Best material for companionway hatch bin boards

[jeferie]

Hello, all.
We plan on having 3 new bin boards made this winter to replace the three oem boards that make up the companionway hatch on our ODay 27. What material is recommended for appearance and durabillity?
jeferie

 

[Dave Groshong]

I like starboard or Lexan

 

[Steve Dion]

If you want wood, I would suggest mahogany or teak. Lighter than synthetic materials (poly or acrylic).

Acrylic is nice because it allows light from the outside but is heavy. It also scratches easily.

Poly board. Also heavy but durable. It offer privacy and is probably a little less expensive than acrylic.

If you want to go cheap, just use indoor/outdoor plywood with the edges sealed very well. It won't last as long as any the above, but is less expensive.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Probably whatever you like. Teak may match the trim that surrounds the companionway ... if that is what you had.

I made new boards out of ash that I had on hand. I used teak inserts for trim around the window insert and vent (I have 3 boards - for the top I inserted a window and the middle has a vent). After varnishing it, I wasn't so happy with the look because the ash is too light.

I pulled them out to sand all the finish off and I am going to try some stain to get a better look. But the boards fit much better than the originals (which I kept for spare).

 

[mark_swart]

Are you sure your old ones are beyond repair? A lot of times teak looks rough but cleans up pretty well. But come to think of it, none of my three O'Days had the original hatchboards by the time I owned any of them, so maybe there was an issue.
I'd go with Starboard and never have to worry about redoing them or scratching them up again....ever!

 

[Bill Roosa]

If you are going to rebuild some stuff to consider as additional nice things to have:
ventlation/bug screen.
a window or make it of lextan as already mentioned
Safety, a locking mechanism that keeps the boards in place when overturned and is releasable from both inside and out. (saw a diagram of the "fancy cord routing" device on the net somewhere but can't recall where now)

 

[Ross]

I replaced my companion drop boards with a door. Storage is never a problem, closing up take 5 seconds. I hang my gps, bell and horn on the inside. When the door is open these items are in reach in the cockpit.

 

[rgranger]

I replaced my companion drop boards with a door. Storage is never a problem, closing up take 5 seconds. I hang my gps, bell and horn on the inside. When the door is open these items are in reach in the cockpit.

Ross

That sounds perfect. Do you have a picture of that? I'd like to copy.

 

[Ross]

This is it . I have since added the gps holder.

 

[rgranger]

This is it . I have since added the gps holder.

Ross that looks nice. Let me ask... is the door hinge bolted directly to the companionway bulkhead or is the door hinge bolted to a slide that slides into the companionway slides. I guess what I'm trying to ask (clumsily) is can you still lift the door off of the slide (by pulling up on it) or is it permanently bound to the bulkhead?

r

 

[Ron20324]

This is it . I have since added the gps holder.

That's nice, ROSS. A bell and one of those things to put in your ear help you hear

 

[Ross]

The door is hinged with screws to the frame of the companionway.

 

[Cool Beans]

1/2" plywood, sealed with epoxy so far. . .might tape the bottom edge of the lowest board and bevels to keep them from splitting in the future. . .second coat of epoxy, then white paint. . .simple and cheap

What are you guys doing for weather proof vents? And is there anything better than the old padlock and latch?

 

[Ross]

Weather proof or intruder proof? Padlock and latches don't do much to keep out the weather. For weather proof I had my hatch pullout past my door and have a hinged flap that folds down and locks to the door to keep out the honest intruders. There is no way to keep out a determined intruder if you can't afford a full time armed guard.

 

[Cool Beans]

The flap is a good idea, that slot leaks like a sieve when it is raining and the wind is blowing. . .

The weather proof was in reference to vents. I have seen a lot where people cut slots in a board or staple screen over holes, but if I wanted to leave the board in 24/7 is there a good weather proof vent I can install?