Companionway doors or drop boards?

[capnsensible]

On the B37 I sailed a lot on last year, the door hinge pintles broke apart on both sides under normal use and were a PITA to fix.

 

[ip485]

I recently made these. They use drop on hinges, so the idea is for any time there is no risk of taking water into the cockpit they provide more convenience that lifting in and out the boards, but, when required the boards can be slotted into place as well or instead of. It works fine for me.

 

[DoubleEnder]

I have a single washboard about 250mm high, with hinged doors above. Actually I have 2 washboards: a shiny varnishe done to use in harbour and a plain ply one with instruments mounted on it to use at sea

 

[stevie69p]

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

I think the solution that was offered in the Scanyacht 290 (basically an updated LM27) was to make the wheelhouse doors with 2 upper three quarter length doors and the lower 12 inches or so could be fixed in position to keep any ingress in the cockpit area.

 

[mjcoon]

Just chartered a Benny 37 on flotilla that had a variety of door we hadn't encountered before. It slides away under the hatch lid after being lifted on hinges. Because of course it is tapered to fit the opening and also has a rubber sealing gasket this is not easy to do especially when emerging. A fancy idea that in our opinion fails badly in practice!

Mike.

 

[Tranona]

Just chartered a Benny 37 on flotilla that had a variety of door we hadn't encountered before. It slides away under the hatch lid after being lifted on hinges. Because of course it is tapered to fit the opening and also has a rubber sealing gasket this is not easy to do especially when emerging. A fancy idea that in our opinion fails badly in practice!

Mike.

And was not used on any subsequent models AFAIK

 

[Tranona]

On the B37 I sailed a lot on last year, the door hinge pintles broke apart on both sides under normal use and were a PITA to fix.

Have heard that from other sources. So far (3 years on) mine are still fine, although of course don't get the level of use a charter boat would.

 

[Ludd]

My Nab35 has a slidingdoor offset to starboard, slides into the bulkhead to port. Great in normal sailing or in harbour. Being a belt and braces kind of sailor, and knowing my propensity for finding bad weather and heavy seas, I have emergency washboards too!

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Being a belt and braces kind of sailor, and knowing my propensity for finding bad weather and heavy seas, I have emergency washboards too!

That's my kind of thinking. Belt Braces and a Piece of String ! My washboards on my old boat have tie downs, though happily I've never felt the need to actually tie them.