ideas for an alternative to the traditional washboards?

Poignard said:
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.
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Of course I was looking at the picture that you offered as a sample & in my defence you did say that it was similar ;)
 
pyrojames said:
That's how I fitted doors to my previous boat. Best of both worlds.
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I don't suppose you have any pictures of the doors you could post?

I'm thinking about how stable a slot in door frame would be without a top bracing bar between the stiles. I would have to secure the top of the stiles to the washboard guides to hold them upright, but stopping them twisting as the doors swing might be needed.

I could cut ply into a single large washboard, and then cut doors into it leaving the 2 sides and bottom as a continuous frame, and see how rigid it is and how much extra bracing is needed.

Security isn't an issue, I will only be using the doors overnight while I sleep onboard, the washboards can go back in when berthed in the marina.
 
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My pal who lives aboard on the river Dart has fitted perspex doors for use when not sailing. They are simply two panels attached by piano hinges and make life much more convenient as well as improving the light.
 
Dellquay13 said:
I don't suppose you have any pictures of the doors you could post?

I'm thinking about how stable a slot in door frame would be without a top bracing bar between the stiles. I would have to secure the top of the stiles to the washboard guides to hold them upright, but stopping them twisting as the doors swing might be needed.

I could cut ply into a single large washboard, and then cut doors into it leaving the 2 sides and bottom as a continuous frame, and see how rigid it is and how much extra bracing is needed.

Security isn't an issue, I will only be using the doors overnight while I sleep onboard, the washboards can go back in when berthed in the marina.
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Actually, I ddin't make a separate frame, but hinged the doors so that the doors locked into the washboard slots. If you left the doors open, you could put in the washboards, or you could pull the hinge pins out and remove the doors entirely. Hinges were like these: Hatch Hinge Stainless Steel 67 x 73mm Heavy Duty NEW Boat Engine Box HINGE1 | eBay

I can't find any photos, as it was pre camera phones.... :)
 
ghostlymoron said:
My pal who lives aboard on the river Dart has fitted perspex doors for use when not sailing. They are simply two panels attached by piano hinges and make life much more convenient as well as improving the light.
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how are they hinged? To the sides of the companionway? Are they lift off hinges? Is the companionway square or tapered, and does it slope backwards?
 
pyrojames said:
Actually, I ddin't make a separate frame, but hinged the doors so that the doors locked into the washboard slots. If you left the doors open, you could put in the washboards, or you could pull the hinge pins out and remove the doors entirely. Hinges were like these: Hatch Hinge Stainless Steel 67 x 73mm Heavy Duty NEW Boat Engine Box HINGE1 | eBay

I can't find any photos, as it was pre camera phones.... :)
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I did think it might be possible to get the doors to swing back into the washboard grooves with careful offsetting and packing of the hinges, making frames unnecessary, but without being on the boat to see what it actually is like, I'm having to second guess and vaguely remember a boat i haven't got to know well yet.
 
Hanse use two part "washboards" that are fixed (not removable) and slide down to the level of the bridge deck. I'm surprised no other manufacturer has copied this simple and elegant solution. There is nothing to store away and they can be locked at various positions for ventilation.

Recently sailed on a boat with outward opening doors that made access to the companionway winches extremely awkward.
 
Dellquay13 said:
I don't suppose you have any pictures of the doors you could post?

I'm thinking about how stable a slot in door frame would be without a top bracing bar between the stiles. I would have to secure the top of the stiles to the washboard guides to hold them upright, but stopping them twisting as the doors swing might be needed.

I could cut ply into a single large washboard, and then cut doors into it leaving the 2 sides and bottom as a continuous frame, and see how rigid it is and how much extra bracing is needed.

Security isn't an issue, I will only be using the doors overnight while I sleep onboard, the washboards can go back in when berthed in the marina.
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Another idea I have seen in photos is doors fitted onto lift-off hinges just outside the washboard tracks. So another way to still keep the washboard option. If I remember the example correctly the hatch still came over the top of the doors, so making them secure when closed up.
 
Just to echo what someone said above, changing wood boards to 10mm clear/smoked acrylic or polycarbonate makes a huge difference inside boat. 10mm acrylic/polycarbonate is nigh on indestructible, at least as far as boat use is concerned.
 
eddystone said:
Well it's refreshing that nobody has yet kicked off about how none of these arrangements could likely withstand pitchpoling in a F12 in the Southern Ocean!
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Well, you don't need to be in the Southern Ocean or a F12 to need the washboards secured. I routinely close mine in rain with a following wind driving it under the sprayhood. Another reason why I like the Hanse arrangement - the washboard does not have to be retrieved from storage and is always ready for closing and it can be secured or opened from inside the boat or outside in the cockpit,
Following on from the previous post, I also like the smoked acrylic which allows daylight in but has a one-way effect which limits visibility from the outside.

Not something I have a very clear picture of as the cockpit table is in the way but see below.

washboard.png
 
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Ningaloo said:
Well, you don't need to be in the Southern Ocean or a F12 to need the washboards secured. I routinely close mine in rain with a following wind driving it under the sprayhood. Another reason why I like the Hanse arrangement - the washboard does not have to be retrieved from storage and is always ready for closing and it can be secured or opened from inside the boat or outside in the cockpit,
Following on from the previous post, I also like the smoked acrylic which allows daylight in but has a one-way effect which limits visibility from the outside.

Not something I have a very clear picture of as the cockpit table is in the way but see below.

View attachment 113862
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I like the idea of sliding washboards up from inside the bridgedeck, but unfortunately the engine bay is already there.
 
Ningaloo said:
Well, you don't need to be in the Southern Ocean or a F12 to need the washboards secured. I routinely close mine in rain with a following wind driving it under the sprayhood. Another reason why I like the Hanse arrangement - the washboard does not have to be retrieved from storage and is always ready for closing and it can be secured or opened from inside the boat or outside in the cockpit,
Following on from the previous post, I also like the smoked acrylic which allows daylight in but has a one-way effect which limits visibility from the outside.

Not something I have a very clear picture of as the cockpit table is in the way but see below.

View attachment 113862
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Don’t loose the stop at the front or it can disappear underneath the hatch and prove elusive to retrieve Got the tee shirt ?
 
If I thought I would be doing the sort of voyaging where I would be at risk of having my companionway doors stove in, I would simply fit a removable horizontal hardwood strong-back across the inside of the doors.

This sort of thing, but nicely made with strong brackets through bolted on the door jambs:-

1618935598587.png
 
Dellquay13 said:
how are they hinged? To the sides of the companionway? Are they lift off hinges? Is the companionway square or tapered, and does it slope backwards?
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As far as I recall, they are attached to the sides of the companion way by piano hinges and not easily removable. The companion way isn't tapered and vertical.
When required they can be held open with a bungee. The doors have an overlapping strip to close against but I can't recall what keeps them latched. They allow easy opening for his dog - much less hassle than washboards. I have a video clip of them but do not have permission to post it on a public forum.
 
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