Using the décor for storage
Issue 77 : Mar/Apr 2011
When we became the proud owners of our 34-foot Creekmore, we were impressed by her storage space. But when five of us moved our “essentials” aboard, the space quickly shrank. While I chastised the boys for bringing too many toys and Dave for his lockers full of tools, I discovered that I, too, had overestimated Eurisko’s capacity. I was left with 10 sarongs and skirts that would not fit in my clothes locker. After questioning why I even owned 10 sarongs and skirts, Dave jokingly gave me the same solution we had been telling the boys, “Guess you’re going to have to sleep with them.”
I glanced at the throw pillows that came with the boat. I had planned to throw them away. The stuffing was mildewed, but the shells were salvageable. I smiled, thanked Dave for the suggestion, then got to work.
I cut along one seam of each pillow, removed the stuffing, washed the shell, and sewed Velcro on the inside of each cut edge. Next, I folded the clothes to the width of the pillow and rolled them to fill the shell. I closed the edge with the Velcro strips.
After a few years, we replaced the aging pillow shells with covers designed to go over throw pillows. They have a flap on the back, eliminating the need for Velcro. I have learned not to store anything with zippers or buttons in the pillows because we do lean on them. These clothes-storage pillows may seem uncharacteristically heavy, but they are comfortable and look good. Best of all, I don’t have to sleep with my sarongs and skirts.
Connie McBride , her husband, Dave, and their three sons have been living aboard their 34-foot Creekmore, Eurisko, for 10 years. Now that two of the boys are in college, Connie has time to post news and views on cruising on her website www.simplysailingonline.com.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
