New Access Covers Under Cabin Seat Cushions

[GaryMayo]

My covers are 28 years old and need to go.

What material did you guys make new ones out of?

I thought of using cutting boards. They come in white plastic the same thickness as the original boards and sold in pairs as Sam's Club. Would be easy to cut down in size to perfectly fit.

[kmclemore]

I replaced one and only used 1/8" Luan plywood, then stained & varnished it. Cheap, easy, and looks like the original. You could also use tempered Masonite - varnish it and it will be very resistant to the elements. I think that the StarBoard (the plastic cutting board stuff) may be very costly in comparison, and it won't really buy you much. Plus, I'm not sure it's available in 1/8" thickness.

[GaryMayo]

I am sure it is thicker than 1/8th inch, but hey, I can chop onions with mine! lol

My boat came with two sets of everything, two rudders, two hatch covers, top and end, two sets of cushions, and two sets of lid covers under cushions. as well as two sets of sails. But even with two sets of covers, it is not possible to find perfect shape ones.

[THE CUSCUS]

Gary, I used 1/2 birch plywood for my covers, then stained them in mahogany. I used standard 3/4 plywood for the underside piece. Put a piece of cardboard INSIDE the compartment and trace the opening size, cut this out of the 3/4 wood and attach it to the underside of the top (finished) piece, then drill your finger hole through both. By using this method the covers won't slide around as you sail (heeling hard) and the extra weight keeps them in place also.
Not the best picture of the cover, I'll try to take a close up this weekend.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/pi ... reid=11667

[GaryMayo]

Gary, I used 1/2 birch plywood for my covers, then stained them in mahogany. I used standard 3/4 plywood for the underside piece. Put a piece of cardboard INSIDE the compartment and trace the opening size, cut this out of the 3/4 wood and attach it to the underside of the top (finished) piece, then drill your finger hole through both. By using this method the covers won't slide around as you sail (heeling hard) and the extra weight keeps them in place also.
Not the best picture of the cover, I'll try to take a close up this weekend.
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/pi ... reid=11667

I like the added thickness idea, but that only means I now need to purchase twice as many bread boards at Sams Club tomorrow. lol

I found one here I had not used yet. They are 1/2" thick by 15" x 30 "

[THE CUSCUS]

Gary, here are the close-ups of my access covers.

[arknoah]

Gary, here are the close-ups of my access covers.

Those look great!

[DaveB]

This is a good way to give strength in the middle and also prevents board from floping around and warping.
Yours look to be 1 inch thick but for weight I would use at least 8 ply 1/2 inch plywood and dado around the edge to have at least a 3/8 inch lip over the size of the opening and do a half round on the rim.
The 1 inch hole in the middle should be forward so no guessing what end goes were, will be a easy removel.
I would use Polyester resin or epoxy thined 10 percent on first coat than light sand and another coat without thinning. This will seal and protect.
Dave

Gary, here are the close-ups of my access covers.

[GaryMayo]

I was in Harbor Freight today and found these:



Cutting boards. Item 94044 (available on line) I purchased 3 sets (all they had in the store)

They are the same thickness as the original equipment but a lot stronger and will not delaminate over time. I will cut them to fit when I open the boat up in the spring. The Sam's Club cutting boards are larger (maybe large enough to cut two small ones) but twice as expensive.

!	kmclemore:
	Bad image link. Fixed.

[GaryMayo]

Mine was a photo I took of the boards I purchased. The stock image looks so culinary. lol

[Boblee]

Just been replacing them with 5 ply with a laquer finish as they break, as for strength even the front two under the rear berth don't bend but there is a block bracing them on the hump that runs through, they are way stronger and better looking than the originals.
Actually just coated one that I had to make up urgently two years ago, obviously wasn't hard just bought some ply and a keyhole saw when passing through Katherine and was finished in half an hour except for the laquer.
The blocks were there for the originals but they still broke, think there are five replaced now.

[arknoah]

Mine was a photo I took of the boards I purchased. The stock image looks so culinary. lol

I'm guessing these could work.

[Doupirate]

Wow, real good looking covers.

Would you tell me where you found your blue water reservoir and where the hose comes out, please?

Thanks

[Divecoz]

It Looks very similar to my 30 gallon bladder bought a West Marine..

Wow, real good looking covers.

Would you tell me where you found your blue water reservoir and where the hose comes out, please?

Thanks

[u12fly]

Wow, real good looking covers.

Would you tell me where you found your blue water reservoir and where the hose comes out, please?

Thanks

That looks like a Plastimo flexible water tank, similar to the one I installed : http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1478 You can get them in several different sizes. There is not enough "head" room for the tank to fully fill, but you can get plenty of water in the area available under the aft berth.

Chris.