Replacing hatchboards on a '75 Catalina 27

[Bob Shafer]

I've just purchased a '75 C27, and the hatchboards are falling apart. I thought they were teak but now I find they are laminated particle board that was hiding under a hideous coat of white paint. Catalina want $250 for new teak boards and they are not sure they will fit. Have any of you made your own? What non-teak, reasonable and durable wood did you use? I plan to Cetol them for protection. I hope they will we not too far off the rest of the teak which I will Cetol. Help!!...and many thanks.

 

[Stephen]

teak

My friend made his out of teak & they look very nice. He just made a pattern from the old ones.

 

[Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO]

Cat 27 Hatch Boards

There is a problem with the boards on TASHTEGO (my Cat 27). The grain in the center of the teak hatch boards runs right across the hatch horizontally but the ends are made of vertical grain and a good whack will break them easily. I know, I've done it - twice. If you make new boards, bite the bullet and let the grain run right across. They'll be a lot stronger.PS I've seen this on a lot of other boats too. The builders should be ashamed.

 

[mjbliemel]

Make a pattern and send to Catalina

I was looking into new hatchboards for my 1978 C27 too. Catalina also quoted me $250. They said to send them the outline (tracings) of the present boards. I don't understand why the other poster said they (Catalina) could not guarantee that they would fit. For $250 they darned well better fit!Teak is great, but expensive. I bet you end up paying more than $250 for teak lumber to make hatchboards. Just a guess from the prices I have seen for pieces of teak lumber at places like West Marine.I think mahogany would also be a good choice, going to have to look into that myself actually.

 

[tom b. c-22]

my c-22 has a moulded piece of aluminum in there

just bought the boat. so no idea where it came from. but iits one piece. i have another one thats like half the size to put in the entry also. again, came with the boat when i bought it.maybe aftermarket??or an option??maybe someone else knows.