companionway door

[Elizabeth]

Is a $499. investment for a companionway door a sound idea for a 17 yr. old Catalina 22?? A new hatch board is $365. I am thinking thatI could have a new hatch board made much cheaper. Any ideasor suggestions???

 

[Bob Carlton]

Consider plastic

I replaced weather-worn companionway door on a 24' Cal I used to own with a light grey plexiglass type material. I got it at a store in Portland called Tap Plastics which may be a franchise. It lightened up the cabin, cuts and drills like wood, and you don't have to oil or varnish it. If you like the looks of wood or want more privacy than a semi-transparent plexiglass offers, get a piece of marine grade plywood and oil or varnish it. It will be much cheaper than new teak anything.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina]

Iroko Wood is a teak alternative

There's a place here in Portland called Crosscut Hardwoods (I'm sure there's something similar in your neck of the woods) that just sells wood. Teak was somewhere in the $18/bf range but there is a wood called iroko which is verrrry similar. So much so that I can't tell the difference when varnished! If you have some made, use this stuff instead at $6/bf.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Buy plastic at Catalina Direct

Faced with this same decision, I bought the white plastic ones poffered by Catalina Direct. They come in 3 sizes and mine required a little trimming down to fit exactly. This was easy to do with a radial arm saw.The plastic ones cost about $100. My old hatch boards were teak covered plywood and they did not hold up very well.