ideas for an alternative to the traditional washboards?

Dellquay13

Dellquay13

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I'm not a fan of the washboards on the Foxhound I have bought. I've come from 20years of motorboating with a bifold door from the cabin into a roomy pram hood over the cockpit, and just having a couple of planks between me and the elements feels medieval. I am planning to get a cockpit canopy in the future when funds allow, but in the meantime has anyone got any pictures of interesting alternatives to washboards?
TIA
Chris
 
In a recent thread about gas lockers, Ithink it was PVB posted a pic of hinged, glazed, double doors?
Wouldn't work in every companionway.

Some boats, you want to have one washboard locked in and step over it when conditions get a bit off-piste.

Why do so many boats have nowhere sensible to stow the washboards?
We have two sets, one polycarbonate, the other wood. Actually, 2.5 sets, there's an alternative top wooden one with lots of vents in.
 
I don't have a photo of my Twister's companionway but she has a horizontally hinged flap at the bottom of the opening and two vertically hinged doors above that. The doors and the flap open outwards.

But here is a photo of another Twister which has a similar arrangement

1618855735049.png
 
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these are the doors fitted to my BavariaIMG_20201208_083321.jpgIMG_20201208_083410.jpg

They are probably the same as the ones pvb posted as well.

These were factory fit as an option to washboards (or in this case a single washboard). They are not common even on new boats, although they were in the good old days when boats wee hand built of wood! Note the highish bridge deck to prevent water from getting in if the cockpit fills.

The reason washboards are almost universal on smaller sailing boats is safety and simplicity. It is easy to make then strong enough to withstand breaking waves and making them in two parts gives you a range of option for closing off the cabin from the elements. On my last boat I had the washboard split 70/30 and always left the lower part in when sailing in lumpy weather.

Why are doors like mine more popular? They are expensive to make and fit (a set of doors and frames like this for retrofitting cost nearly £1000) - and many people, particularly sailing offshore feel less secure with them. They can also be a nuisance when open as they obstruct the bulkheads and can catch ropes - note how mine are inset and don't protrude into the cockpit, although ropes sometimes get caught behind them.

Really class boats in the old days used to both, washboards for sailing and removeable doors for use in harbour. If i were going seriously offshore with my boat I would fit runners inside to take washboards as extra security.

Give your boat a chance - use it for a year and I expect by the end you will recognise the value of washboards.
 
Tranona said:
these are the doors fitted to my BavariaView attachment 113833View attachment 113834




Give your boat a chance - use it for a year and I expect by the end you will recognise the value of washboards.
Click to expand...
In reality laziness and lack of cash will probably see the washboards reign supreme.
If I can afford to buy or make a cockpit canopy that keeps the majority of weather (when i plan to be aboard, not hurricanes) from going straight down the companionway when in the marina then that would be a big improvement. I stay onboard in the Marina from March to December most years so an outside porch is high up my wish list.
the cockpit is deep, with a high step over the threshold, and I'm only fair weather sailing so doors wouldn't worry me, if i had the option of washboards as well if conditions turn sour.
 
We put a small Lewmar portlight in ours. Still very strong and the extra light inside is welcome. If we are cowering inside with a JSD in charge then it will be possible to keep an eye on things without opening the hatch.

NuWGs96l.jpg
 
My perception is that doors are more of an american thing, on rag-and-stick boats anyway; the few I've seen in the UK were on either 'sturdy' motorsailers or US imports.
 
On my Hanse the vertical wash board can be laid on top of the sliding hatch & goes under the hatch garage with the hatch
To avoid it being dropped overboard by a clumsy crew, it is attached by a cord. I have a spare plywood one down below stored under a bunk. I made it with a view to cutting it in half so I could use just half in place if necessary. However, it has never been necessary & it just sits there as a spare.
 
Poignard said:
I don't have a photo of my Twister's companionway but she has a horizontally hinged flap at the bottom of the opening and two vertically hinged doors above that. The doors and the flap open outwards.

But here is a photo of another Twister which has a similar arrangement

View attachment 113835
Click to expand...
They must get in the way of lines being winched in off the winches & make it awkward to coil & hang excess halyards etc on the back of the cabin.
The crew cannot sit with their backs to the cabin either. Classic may look Ok, but in the end it must drive everyone mad.
 
Daydream believer said:
They must get in the way of lines being winched in off the winches & make it awkward to coil & hang excess halyards etc on the back of the cabin.
The crew cannot sit with their backs to the cabin either. Classic may look Ok, but in the end it must drive everyone mad.
Click to expand...
As I have no winches anywhere near the doors and no halyards in the cockpit to make winches necessary, the doors do not cause the slightest inconvenience.

The doors fold back flat against the cabin so one can lean against them in perfect comfort.
 
ithet said:
I once saw a boat with cabin doors built into a frame that dropped into the washboard slots. With such an arrangement washboards could still be used when necessary.
Click to expand...
That is the idea i am tending towards, slot in doors for the marina, with the washboards kept for use at sea in poor conditions when they are the sensible option.
 
My little boat similar to Fox Hound I imagine has 5mm aluminium wash boards. Yes quite heavy and stowed on the floor or left in the dinghy. Originally had plywood but they go kicked in a few times by thieves. The ali is discouraging of that. I can't imagine any door arrnagement really being successful ona little boat.
Note that safety requirements for ocean racing require that the wash board be able to be secured in place even ina capsize or inversion and that they be able to be locked in or removed from both outside and inside. A clam cleat on the inside witha cord from below will achieve this if you cna reach down from above with top hatch slid forward.
The top hatch is locked in aft position by a rod through the frame which rotates to lock it in position. The leg that locks it is also a handle to open from inside. I did get the little boat approved at one stage for cat 5 racing which required these things.
On another note some of those lovely photos show a quite low bridge deck into the cabin. One particularly popular sail boat around here in 18 20 and 22 ft designs have a low bridge deck. These boats if neglected on a swing mooring become home to sea gulls. The mess they make from nest sticks and poop clogs up the cockpit drains. Rain fills the cockpit and due to low bridge deck water enters the cabin. Before long the boat sinks or at least is messed up inside. A sealed lower wash board might be a good idea if you intend to leave a boat for a long period. ol'will
 
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