[Razsmom]

Thanks for the tip! I like the idea of having all privacy screens inside the pilot house. 😎

 

[Pilotnavigator]

For cruising, not so applicable for those who spend most nights at a dock, we selected the phiphertex, spellings isssue, so that we would get some shade on the cabin but be able to see what is going on around us in an anchorage. I have an awning made that rolls up on the eyebrow when travelling and extends to the forward rail with bungee cords. This provides shade and some more privacy. Then needed some shade in the cabin when the sun sneaks in front windows. I made a shade panel from sunbrella that snaps inside and covers just one of the windows on the front, we move it as needed depending on which side the sun is on. The rear cabin windows are not covered but with the full cockpit enclosure none is needed.
Anyway that is what we do for our 21ec when cruising.

 

[OmbakPutih]

One of the things I did with my R-21 EC was have the forward snap fittings mounted inside the cabin instead of outside. That way if it's windy or rainy, you don't need to get outside to attach the front privacy screens. Much, much easier than having to scramble outside to mount the screens.

Would you mind explaining how you actually went about fixing those inside snaps to the fibreglass, securely enough to withstand daily use? Epoxy? Screws?
Thx. Jack

 

[johnniethek]

I asked the guys at Ranger Tugs if they would do it, and they did. I live 25 miles from headquarters, and know many of the staff there well.

But the work, which was part of a larger work order, was ten years ago. Personal contact seemed to matter more back then.

And, by the way, the screws were attached to some wood, some fiberglass along the top of the cabin.

I had my R-21 EC, for 11 years. Loved her lots, and had some unbelievable fishing/crabbing experiences aboard her.
JtheK

 

[lproulx]

We did a more simple minded solution that seems to work for us. Rather than doing the snap thing, which requires really good alignment between the male and female snaps, we put some of those do it yourself brass grommets in the sunbrella and put small cup hooks in the wood above the windshield. They just screw into the wood just fine. An alternative would be to put button holes in the fabric.

 

[pete s]

For the bow cabin curtain, I just screwed (short length ) male snaps at the top of the inside of each window pillar, took the "outside" windshield canvas cover that comes with the boat, and used a readily available and easily usable "Canvas Snap Kit" ( such as :
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/seafit-- ... ecordNum=2)
with included pliers to put matching female snaps on the canvas... Boom Done !! in about 30 minutes !!!!
This way, one canvas acts as either an inside privacy curtain OR an exterior protective curtain for the windshield !!
Pete