Are your charging cords out of control? I know mine are — two phones, a camera, laptop, tablet, and the MP3 player (charging and connection to the stereo). Oh, and the printer power cord, too.
We added more charging ports over the nav station, but my cord “solution” was a total failure. They’re always in knots and I can’t find the one I need.
Reader Jane Head, aboard Ibis and currently in the Exumas (Bahamas), sent me this great idea using Velcro.
Said Jane:
My husband could never find the phone charger cords, the adapter for the camera battery charger, the power cord for the tablet etc. and the nav desk frequently looked like a bowl of spaghetti.
I glued a 2” wide, sticky-backed strip of heavy duty Velcro (actually I ended up using two strips because we had so many cords) to the wall near the nav station. I believe this type is recommended for adhering tools to the wall in a workshop – it’s that strong. I used the side with the “hooks,”, not the fuzzy side. Then we bought Velcro Cable Ties on Amazon. They come in black, white and assorted colors and various lengths (we used 6” and 8”).
We simply wrapped each cord with a cable tie with the fuzzy side out and stuck them all to the “wall” Velcro. I had some small sticky-backed Velcro squares so I attached those to small parts like the AC adapters and stuck those up as well. Now everything is easily at hand, and remains in place even when at sea.
- Industrial strength sticky-back Velcro — 2″ wide, 4 foot to 15 foot rolls, white or black
- Velcro cable ties — 1/2″ wide, 8″ long (cut to shorter length), 100 count, black
If you need more charging ports, I found that you can get all sorts of combinations of cigarette lighter sockets and USB ports. If you have Apple products, make sure that any USB ports are compatible with Apple specs. Also check the capacity and, if you’re going to plug it into an existing cigarette lighter, it’s capacity — we opted to hard wire these on their own circuits. Here’s the one I got — see photo below) — 15 amp capacity. This exact version is no longer available but you can find similar items.
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Andrew says
Absolutely brilliant! Simple and effective. Thank you.
Diana K Weigel says
Great solution
Nikki Dowden says
And I have just the cupboard door to use…..
Susan Lynn says
Super idea. Thank You (and always, thank You Carolyn)
Rosemary forsyth says
i hang one of those shoe holder bags with lots of pockets over the back of a close door and our electronics fit in the pockets – cell phone charger, flashlight charger, camera, VHF radio charger, etc. etc. – works great!
Donna says
I use grid it boards — see them on Amazon.
I use one for each kind of device, that keeps all components in one place. I can also grab the apprpriate one if I am traveling off of the boat. Using the velcro idea, maybe I will velco them into the nav station for convenient storage.
Tammy Nielsen Joeright says
Posting this for John Joeright. You know how I much I love all your cords. Please read when you get a chance
Lynn Kaak says
We’ve done something similar! Geez, so many cords!
Lamarr Harding says
I have glued closed loop carpet to walls, behind cabinet doors, seat backs, inside lockers, etc
In places where I store things, inside lockers, behind doors, I have threaded elastic cord loops 2 to 4 inches long and in 3 inch rows. The loops hang things like pliers, pens, screw drivers, scissors, magnifying glass, measuring tape, flash light and keeps them handy and rattle free.
In my experience self adhesive Velcro saggs, and slips. With hot and cold cycles even wrinkles. I have glued “sew on” Velcro with “Shoe Goo” to small bottles and small tools (barb side out). I have also used the double wrap and “cord tamer” hook and loop for cords and other small items to hang them on the wall.
Kimberly Fain Ward says
LOVE this! Actively searching the walls for a place right now…
Diana K Weigel says
Great idea
Olly Perkins says
Genius – I think I will use this at home!
Annabel Stewart says
Matt Stewart this is a great idea! shall we try it with the spaghetti on the nav station?!
Anne Driver says
Great idea to add to my DH’s new toy, a Brother labeling machine!
The Boat Galley says
Oooh. <3