http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1763
Hatch and companion way screens
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seahouse
- Admiral
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:17 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Niagara at Lake Erie, Ontario. 2011 MacM, 60 hp E-Tec
- Contact:
Re: Hatch and companion way screens
Another option here; it can be as fancy or as plain as you want to make it...
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1763
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1763
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Chinook
- Admiral
- Posts: 1730
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:20 pm
- Location: LeavenworthWA 2002 26x, Suzuki DF60A
Re: Hatch and companion way screens
We've taken a "do it yourself" approach. We purchased no-see-um fabric by the yard and sewed up some covers. We made a cover for the forward hatch which installs with the hatch in the full open position (I've installed a gas piston arm to keep it up). We sewed a hollow nylon tube around the base and inserted a long length of pencil lead (used for steelhead fishing in this area). The weighted tube fits into the recessed hatch frame, and a couple of snaps in front help to hold it down. It works great and takes just a few minutes to install.
We also made a companionway opening bug screen from the same material. On that one we slid a whole bunch of slip sinkers, which were threaded onto a monofilament line, into the tube. The weights keep the screen held in the hatch tracks and up against the companionway sides and bottom. It was a pain to get the weights into the tube, and it's a bit tricky to install, up in the front where it has to slide in, under the forward part of the sliding hatch. However, it does go up reasonably fast, which is important when one is trying to fend off an invasion of biting bugs.
The third bug screen in our arsenal is a full cockpit bug screen. We have the full BWY cockpit enclosure, including the wide dodger. Our cockpit bug screen is installed over the bimini. It extends forward to the back edge of the dodger. It connects to the dodger with velcro, and attaches to the sides and rear of the boat with snaps, similarly to how the cockpit surround snaps in. We located the snaps on the bug screen to line up with the snaps which were installed for the surround. The two corner seams, in back, are fitted with velcro, so it's possible to exit the boat via the stern without having to unsnap the screen. It takes a bit more work to install, but is really wonderful once in place. It allows us to sit out in the cockpit and enjoy the view, along with any breeze which might come our way, instead of being cooped up down below when we're in a buggy anchorage.
We also made a companionway opening bug screen from the same material. On that one we slid a whole bunch of slip sinkers, which were threaded onto a monofilament line, into the tube. The weights keep the screen held in the hatch tracks and up against the companionway sides and bottom. It was a pain to get the weights into the tube, and it's a bit tricky to install, up in the front where it has to slide in, under the forward part of the sliding hatch. However, it does go up reasonably fast, which is important when one is trying to fend off an invasion of biting bugs.
The third bug screen in our arsenal is a full cockpit bug screen. We have the full BWY cockpit enclosure, including the wide dodger. Our cockpit bug screen is installed over the bimini. It extends forward to the back edge of the dodger. It connects to the dodger with velcro, and attaches to the sides and rear of the boat with snaps, similarly to how the cockpit surround snaps in. We located the snaps on the bug screen to line up with the snaps which were installed for the surround. The two corner seams, in back, are fitted with velcro, so it's possible to exit the boat via the stern without having to unsnap the screen. It takes a bit more work to install, but is really wonderful once in place. It allows us to sit out in the cockpit and enjoy the view, along with any breeze which might come our way, instead of being cooped up down below when we're in a buggy anchorage.