Replacement companionway boards

Ross · Jul 24, 2009

Other local wood species that will work well are cherry, sassafras, walnut and white cedar. They are all durable and quite weater resistant. You could rout them to accept lexan windows.

zeehag · Jul 24, 2009

Ross said:
Other local wood species that will work well are cherry, sassafras, walnut and white cedar. They are all durable and quite weater resistant. You could rout them to accept lexan windows.

add white(not red) oak to this list...just try to avoid mahogany--rots in alll conditions--salt, fresh waters, air---everything and doesnt last long at all---is gorgeous, but not seaworthy....
lexan is great-----used with wood as a frame or even plain without the wooood....also think about screens with wood frames.....so many options now your boards are toast lol...have fun with this project!!!!~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~~

BobM · Jul 24, 2009

I'd pass on oak. It doesn't weather well.

Ross · Jul 24, 2009

The bad marks some of the wood species are getting reflects limited use. Mahogany from Honduras is among the most desireable boat woods. All woods will decay if kept damp I have a stack of western red cedar with the ends rotted off where they were under the siding on a house deck and they rotted around the nail holes. Clear redwood is good as are any of the hard cedars.

george schmidbauer · Jul 24, 2009

star board is also an option

Warren Milberg · Jul 24, 2009

I've made replacement companionway boards for two boats. On one, I was just looking for a drop-in single board that I could add a stainless vent in order to allow air to circulate when the boat was on the hard over the winter. I cut that single board out of 3/8-in Philipine mahoghany plywood. Very cheap, very easy to work with. After sanding, I applied one coat of Cetol for color, and then used up an old can of varnish on it to seal it. Wow. That board looked so good I began using it year round. When I sold that boat 5 yrs later, that board was still looking top notch.

The other boards I made from solid Honduras Mahoghany. Since I was making 4 boards, it was more work, but well worth it. When I put Cetol on those boards, they looked just like teak. I think that wood would have lasted indefinitely. I would have no reservations about using this wood. Only downside it that it was expensive and a bit heavy.

sailingdog · Jul 24, 2009

Not really. Starboard is not really meant to be used for structural purposes. If you're planning on making dropboards out of starboard, you really need to laminate them with an aluminum or stainless steel brace between the two pieces or use really heavy starboard. It is very flexible and isn't a good material for this purpose.

max s said:
star board is also an option

Ron20324 · Jul 24, 2009

My boards faced the sun all day, every day, so I made a one-piece board out of 1/8- inch aluminum. I left it in place when in the home slip to let it take all that the weather could throw at it. I used the nicer wooden boards when away from home or whenever showing off the boat.

Steve Dion · Jul 24, 2009

Tight grain wood is best. I like the mahogany too. The acrylic is a bit heavy, but it is nice to have the light shinning through when all of your boards and in.

I suggest that you also have a companionway cover. They protect the boards and keep the bugs, dirt, rain & sun out. We often will close the companionway hatch and just drop the cloth. It also keeps the dog in, 'cause she does not know if the boards are in or out.

SeaRanch · Jul 26, 2009

When I had a Hunter 31 I replaced the companyionway boards with one piece 1/2" Starboard, worked great. Yes was heaver but not leaks or boards to refinish.
Bill

Clark · Jul 27, 2009

Warren Milberg said:
I've made replacement companionway boards for two boats. On one, I was just looking for a drop-in single board that I could add a stainless vent in order to allow air to circulate when the boat was on the hard over the winter. . . .

Warren, what vent(s) did you use? I would very much like to do the same but I don't like the weather-keeping ability of the small vents and the clamshells look pretty bulky.

Scotian · Jul 27, 2009

A wood called Purpleheart is also known for resistance to decay and able to leave exposed to weather.
Ask at a speciality lumber store in your area.

Keith13315 · Jul 27, 2009

Smoke Plexi

I made a new companion way door with 1/2 inch smoke plexiglass very strong a bit heavy but did I say strong I could smash in the wooded boards with a good kick the plexi I think I would break my foot. As far as the the sun I also made (well the admiral did) a canvas cover to snap over (I installed the snaps) when we leave so it also cuts down on the heat inside tha cabin. I just cut the plexi in half using a 45 degree angle so the rain runs off not in. Used the old boards as a templete and used my band saw to cut it then sanded and polished the edges looks GREAT. I reccommend it over wood.
Keith

MrBee · Jul 27, 2009

Purple heart is also Pretty, I made a duck call out of it once.

Bee

Jim Kolstoe · Jul 27, 2009

Yes, Purpleheart is a pretty wood, but according to what I've read about it, the dust is toxic - a mask and good ventilation is needed to work it.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

RobertLangdirect · Jul 28, 2009

My P-31, "Good Trade" had two old, 3/4" teak veneer plywood boards in the companion way. They were rotted around the edges.

I used the folding dining table top from an hurricane killed hunter to make new boards. While the replacement boards are far from perfect they are also far from hideously ugly rotten wood that was there. They are a teak-looking vinyl on the outside and white formica on the inside with furniture-grade or marine plywood inbetween.

I coated all exposed edges with polyester resin. They were as easy to cut as wood, sturdy, not too heavy, and cheap.

Good luck.