Companionway Safety

[grahamdb]

There is a potential safety issue, and a possible design / quality issue of a Hunter supplied item on my '45 CC' that has failed four times on my boat and, is now in need of replacement once again.

The items in question are the two high tensile spring coils that are used to control the drop down plexiglass companionway door. Since having my boat from new and, as stated previously, these have failed many times over the last few years which, leads me to suspect that they are not suitable for the application that they are being put to. I also suspect that this may be a design / quality issue that is unfairly being charged as a continuing and unnecessary cost to your customers.

My safety remark is because, at the time of the last failure of these springs, my family and I were put in a situation where it was not possible to close the companionway hatch at sea when vast amounts of water were coming over the fore deck, into the cockpit and subsequently into the saloon. This is clearly an undesirable and dangerous situation. When these springs break, they have the tendency to try and return to their relaxed coiled position and, is so doing so, jam the door in its current position, making it impossible to move up or down. In this situation, there is the added possibility of not being able to leave the boat through a closed companionway door in an emergency situation such as a fire, or flood. The consequences of that are obvious.

My questions are:
What is Hunter doing to resolve this hazardous situation?
What is Hunter going to do to ensure that its customers are not continually paying for what is without doubt, a design and safety issue?

I have tried emailing 'Hunter Customer Services' but me email keeps bouncing back.

Any comments on this subject would be welcomed, apart from buying a bundle of these springs. Its the safety issue that is most concerning to me.

 

[KD3PC]

Good old fashioned phone call may well do miracles in this day and age....it does little good to blame them for not responding, when the onus is on you to let them know.

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=127861
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/archive/index.php/t-104995.html

Google only returns two links applicable...

Unless your boat is in warranty, there is likely little hunter will do to resolve this. Whether it is a design issue or safety issue is also a stretch.

IF you have replaced them 4 times in a few short years, then I would have called them on the first failure....when it occurred. What is causing the failure? What maintenance is being done to check them?

Best of luck, but blasting them here, with 1 post is in bad form.

Call Hunter or Marlow, now and present your case. Or Call your selling dealer and ask that they get involved with Hunter to help.

 

[seadaddler]

Back

If your email's are bouncing back than they are not receiving your
complaint and would call and try this # 1-800-771-5556.
I am pretty sure this is the # I used recently with help from Hunter.
Nick

 

[Viktor Eysselein]

My spring coil broke too - how to you replace it? I think you have to get the door out to attach the spring to the glass door with a screw at the bottom!
Please advice1

Thanks, Viktor

 

[Greg Kyle]

The companionway door with the spring coils are IMHO a great design in theory but not so good in practice. Because the coils are under tension, they do tend to break if the doors are slammed down. Having found that out early on, I am gentle with opening and closing the companionway door and tell my guest to be gentle as well. I've replaced the coils many a time (i'm guessing twelve times at this point) and typically order six to eight at a time from shop.hunterowners.com. It is an easy job to swap them out and I prefer to keep them even with their weakness vs. the alternative of replacing the door with traditional drop boards. I do not find it a safety issue at all.

For the original poster, a couple comments: 1. If you're sailing in rough water with "vast amounts of water coming over the foredeck" (which is seldom the case on the 45cc) then the hatch should be closed or partially closed before those conditions are met. The first time the coils break can be understandable if you're caught by surprise, but not by the fourth time per your posting. By then you are well aware of the issue. 2. I've called Hunter service many a time and they have always promptly answered or returned my voicemails and I've been very happy with their customer service even during the transition with Marlow. If you're concerned about it being a safety issue, then I would suggest giving up the nice convenience of the sliding door and replace it with traditional drop board.

For Viktor, you can order the springs from the hunterowners shop. To replace remove the stainless steel trim around the door outside and inside, remove the cover over the cockpit drains (a good time to make sure they are not partially clogged by debris) and then the door itself. Starting from the top, I believe/think four screws on each side. Then pull the door and frame assembly out and you have access to the coils and the screw at the bottom of the door. The first time its about a half hour job. Subsequent replacements take about fifteen minutes. If you'd like I can put together a quick photo series or vid to show the process if that would help.

 

[Viktor Eysselein]

Could replace springs. Removed covering metal plates, file off plastic cover preventing the door going out. Then door could be moved out. Lifted the door up to the level of the springs, rotated them out after removing the spring cover. Could then remove the screw holding the spring - sounds difficult but was easy!
Thanks so much!
Viktor