[C38] Companionway doors project on its way...

[les]

Right after we acquired JACE, we had a really HOT summer here.  We
wanted some way to have privacy, but leave the companion way open.  So
when I had new canvass made, I had a piece designed that clipped to the
aft end of the dodger.  It was shaped to hang down to the seats on both
sides and to the floor in the middle.  The gentleman who made it
suggested straps to the dodger supports straps to hold the sides in
place in the wind, and small sandbags to weight the bottom.  We called
it a privacy cover.  It works nicely to keep the boat private, provide a
riser air space to help cool the boat and was one of the real success
stories of my cobbling around.  We used it nearly every day at anchor.
It also had the side benefit of keeping out rain but allowing a lot of
air flow.

Regards,
Les H
On Tue, 2011-01-18 at 09:03 -0500, Steven Ribble wrote:
> I completely agree with Tom about Max's talent, the doors look great.
>  
> 
> 
> For anyone thinking about the 'easy way out' Sunbrella option, I had a
> similar cover on a previous boat.  The difference was that the top
> connection was corner snaps (top: toward the rear and on the outside
> edge of the teak along the hatch slide, bottom: as appropriate) and
> both top and bottom relied on layers of fabric as a cross-gap
> stiffener.  Being "soft" it didn't bang around and was easy to remove
> and stow in a hurry, when needed.  
> 
> 
> Aside from the ease of access and privacy benefits of the cover, the
> thing I really liked was how it protected the [wood] finish and helped
> keep the rain out.
> 
> On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 11:04 PM, Tom T. <tdtron at earthlink.net> wrote:
>         Hello list,
>          
>         I started to make a set of companionway doors like Max did but
>         I had a problem.
>          
>         I didn't have Max's money, talent, patience or time.
>         Otherwise, my doors would have looked exactly like Max's.
>          
>         Instead, I opted to make a Sunbrella cover that would strap to
>         the companionway hatch when underway but would cover the
>         entrance any other time a door was needed.
>          
>         The bottom had a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe sewn into it and since
>         the cover is taller and wider than the entrance, it lays
>         against the teak and gives a draft proof fit.
>          
>         The inside was white Sunbrella which gave some insulation
>         value and brightened up the interior.
>          
>         When the companionway cover was used, you just pushed it out
>         of the way to enter or exit the cabin.  When we left the boat
>         locked up at the dock, we had the crib boards in place and
>         the Sunbrella protected the teak from the elements.
>          
>         The cover was mounted at the top with a piece of bolt rope
>         track which can be purchased at any RV store.  There were
>         two straps mounted under the track so the cover could be
>         rolled up and mounted on the hatch when the cover wasn't
>         wanted, like underway on a hot day.
>          
>         I use the past tense because I no longer have the 38 but
>         the companionway cover was one feature we dearly loved.  We
>         still have a Catalina 27 at Lake Lanier near Atlanta and I
>         will soon make a companionway cover for that boat too.
>          
>         
>         Tom Troncalli
>         Recovering ex-38 owner
>          
>          
>          
>                 ----- Original Message ----- 
>                 From: Max Soto 
>                 To: Catalina 38 Listserve
>                 Sent: 1/17/2011 9:14:25 PM 
>                 Subject: [C38] Companionway doors project on its
>                 way...
>                 
>                 
>                 Hi everybody, 
>                 
>                 
>                 Here's an update from the last companionway doors
>                 tread.....I started the project last week and the
>                 teak  frames are done!!!!!!!!!!! 
>                 I just need to detail them and attach the plexiglass
>                 or acrylic lensses...   Thanks for all the pics and
>                 advises, they were very helpfull!!
>                 I chose to make the like this because it was the
>                 easiest and faster way
>                 Hinges were installed and everything is working
>                 great.... Very cheap project... bill of materials was
>                 less than $100 without the lensses and varnish....
>                 Now it will be easier and faster to come in and out of
>                 the cabin when the air conditioning is on...
>                 
>                 
>                 Regards,
>                 -- 
>                 Max Soto
>                 C38 #198 ESTANCIA
>                 Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>                 
>         
>         _______________________________________________
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>         
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Steve Ribble
> 207/852-0971
> 
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