New cabin passage design

[agprice22]

I have been thinking about a new design for the cabin passage to replace the crib boards. They are simple, but they have some disadvantages. They leak. They are difficult to open and close while underway. They have to be stowed when not in place. The cockpit doesn't seem to lend itself to a side-to-side swinging door. How about a one-piece board that swings out and slides up and forward under the pop-top? Perhaps mounted on some rails to the underside of the pop-top.

Or how about a door that swings inward horizontally and latches to the bulkhead when open?

Or how about a door that swings inward vertically and latches to bottom of the pop-top when open?

Just thinking here. I have no pictures yet, but I think it could be easily built.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[CaptDon01]

Just thinking, but I've never messed with the hatch boards while underway on our current C-22, or our original C-22. I get to the boat and remove them, they store easily in my starboard lazarette,(MK-II version). I only have two plastic hatch boards on our model. Our's don't leak unless I spray them direct with the hose. Are yours angled on the tops and bottom to naturally shed the water? We do use them when spending the night onboard to keep the cabin warm,(even in the middle of summer it gets cold on the water in San Diego). But, maybe a fabric covering that snaps on the sides, and maybe a zipper for quick and easy access? Just thinking....

Don

 

[agprice22]

We get some heavy rain here, so, although mine are milled on the edges to stop water, we get some drips. I have the nice, white star board ones from CD. Also, I don't use them underway, but technically, they should be in place in case of a knockdown. I imagine VERY few of us have them in place. Mine store easily enough, but the idea of an improvement never hurts, and messing with the boat is FUN!

So, are these things a real problem to be solved, no. Could they be improved, probably. Plus, I enjoy the thinking.

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[watercolors II]

Catalina’s sloping companionway

The best ever item I have on my Catalina that’s not for sail handling is a canvas companionway cover. The crib board bag works great also.

As Don suggested, it snaps to the sliding top so it moves when the top moves. The cover molds to the sliding top handle so using the handle through the cover is not a problem.

Now, the best, is the battens in the face of the cover. They add weight to keep it down and will not cave in or move around in the wind, they help with the wind when laying on top of the sliding hatch. The battens are strong enough to keep body weight from breaking them if bumped and would maybe hold back a following wave if it was to break over the stern and into the cockpit.

The battens are sewed into the cover so they add bulk to the cover when it is rolled up and in storage.

Sorry fellows, this is not an after market item, had to design and make myself, the board bag can be commercially purchased.

 

[agprice22]

Aha! Sweet. Neat idea. I'm still brainstorming a sliding hatch to replace the boards altogether.


Thanks,

Andrew

 

[bnme]

I have been thinking about a new design for the cabin passage to replace the crib boards. They are simple, but they have some disadvantages. They leak. They are difficult to open and close while underway. They have to be stowed when not in place. The cockpit doesn't seem to lend itself to a side-to-side swinging door. How about a one-piece board that swings out and slides up and forward under the pop-top? Perhaps mounted on some rails to the underside of the pop-top.

Or how about a door that swings inward horizontally and latches to the bulkhead when open?

Or how about a door that swings inward vertically and latches to bottom of the pop-top when open?

Just thinking here. I have no pictures yet, but I think it could be easily built.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Andrew

I use a golf umbrella when it's raining and I have to be in the cabin. I tie a line to the handle and put the handle in the Cabin with me. I secure the line either to the winch handle or close it it the galley drawer. Works great. I'm also making a cover out of plastic tarp using my canvas one as a pattern. U might also consider using a used PVC billboard.
Jay

 

[bnme]

I use a golf umbrella when it's raining and I have to be in cabin. I open it, pull the handle into the cabin with me and secure it to the winch handle with a line. Sometimes I close the line in the galley drawer . Keeps me dry and let's in lots of air. Also making a hatch cover out of plastic tarp using my canvas cover as the pattern.

 

[CCrane2299]

Since we are "just thinking" here...
It was my thought to build a frame with the outside dimensions of the stacked boards. I was thinking plexiglass. I guess you could use wood? It would look like a v with a flat bottom. It would only be about an inch to an inch and a half wide on the three sides. It would have to be thick enough to support two swinging doors. One of which would have a strip on it that overlapped the other when closed. The hinges would have to be designed to allow the doors to swing out enough to fold flat against the cabin when opened. The angle of the cabin would both keep them open and closed. Some arrangement would be needed to latch them in the center at the top as there would be no top rail to close against. My neighbor is a cabinet maker and built some cabinet doors for me on a camper project I'm working on. The hinges are flush on the backs of the doors and allow the door to completely cover an opening but still open away from the cabinet. When finished, these could be left in place all the time or swapped for the crib boards if wanted. We've been brainstorming, but mostly building a camper and drinking beer.

 

[agprice22]

I get it. That's not bad. Kind of what I have in mind. For the door to swing outward and clear the cockpit seats, wouldn't the bottom rail of the frame have to be pretty wide? Thus making the step-over tall?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[CCrane2299]

I think the bottom rail would have to be thick enough to keep the sides at the right angles to keep it secure, and enough to allow water to run over it after it dripped off of the doors. A nice piece of aluminum would be strong enough and light enough to do the job. If it was shimmed out flush with the crib board slides, the doors could cover the whole thing making it appear that the doors were all that was there. I also was thinking that a "u" shaped channel mounted to one door could slide across the top to complete the joint where the two doors meet. This would provide a stop for both doors.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Island Packet.


Wow! These photo's loaded dynamite fast. I had ceased to post pics because it used to take forever..

 

[Chris Patterson]

Something else while im thinkin about it...These hinges are of the removable variety, so you can stow 'em if you like.
Note the offsets. Ya had better be on top of your layout game to make them recess in the existing frame. The overlap and hinge offset are epoxied.

and it sure makes it sweet gettin in and out..

 

[CCrane2299]

Island Packet.


Wow! These photo's loaded dynamite fast. I had ceased to post pics because it used to take forever..

That was exactly what I pictured in my mind, only I would have the doors mounted to a frame that would slide in just as the crib boards do.

 

[agprice22]

Sweet. Those are NICE!


Thanks for the photos too!

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Chris Patterson]

I just figured it might give you some engineering ideas. I venture if you had the exact dimensions of it, it would prove pointless. In my experience, if it were an identical boat, it would STILL be off a little bit. But with that tinted acrylic, you can't see below on a clear day, but you can see out. And a man would have to smash his way in to gain entrance..

 

[agprice22]

And a man would have to smash his way in to gain entrance..

Yeah, but my wife would just have to flash her smile and bat her eyelashes, and I would let her in!

Thanks for the pics. It is a good idea.

Thanks,

Andrew