After getting the heating system on the boat working with the help of a professional, my attention has turned to minimizing heat loss. The front door of a sailboat is the companionway – a complicated entryway that is designed to keep water out of the boat in rough weather. Unfortunately, it’s not really designed with cold weather and energy efficiency in mind. What’s needed is a insulated curtain to create a small entry foyer to keep the heated air inside and cold air outside when the companionway is open. So, I pulled out the sewing machine and got busy! See the photo sequence below.
Front door Improvements
Making the curtain was relatively straightforward and it seems to do the trick. I left the edges un-hemmed – for now – in case I want to add a lining to the curtain to increase the insulation. For now I’ll use it and see what’s needed as the weather gets colder.
Location: Onboard Sérénité, Annapolis, Maryland, United States, North America
Altitude: 0.50 m