Aboard Barefoot Gal, we use shock cord for a number of different things. Most of our recent projects are pretty self-explanatory, so here’s a photo tour.
Retaining storage containers on shelves:
Here’s how we attached the shock cord to the wood (read how we make shock cord loops here):
Then I added a paper towel holder (note hooks for trash and recycling bags under the bottom shelf):
Retaining straps on book shelves (despite being on a catamaran, things will fall — particularly with the wakes of passing boats):
And space saving towel racks:
On our previous boat, Que Tal, we also made lots of shock cord retainer straps for storage bins, both inside large lockers and in a couple of places where they sat on shelves or the floor.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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LaDonna Thomas says
You don’t use lock & lock anymore?
The Boat Galley says
I do for most of my stuff (and prefer them!) . . . but this shelf was already built in the boat and the lock and lock were just a tiny bit too big to fit in the lip 🙁 I found these Rubbermaid ones — they don’t have the positive locks but they do snap into each other, which works well when I stack them.
LaDonna Thomas says
Thought you found something you liked better. So glad to see Barefoot Gal is behaving better these days
Jackie Bartz- dirt-dweller now, but we still own sv Lively Lady says
We used shock cord to store our shoes! We ran a line of it on the “wall” under the settee at the dining table- about 5-6″ above the floor. We used strap eyes to accommodate the curve as it ran along. We would then “stand” our shoes up with the soles to the “wall”. They were held well, were out of the way and pretty much unseen. I’m sorry that I haven’t got a picture, but I think you get the idea.