Dropboard Makers

[Delphis]

Hi,

After years of repairing our old dropboards with epoxy, I decided its time to by new ones.

I'm considering going with a marine grade plywood with teak veneer.

Does anyone know who is making these?

I contacted D & R Marine in Assonet, MA, but they're having a hard time getting the supplies this year.

Does anyone have other dropboard ideas. Is anyone having luck with the Starboard material?

Thanks.

Jeff
Cape Ann MA

 

[sailingdog]

I wouldn't recommend using starboard as it has relatively low tensile strength and isn't very rigid. Most of the commercial dropboards made of starboard are actually two layers laminated over an aluminum or stainless steel reinforcement.

3/8" or 1/2" Makrolon or other polycarbonate might work well for you and give you additional light in the cabin of your boat. Fairly easy to make as well. A good vendor for polycarbonate is Hart Supply, in Hingham, MA.

Making some up out of marine plywood and glassing over them to increase their durability and reduce maintenance is also a fairly easy option.

I see you're up on Cape Ann.... if you have any questions PM me, as I'm up that way about once a month or so, though my boat is down the South Coast region of the state.

Hi,

After years of repairing our old dropboards with epoxy, I decided its time to by new ones.

I'm considering going with a marine grade plywood with teak veneer.

Does anyone know who is making these?

I contacted D & R Marine in Assonet, MA, but they're having a hard time getting the supplies this year.

Does anyone have other dropboard ideas. Is anyone having luck with the Starboard material?

Thanks.

Jeff
Cape Ann MA

 

[Delphis]

Thanks!

I appreciate the heads up on the Starboard material. Also the tip on a polycarbonate supplier in Hingham.

I think I read that polycarbonate doesn't block the UV, but depending how much of the dropboard is actually glassed over it might not matter I guess.


Thanks.

Jeff

P.S. Thanks for the PM invite. I'll send along something soon

 

[HukilauMike]

I made new drop boards from marine grade plywood and have not been happy. I sealed the edges good, or so I thought, in order to keep water from getting between the plys. Make a long story short, the boards looked good for one season before the surface ply was so compromised that no amount of sanding or sealing could fix it. I would stay away from plywood unless you are going to epoxy it as Sailingdog suggests. Another easy option is to use solid wood. I would have suggested Starboard too, but I have no experience with the stuff.

 

[Delphis]

Thanks. That the same sort of problem we had with out existing boards. Moisture was getting to the inside of the board and causing all sorts of problems.

Hopefully a little more research will help me find the best way to avoid the problem from happening again.

Jeff

 

[sailingdog]

This is why I said to glass over the plywood. Another option is to use plywood but trim the edges with solid wood. One reason I prefer to use plywood is that it is less prone to warping and checking than solid wood and being laminated often stronger in resisting breakage from waves and such...

I made new drop boards from marine grade plywood and have not been happy. I sealed the edges good, or so I thought, in order to keep water from getting between the plys. Make a long story short, the boards looked good for one season before the surface ply was so compromised that no amount of sanding or sealing could fix it. I would stay away from plywood unless you are going to epoxy it as Sailingdog suggests. Another easy option is to use solid wood. I would have suggested Starboard too, but I have no experience with the stuff.

 

[Ross]

If one is willing to use starboard than I should think that paint would be acceptable also. Therefore any durable species of wood cut and fitted by a compentent carpenter would serve perfectly well. Simply because it is wood doesn't mean it must be finished bright..

 

[Ron20324]

I don't know how big your board(s) would be, but I made my B235's out of thick aluminum sheet. No delamination, no varnish.

 

[bffatcat]

new companionway boards

I made a set of boards out of 1/2" marine plywood for my pearson 26W about 5 years ago. I used the old boards as a template for the new. I applied epoxy along the edges
and painted the boards with pettit easypoxy. Ive had to repaint once but the boards are working out OK

 

[Delphis]

Thanks. This is another technique I haven't heard of. I have used the Petit product and love the stuff.

 

[HukilauMike]

This is why I said to glass over the plywood. Another option is to use plywood but trim the edges with solid wood. One reason I prefer to use plywood is that it is less prone to warping and checking than solid wood and being laminated often stronger in resisting breakage from waves and such...

I wish I had talked to you four years ago!