New companionway doors and tiller on my Hunter 23!

[Paladin27]

My friend Mark is an excellent woodworking craftsman, he does all sorts of cabinets and custom home projects. I enlisted him to build new custom companionway doors and a new customtiller for the Hunter 23. He also redid all the other brightwork on the boat, so everything is fresh and looks like a million bucks!

Below are some photos from the build process and also spring prep!


It's made out of Jarrah and Cypress


Lifting Hinges for the new companionway doors

They just slide right off

The new doors are made out of teak

The best way to buff... have a friend do it for you!

Emily and Steph painting the rudder

The new doors are in place and the deck is finally clean!

Boomer approves of the easy to access cabin!

The new tiller looks absolutely fantastic!

Ready for 2015!



The companionway windows really make the cabin look bigger (and show off all the junk I need to clean up!)

Ready for the 2015 season!

 

[Kermit]

Looks great, Paladin. Thanks for sharing. And welcome back to the forum. I always enjoy reading your posts.

 

[omnivox42]

Does your buddy have plans drawn up for those doors. I am very interested. Also, are the windows glass or plexiglass? How do they seal to keep water out around the edges and where the doors meet?

 

[Paladin27]

Does your buddy have plans drawn up for those doors. I am very interested. Also, are the windows glass or plexiglass? How do they seal to keep water out around the edges and where the doors meet?

I can check with him. I know we made some sketches with measurements along the way, not sure how far he went with exact plans.

The windows are 3/8" smoke gray polycarbonate Lexan.

So, we had many discussions about water ingress. Here's what we did...

1. He made a new larger wood block "handle" for the top (32"W x 1 3/8" T x 2.5" D). You can see it in the photo, it goes all the way to the edge of the doors now and also sticks out over the doors about 1". He also put a water drip edge under it, but in front of the doors to keep water from running over and into the cabin.
2. On each side, there is a wood strip that is 3/8" thick attached to the back of each door that overlaps out 1/2" beyond the door so when the door closes, the overlapped strip inserts into the track for the old hatch boards. That keeps any water from coming in between the door and the companionway trim pieces on each side.
3. The bottom edge is just 3/8" strips on the back of the doors to make it all even. I may add a small rubber strip on the bottom just to help the doors not clank if someone throws them shut.
4. Between the doors, there's a 3/8" strip attached to the port door that simple sites behind the starboard door when closed to keep water out.

 

[Paladin27]

Thanks Kermit! I lurk here throughout the winter... but just didn't really have anything new to report with the boat in storage. ;-) I'm planning on getting the quadcopter out and flying around while sailing more this season... so hopefully should have some more videos soon to post!

 

[Kermit]

Just don't let this happen to you!

 

[Paladin27]

Everytime I fly it... I hold my breath. Well, actually... my wife holds her breath for me (knowing how much I've sunk into that stupid thing). ;-)

A couple videos I did this winter...

South Haven, in January during the big ice breaker festival. We took advantage of all the bars opening for the day!

The South Haven Lighthouse at the end of February... sailing season felt SOO far away when I took this, glad the boat is finally floating again!

 

[Bill Murray]

Love your videos!! We are planning a cruise south on the Lake this summer to include South Haven. Glad you are in the water. I am not - yet but soon.

 

[donavansails]

My friend Mark is an excellent woodworking craftsman, he does all sorts of cabinets and custom home projects. I enlisted him to build new custom companionway doors and a new customtiller for the Hunter 23. He also redid all the other brightwork on the boat, so everything is fresh and looks like a million bucks! Below are some photos from the build process and also spring prep! https://flic.kr/p/sw8fns It's made out of Jarrah and Cypress https://flic.kr/p/seQWTK https://flic.kr/p/sw8gsU Lifting Hinges for the new companionway doors https://flic.kr/p/seGV5u They just slide right off https://flic.kr/p/su1bo5 The new doors are made out of teak https://flic.kr/p/rzudAR The best way to buff... have a friend do it for you! https://flic.kr/p/seQVFK Emily and Steph painting the rudder https://flic.kr/p/s9T5ub The new doors are in place and the deck is finally clean! https://flic.kr/p/rut23d Boomer approves of the easy to access cabin! https://flic.kr/p/s9UaLd The new tiller looks absolutely fantastic! https://flic.kr/p/s9T2wh Ready for 2015! https://flic.kr/p/sriHqf https://flic.kr/p/srrxNn https://flic.kr/p/sriFzm The companionway windows really make the cabin look bigger (and show off all the junk I need to clean up!) https://flic.kr/p/rzvA9D Ready for the 2015 season!

Looks great keep up the good work

 

[C Jones]

Love your new woodwork. Your friend is a true craftsman and artist. The new tiller handle is great and the tiller tamer mounted below it is interesting. Wish I could duplicate your walk thru doors but as I use my traveler on every tack that would not work for me in this Texas heat with summer nearly here. Wish it would. How much beer did your polish/ buffing job cost? lol and that's the best looking paint crew on the planet!

 

[twodzusfittings]

.....but as I use my traveler on every tack that would not work for me in this Texas heat with summer nearly here.

Seems to me that they would just lift up off the hinges and be stowed safely below. That's how I would perceive the pictures be showing. Is that correct Palladin 27?

 

[Paladin27]

They lift right off and can be stowed below, just like a companionway hatch. That's why I got the lifting hinges from Sea Dog.

http://www.sea-dog.com/groups/1568-take-apart-hinge