On Satori, we are all about making life a easier onboard whenever possible. Here are 5 quick and easy DIY projects to that will save you time and money!
-
Under Bimini Cargo Net Storage
If there is something every boat could use more of, it’s storage. In particular, cockpit storage. There is nothing more inconvenient and unsafe than having to step over piles hats, shirts, towels and speedos when that squall comes barreling down and it’s time to reef… Quickly! Easily clear your cockpit with this simple cargo net hack.
Just measure the distance between some good attachment points on your bimini frame. Search Amazon for a cargo net (or multiple) that most closely match your measurements in the STRETCHED position. They are traditionally made for motorcycles and ATV’s, and can be used for any application. Just attach with the supplied hooks, or plastic zip-ties. It’s a great place to store lightweight items like cockpit pillows, cutoff jean shorts, or you favorite mesh tank top. Hang sunglasses out of the way or use a clothespin to hang your speedo to dry.
-
Reflective Hatch and Port Light Covers
The summer sun can make a boat cabin feel like the inside of a baked potato (minus the potato). A very unscientific study showed that 76% of the sun’s heat enters through the hatches and port lights. Covering these openings with reflective bubble insulation will greatly reduce this heat intrusion. Unfortunately, this will also make your salon look like the inside of the International Space Station. But with the help of some decorative contact paper, you can make it look more like the inside of your grandmother’s kitchen cabinets…OR, find a more modern design that goes well with your boats interior. You can find peal-and-stick contact paper at any home goods store like Target or Home Depot.
Simply cut the insulation so it fits nicely into the inside hatch or portlight frame. On Satori, built-in handholds running the length of the boat provide a perfect slot for the reflective panels. Then cover the inward facing side of the panel with the contact paper, leaving the reflective window side exposed.
-
Pot Racks Storage
There is something magical about hanging storage. Be just like David Blaine when you create storage space out of thin air won’t. Here’s a double hack for you!
– Hang a pot rack in the galley. Just add S-hooks and you’ll suddenly want to hang everything you own from it. Fit more items by looping a small piece of paracord in your pot or pan handles so they hang perpendicular. Space zip-ties along the rail to prevent everything from sliding while you’re sailing and healed over. Hang a tea pot, cutting board, silicon mats, utensils, and anything else you don’t mind having on public display. You’ll be amazed at the amount of cabinet space you’ll free up for beer storage.
– Hang the pot rack on a bulk head as the perfect closet accessory for the stiletto wearer on your vessel. Hook in your Gucci heals and add an S-hook to hang your Sperry Topsiders. Accompany it with a swing arm hanger rack, and you’ve just open the door for the woman in your boat to bring WAY too much stuff!
-
3M Command Strips
Ever want to hang a picture inside your boat, but didn’t want to turn your bulk head into swiss cheese for the sake of a few sweet Glamour Shots from high school. Consider using 3M Command strips. Traditionally, the command strips are used in conjunction with a 3M Command brand hook or fixture. The strips can also be used for foreign items as well, though 3M may not endorse this idea. I have successfully mounted multiple battery powered LED puck lights to the head liner… in the head, a full length mirror to the back of a door, and an Apple TV to the bulk head behind the TV. Just make sure you adhere the Command strips to a clean, smooth surface, not unlike the airbrushed complexion of your senior photos. Rough surfaces do not hold as well.
-
Secret TV Mount
Boats are tight on space, often leaving no room for the most important piece of equipment onboard… the TV! If your headliner can handle the load, consider installing an under cabinet TV mount. These mounts will fold up flat against the ceiling when not in use. Otherwise, reinforce the mounting location by running a piece of teak or finished hardwood to a more secure mounting point. On Satori, we use one over the bed (aka theater room)