pyrojames
Well-known member
Companionway Doors!
Companionway doors or drop boards?
- Thread starter misterg
- Start date
TonyD
New member
Another alternative? The Maxi 38+ has a bifold companion way door which works very well. Easy to open/close, stows well and I would have thought should be strong enough to withstand a fair amount of water pressure.
2nd_apprentice
Well-known member
I'm considering to drop the conservative and leaking design and go for this one:
I'll also get rid of the sliding hatch and use a hinged one though.
I'll also get rid of the sliding hatch and use a hinged one though.
bilbobaggins
N/A
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go for this one:
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That looks robust. But wouldn't a full-length brass piano hinge be far stronger in the event of a knockdown? Which is when it would matter....
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
go for this one:
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That looks robust. But wouldn't a full-length brass piano hinge be far stronger in the event of a knockdown? Which is when it would matter....
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
misterg
Active member
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Companionway Doors!
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That's the sort of thing!
Case in point:
I'm currently onboard in Conwy Marina with 4 kids asleep on the boat (alternative to a camping trip) and the dog wanted to go for a pee. I need to remove the boards, lay them on the cabin top, get me and the dog out then replace them, only to repeat the process after our 'walk'. The noise created by doing this is enough to wake anyone on the boat.
The bi-fold doors are an interesting idea, too....
...I think I've found a winter project...
Andy
Companionway Doors!
[/ QUOTE ]
That's the sort of thing!
Case in point:
I'm currently onboard in Conwy Marina with 4 kids asleep on the boat (alternative to a camping trip) and the dog wanted to go for a pee. I need to remove the boards, lay them on the cabin top, get me and the dog out then replace them, only to repeat the process after our 'walk'. The noise created by doing this is enough to wake anyone on the boat.
The bi-fold doors are an interesting idea, too....
...I think I've found a winter project...
Andy
OS2Dude
New member
I made removable companionway doors for my ODay 23. They fit in the recess where the drop boards were, and have an aluminum channel across the top for additional strength. The panels are removable, and I have the solid starboard ones, screen ones and plexiglass ones, so I can get light and/or air when I need it, or privacy when I want it.
prv
Well-known member
Did you do it five years ago, like the rest of this thread you've dragged up from the deep?
Welcome, anyway. Looks like a nice job.
Pete
Rossynant
New member
Good job Seems like in good ole days.
In old safety rules doors were treated as better for safety, for "ocean going" or "unlimited range" boat. But provided they were fitted on outside of companionway bulkhead - so could not be forced in, just pressed against bulkhead, on their seal. This was quite common way, I'm quite surprise it's forgotten nowadays...
Additionally, such boat was required to have a deck (bridgedeck) between cockpit well and coachroof. Door above the deck.
As for dropboards - rule required those to be "secured" to companionway - so they cannot fall out or get adrift. Important thing, as some unlucky crews found out.
As for where to put dropboards taken up when opening the companionway - well, mine go down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6USBW0EEw-o
Seems like in good ole days. In old safety rules doors were treated as better for safety, for "ocean going" or "unlimited range" boat. But provided they were fitted on outside of companionway bulkhead - so could not be forced in, just pressed against bulkhead, on their seal. This was quite common way, I'm quite surprise it's forgotten nowadays...
Additionally, such boat was required to have a deck (bridgedeck) between cockpit well and coachroof. Door above the deck.
As for dropboards - rule required those to be "secured" to companionway - so they cannot fall out or get adrift. Important thing, as some unlucky crews found out.
As for where to put dropboards taken up when opening the companionway - well, mine go down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6USBW0EEw-o
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seadog30
Member
Hi
My Seadog seems to have a unique design, with the wash board sliding up and down. The "washboards" slide in a track, the weight is counter balanced with a bungy in a similar style to a sash window. The bottom of the "wash board" is hinged on the foward edge and natrually swings foward preventing the washboard from dropping down the slot. If you push the hinged portion foward the washboard slides down out of view in a slot between the companion way steps and the bulkhead so that in the down position the washboard stowed totally out of sight.
Good Luck
My Seadog seems to have a unique design, with the wash board sliding up and down. The "washboards" slide in a track, the weight is counter balanced with a bungy in a similar style to a sash window. The bottom of the "wash board" is hinged on the foward edge and natrually swings foward preventing the washboard from dropping down the slot. If you push the hinged portion foward the washboard slides down out of view in a slot between the companion way steps and the bulkhead so that in the down position the washboard stowed totally out of sight.
Good Luck
Rossynant
New member
Hello there
Keen_Ed
Active member
I note that IMOCA Open 60s - the boats currently being used for the Vendee Globe - have doors rather than washboards. Bit different, though, admittedly....
Elessar
Well-known member
when I used to regularly race saily boats, I never knew anything other than washboards. Thought nothing of it.
Then after graduting to mobos, I now cannot stand washboards. My reaction would have been the same if I'd had a saily boat with doors.
Keep some washboards in the bilge for when you do the fastnet if you must. And enjoy the convience of doors 99.9% of the time.
Or drop down, built in washboards are OK too.
Then after graduting to mobos, I now cannot stand washboards. My reaction would have been the same if I'd had a saily boat with doors.
Keep some washboards in the bilge for when you do the fastnet if you must. And enjoy the convience of doors 99.9% of the time.
Or drop down, built in washboards are OK too.
izaac
New member
My 28ft ply clinker has both drop boards and doors
Dutch01527
Well-known member
As suggested in other posts, my plan (as and when I get around to it) is to retain my current washboards just in case I am in conditions where a knock down / swamping is even remotely likely but build doors that sit on the outside of the companionway frame.
I would fit secure removable pin hinges on the doors, due to lack of cockpit space, so that they could be stored away when actually sailing. I think that would give the best of all worlds, washboards or doors or nothing.
I would fit secure removable pin hinges on the doors, due to lack of cockpit space, so that they could be stored away when actually sailing. I think that would give the best of all worlds, washboards or doors or nothing.
[2574]
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Perspex opening doors on Nauticat pilot house yachts:
When the sliding hatch is locked shut it provides reinforcement to the individual doors though for sure it is weaker than solid washboards.
When the sliding hatch is locked shut it provides reinforcement to the individual doors though for sure it is weaker than solid washboards.
oldmanofthehills
Well-known member
The boat that we are hopefully changing too (an LM27) has doors and no bridge deck. I find this unsatisfactory though her whaler stern and deep cockpit will keep most following seas at out. The doors are not robust enough really but more important doors - unlike washboards - are either open to crew and waves or closed. My proposed solution is to put a washboard just inboard of the doors, maybe only 9 inch high builder plank thus keeping out slop while being easy to step over and bracing door if closed
maby
Well-known member
Hmmm, a ten year old thread resurrected? Anyway, we've had both - doors on our previous boat and washboards on our new one. The doors are certainly more convenient, but I can't get away from the impression that the washboards are more secure. The problem with washboards tends to be how to stow them when they are out. I have seen boats that have some kind of slot in the floor at the companionway to take the board but never actually tried that out. Our new boat has provision under the cockpit locker lid to stow them, but that is not particularly convenient. We've made up a padded bag to take them and that normally sits on the coachroof next to the companionway.
Tranona
Well-known member
10 year old thread reflects the fact that there is no ideal solution. My last Bavaria originally had a one piece perspex washboard which was a PITA, so we cut it in two with the lower (smaller) part left in while underway as it increased the depth of the threshold. stowage was in dedicated brackets in the aft cabin. A good compromise.
Latest boat has doors (and a higher bridgedeck) very similar to the Nauticat above with perspex panels in a teak frame. Much prefer this set up as no stowage problems and look as strong as washboards when closed. Look smart as well.
Latest boat has doors (and a higher bridgedeck) very similar to the Nauticat above with perspex panels in a teak frame. Much prefer this set up as no stowage problems and look as strong as washboards when closed. Look smart as well.
maby
Well-known member
Is that a Bavaria? I didn't know that they did any with doors - was it standard or an option?
Tranona
Well-known member
Standard on the Farr designed 33/4 and 37 now although some years it has been an option, and have been offered on other models as well such as the 2008/9 38 and 43. Some are plain teak veneered ply and others like mine are solid teak. As ever with Bavaria they tend to change such things regularly, so difficult to be precise.
