Ways of Hanging Fabric

If you need to hang fabric, and to then take it down again such as is the case for sales or other parts of a boat, then you will need to come up with an attachment method that is able to take the weight of the fabric, but which also allows for you to quickly attach and release it. Using the correct method here is crucial and it will have a big impact on just how securely your fabric hangs, and just how well you can easily attach and detach it. It's also important to ensure that you get the correct attachment method in order to ensure the protection of the material itself. Choosing the wrong type of attachment can mean that the attachment is stronger than the fabric itself and this will increase the chances of it tearing. There are many other situations on a boat in particular where you need to hang fabric and this might be the case on cargo netting, on curtains, on upholstery fabric or even on marine covers.

One such option is to use grommets. Grommets are a highly useful method for hanging fabric that are used throughout the home too – and particularly you will have encountered them on your curtains (where they are known as curtain grommets). Grommets essentially are small loops that can be set into your fabric so that it can be hung by feeding a pole or a pipe through it. This then allows the fabric to be fed onto a rail and if you seal the end this will have very low chance of coming off accidentally – only by forcibly removing it on purpose would you be able to get it loose.

Grommets can be set into almost any fabric using a grommet setter which punches the holes and the loops into the material. Do note however that this will potentially damage the material and you will not be able to undo the change. At the same time you need to be aware that it does not provide a very tight seal and leaves gaps – so it's not particularly appropriate for say upholstery fabric.

Here another option is to use velcro or hook and loop. This has the advantage of being very easy to attach – by simply press them together. At the same time it is easy to detach and can be pulled off. However it will also be less durable and more likely to come loose of its own accord.

Another option is to use marine zippers. These allow you again to quickly open and close your fastener to separate the two materials. At the same time it allows you to choose to attach only half and to leave a gap, or to close the whole thing. Zippers offer a tighter seal than either velcro or grommets, but they are also quite prone to getting jammed. Marine zippers should be protected against rust however at least.

There are many other options available too, such as marine snaps which allow you to snap attachments into place with light pressure. Taking the time to select the correct one when setting up your boat can make a big difference to your subsequent experience.

Using the right attachment methods will make a big difference to your boat. Follow the links for grommets or marine zippers.