can't live w/o them
I've had doors on my last two boats and wouldn't go without them now. The advantage is, you get in and out of the cabin without having to remove, store, then replace, the hatchboards. Or even worse, step over them (sometimes unsuccessfully). Doors just push out of the way, and close just as easily. At achor or at the dock, they're perfect. when sailing, I'd lift the doors off the hinges and store them below, leaving the companionway open. Or, if the weather was bad, put the hatchboards in... but not if there was going to be a lot of traffic between the cockpit and the cabin. For me, they didn't replace the boards so much as augment them, but if you spend any time on the boat when it's stationary, they're a great addition. ph.