Bottom Rail for Window Covers

[Jafo]

One problem I have with my yurt is that it is off the ground by 4 feet on one side, and 2 feet on another. Rolling up the window covers right requires two ladders and two people. If you don't roll inwards (towards the yurt), then water will fill the window covers when it rains and you get this:



The thing is, if you are by yourself or only have one ladder, it is next to impossible to roll these things up properly. Even if you manage it, eventually they start to sag.

I decided to fix this by making a bottom rail for each window. Since I have saplings by the millions at my yurt camp, I just used some of them (maple). I cut the straightest ones I could fine at 6 feet long:



I then used the clip that is meant to hold the flaps down to the skirt and attached it to the slack on the window:






And then I attached it to the existing female end of the clip to make a loop:



I did this to all three straps and then hung the bottom rail into the loops:



Then, holding on to the rail, I could easily roll up the window cover properly from one side of the window and clip it with the first two clips. I could let it hang while I adjusted the ladder to the other side and then snugly fasten the last clip. You can adjust them tighter from there. Now it looks nice and neat and the water doesn't collect:



I wish the window coverss came with a built in sleeve on the bottom that could accept a rigid pressure treated dowel to accomplish this better.