Replace Crib Boards With Hinged Doors

[Foswick]

I have only a single key for the mortise lock that locks my crib boards to the sliding hatch. So, if we lose that key, we will have to break some wood to get in.

We've talked to multiple locksmiths and they have all said that they cannot make a key that fits without doing some custom machining. We are taking the key and crib board to them right now. (The issue is the lock is a very unusual Japanese lock that is incompatible with just about everything.)

But, if they are not able to make keys, I am thinking this would be a good time to replace the boards with vertically hinged doors. This is on my "some day" list anyway.

However, I don't really have a clear plan for that conversion, yet. Has anyone done it? Making and installing doors is simple enough, but every design I can think of is sure to be leaky.

 

[dLj]

A good locksmith can make a replica.

All it means is there are no standard blanks that fit the profile. You could probably just make them yourself if you have some metal working skills...

I have the same on my companionway door. Just have them make several spares. Once setup to make the blank, it's easy to make several keys.

dj

 

[Tally Ho]

I did NOT do the conversion, but a PO did on my O’Day 322.

I love the look of the smoke drop boards…


But I hate moving them and storing them under sail.

So, I am using the hinged doors now. They appear to be home made. I took them apart and replaced the windows. The original pieces were totally cloudy and I couldn’t see through them.

The doors were varnished teak at first, and I got tired of trying to keep them varnished. So I tried painting them white…


I liked the look, but the paint didn’t last that long either.…so I am back to teak, but just putting teak oil on them (no varnish).

Hard to get all of the paint off unfortunately….but it meeps getting better.


At some point, I am going to replace the clear lenses with tinted lenses.


Greg

 

[garymalmgren]

Hi Greg.
So they are "drop in" hinged doors.
Seems to be the best of both worlds.
And that is a decent handle!

Gary

 

[quadrille38]

Take a look at the Zarcor doors. Purchased them years ago and have never regretted it.
made of starboard and have the lexan windows but also got the interchangeable screen inserts.
Love them

 

[Tally Ho]

Hi Greg.
So they are "drop in" hinged doors.
Seems to be the best of both worlds.
And that is a decent handle!

Gary

They can be removed but it takes removing a few screws. Not too hard really.

Greg

 

[Foswick]

As it happens, they were able to make keys. It required some custom machining, but they work a treat. I'm glad we were able to keep the original lock as it's kind of a cool piece of hardware. (A 50 year old Hori mortise lock.)

Still, this conversion is on my list.

I like the way the Zarcor doors attach that @quadrille38 suggested. The look is wrong for our boat, though. The interior is pretty much wall-to-wall hand-joined teak and the exterior has a traditional look. So, it really wants wood for the companionway.

I like the design on @Tally Ho's boat - the way the hinges are attached to a couple of vertical boards that allow the doors to be rectangular and not trapezoidal. I will have to mock that up with cardboard to see if I can live with the narrower opening. More to the point, I'll have to see what my dog thinks of it.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Any chance you could post a photo of the mortise lock ?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I like the idea of hinged doors and for boats that have a recessed companionway, I think they work great because the opened doors fit where they aren't in the way. You can easily solve the leaky door worry with a dodger that has sufficient overhang or a connector between dodger a & bimini.

 

[quadrille38]

As it happens, they were able to make keys. It required some custom machining, but they work a treat. I'm glad we were able to keep the original lock as it's kind of a cool piece of hardware. (A 50 year old Hori mortise lock.)

Still, this conversion is on my list.

I like the way the Zarcor doors attach that @quadrille38 suggested. The look is wrong for our boat, though. The interior is pretty much wall-to-wall hand-joined teak and the exterior has a traditional look. So, it really wants wood for the companionway.

I like the design on @Tally Ho's boat - the way the hinges are attached to a couple of vertical boards that allow the doors to be rectangular and not trapezoidal. I will have to mock that up with cardboard to see if I can live with the narrower opening. More to the point, I'll have to see what my dog thinks of it.

not sure if they are still around but on a previous boat I purchased doors for the companion way from Cruising Concepts. They were beautiful and a real work of art. Not as easy to install as the Zarcor doors but they are the wood look you seek.

 

[Foswick]

not sure if they are still around but on a previous boat I purchased doors for the companion way from Cruising Concepts. They were beautiful and a real work of art.

Good tip. They are, indeed, still in business and their stuff looks great.