wood companionway hatch

DaveC426913 · Post by **DaveC426913** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:47 pm

I want to pull out the 'glass hatch and put in a 2 or three piece wood set.

Does anyone know where I might find a plan for it? I'm hoping to have more than flat plywood. I'm hoping for perhaps 1/2" solid teak frame with 1/4" teak plywood panels.

Ixneigh · Post by **Ixneigh** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:10 pm

Sounds like a job. Not sure if your goal is just cosmetics or not. I personally dont like the factory hatches on the

because they are bouncy. All that crap should have been cored so it was solid feeling to walk on. Someone pass the memo to Roger.
However, they are water tight for the most part. That will be an issue with making any new ones. if you are just looking for a little eye candy, Why not laminate 1/4 inch thick teak stock onto the exiting hatches?
It would look almost as nice and be a lot less work.
There was this exact project how- to drawn up by Bruce Bingham of the oh so seaworthy Flicka fame.
I had the book years back. You could probably find it online somewhere. The finely fitted yacht or something.

I think I would avoid any thing thats going to weigh substancially more then the original junk. The hatches are right on the top of the cabin.

Ixneigh

c130king · Post by **c130king** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:43 am

Here is my 3-piece wooden companionway inserts. The middle one has screen section for air flow. I also have a middle piece that is solid.

No special plans needed. We just measured the original hatch and cut the piece of wood to the right size shape. Then cut it into three pieces and added small "overhangs" off the bottom of the top two pieces to keep water from seeping in the cracks.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

K9Kampers · Post by **K9Kampers** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:59 am

Everyone is going to have a different approach to the project. I don't know about plans, I just visualize things in my head and go from there. This is a quick project I made several years ago before a trip - luan face, pine backing, plastic screen, eight coats of varnish. This year I want to build a new 3 piece unit to stow easier.

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:33 am

Humm if your desiring to work in teak ? Why would you need plans??

bscott · Post by **bscott** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:39 pm

I used 1/2" tan colored star board, cut 3 ways, mitered the side edges to fit the OEM opening, angle cut the top and bottoms of the boards so they nest (bottom of the lowest board is square-top of the top board is square) making them water tight.

I used a garage door rubber seal sandwiched between the sliding hatch and an oak header to close off the top board/hatch. This also softens up the blow to my head when I forget to duck when the hatch is fully open.

The middle board has an opening port/screen for ventilation. Storage is is simple.

In bad weather the crew goes below and removes the top hatch board so they can stay warm and dry while they watch the captain freezes his azz off

Bob

Post by **Russ** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:14 pm

I made a clear plexiglass companionway slat set. Cut it at an angle so water would run out. It's great for letting light in on rainy days etc. I think I'll do it again with some thicker Lexan and make 3 pieces for easier storage.

The stock cover is so hard to store. But I guess it floats.

pokerrick1 · Post by **pokerrick1** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:57 pm

I always just threw the cover on the aft berth for storage. You think the stock companionway cover would float

I don't have one to test, but I doubt it

Somebody test it (but don't start storing the cover UNDERNEATH your boat

Rick

Chinook · Post by **Chinook** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:15 pm

I've pondered replacing our stock fiberglass companionway hatch with a stacking 3 piece wooden setup, with window and/or vent, but have yet to do so. The aesthetic benefits are obvious, and the individual pieces would be smaller for stowage, however, I find I like the convenience of quickly accessing the cabin by removing just one panel. This is handy when we're stocking the boat for a trip, or just coming and going in general. As for stowage, we lay our hatch cover on top of the bedding in the Vee berth, where it's out of the way but always easily fetched. I'm not familiar enough with the M Vee berth to know if that area works as a hatch cover stowage spot.

pokerrick1 · Post by **pokerrick1** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:19 pm

Chinook wrote:I'm not familiar enough with the M Vee berth to know if that area works as a hatch cover stowage spot.

Sure it would be - - - but the aft berth is closer, since you're putting the cover on top of bedding either way. Right?

Rick

DaveC426913 · Post by **DaveC426913** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:30 pm

Ixneigh wrote:Sounds like a job. Not sure if your goal is just cosmetics or not. I personally dont like the factory hatches on the because they are bouncy. All that crap should have been cored so it was solid feeling to walk on.

Hatch = Door.

Not roof.

DaveC426913 · Post by **DaveC426913** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:33 pm

c130king wrote:Here is my 3-piece wooden companionway inserts. The middle one has screen section for air flow. I also have a middle piece that is solid.

No special plans needed. We just measured the original hatch and cut the piece of wood to the right size shape. Then cut it into three pieces and added small "overhangs" off the bottom of the top two pieces to keep water from seeping in the cracks.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

Yes, this is the fall back plan.

My previous boat (the one that Poseidon sacrificed so I would get this one) has a hatch of 3/4" frame with 1/4" inset panels, like a household bedroom door has. Liked that look much better than panelless ... panels.

Ixneigh · Post by **Ixneigh** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:42 pm

Hatch=door not roof

1.
a. An opening, as in the deck of a ship, in the roof or floor of a building, or in an aircraft.
b. The cover for such an opening.
c. A hatchway.
d. Nautical A ship's compartment. Dubious

Drop boards or companionway slides are more technically correct not that I care. Sorry about the confusion.
When I make my custom drop boards I will make them out of - wait for it - foam core

Ixneigh

DaveC426913 · Post by **DaveC426913** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:23 am

c130king wrote:Here is my 3-piece wooden companionway inserts. The middle one has screen section for air flow. I also have a middle piece that is solid.

No special plans needed. We just measured the original hatch and cut the piece of wood to the right size shape. Then cut it into three pieces and added small "overhangs" off the bottom of the top two pieces to keep water from seeping in the cracks.

Cheers,
Jim

So, is that 1/4" ply or 1/2" ply?

LOUIS B HOLUB · Post by **LOUIS B HOLUB** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:20 pm

We wanted more "cabin light" and used the simple idea of "smoked tinted" lexan, cut at the same dimensions of the original hatch. So far, very nice, and it was quite easy to drill and install a S.Steel handle, along with the original hatch lock-system. Our lexan hatch scratches easily, and cant be thrown about carelessly. The additional cabin-light makes a great deal of difference.

For the hatch A/C, we used a separate cheap piece of "plexi-glass" (plain), with a cut-a-way for the AC. Works fine, and only used seasonally.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com