Companionway bug-screen

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Forum,

I would have used "search," but that function is down right now.  Does anyone know of a firm that will make a rigid companionway bug-screen?  I would rather have a frame based screen then the Velcro wrap-around.

TIA,

Bob

[Ron Hill]

Bob : I don't have a copy onboard now, but there is usually a company advertising "companionway doors" with screen and solid insert in the Catalina mainsheet magazine. 

A thought

[Jeff Tancock]

It's pretty easy to make a dowel frame and stitch your choice of screen over it. We made one years ago and pull it out from under the V berth when needed.

[Jim Hardesty]

I'll try to describe mine.  Made by the P.O.  It works great.  It's 4 wood dowles (1/4 or 3/8?) also 4 (6") length of (1/4 or 3/8) clear plastic soft tubeing.  The dowles are cut to the size and shape of the companion way, inside the drop board slots, may be an inch or so short both directions.  Slip the tubeing on and adjust to fit.  Then hand sew over that some (nylon?) bug screen.  Done.  It fits tight.  It folds up to it self, so it stores real small.  Its held up 5 years for me.  Don't think that it would cost more than $10 at Lowes or Ace Hardware.  I'm guessing an hour to do.  Next visit to Shamrock I'll take some pictures.
Jim

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

I'll try to describe mine.  Made by the P.O.  It works great.  It's 4 wood dowles (1/4 or 3/8?) also 4 (6") length of (1/4 or 3/8) clear plastic soft tubeing.  The dowles are cut to the size and shape of the companion way, inside the drop board slots, may be an inch or so short both directions.  Slip the tubeing on and adjust to fit.  Then hand sew over that some (nylon?) bug screen.  Done.  It fits tight.  It folds up to it self, so it stores real small.  Its held up 5 years for me.  Don't think that it would cost more than $10 at Lowes or Ace Hardware.  I'm guessing an hour to do.  Next visit to Shamrock I'll take some pictures.
Jim

Sounds like a great device.  I look forward to the pictures.  Thanks,  Bob

[patrice]

Hi,
Mine look like Jim's one.
I bought at Local Hardware store the aluminum frame that you can buy to make your own screen frame.
But don't make the 4 sides, just top and bottom.
I cut one length that goes across the top of companion door.  And one that goes at bottom.
Cut a screen section that cover the compnionway, and assemble to the top and bottom aluminum frame with the rubber string required to assemble.
To put in place, just hang the screen in place where the door slide, and to store, rool it up, and store where you want.

[tommyt]

Saw a screen on another C-34 and loved it. Went to my sail maker and had him make one for me. It is canvas and screen that snaps onto the companionway from the inside. A zipper goes from bottom to top in the middle and gives easy entry to cabin with a quick zip and easily zipped back up as you get in or out. Rolls to store easily. Pick your own color.

[Indian Falls]

weighted bug screen 70-80$

http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail.htm?group=118

nice if you don't want to make your own.


http://sv-cestlavie.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-companionway-screen-aka-reuserecycle.html

really nice if you DO want to make your own.

[Jim Hardesty]

Here are pictures of my screen.  Hope they help with my explanation.  I looked closer looks to be machine stiched, hand stiching would be just as fast I think.
Jim

[Fred Koehlmann]

We just used black veil material for the companionway. Friends of ours used soup cans to hold it in place, but I wasn't crazy about having the cans land on my head by accident. So we put button holes into the top forward section and anchored them into the same connectors that hold the dodger down. On the three remaining sides (port, starboard and bottom), we stitched in a length of twisted SS chain. Twisted, because it lays flat.

When not in use it just gets stored up against the dodger. When in use we can have the bottom extend outward to surround a small cooler of whatever. It has turned out to be quite flexible.

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Everyone,

Esprit du Vent now has a companionway bug screen.  I used the design suggested by Jim Hardesty.  It cost all of $17.00.  It took a bit of time as I am not the "craftiest bear in the woods."  I stitched the side dowels to the screening wire (actually fiberglass) using coat thread.  Then I sealed the stitches with painter's tape.  Used 1/2" dowels as they fit snugly into the slots after applying the screening and tape.  The top and bottom dowels were left free of the screening for disassembly.  It looks good and, as Jim points out, it folds up very neatly for storage.

One project down... On to the next.

[Jim Hardesty]

Robert,
Sounds like you made an improved version of mine.  May I suggest you take a couple of pictures and post them here for the next guy.  Everyone needs a bug screen at some time.
Jim

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Robert,
Sounds like you made an improved version of mine.  May I suggest you take a couple of pictures and post them here for the next guy.  Everyone needs a bug screen at some time.
Jim

On Sunday my good wife Pat took some low resolution pictures with her cell phone.  If this does not do it I could retake them with my Nikon.  The first image shows the bug screen in place.  Notice that the screen "wire" goes under the top and bottom dowels.  This must be installed from the inside.  The bottom just flaps out into the cockpit.  The top attaches to the lip of the sliding hatch.  I am using blue painter's tape (I am the "Prince" of blue painter's tape) to secure it to the hatch on the inside.  I considered using Velcro, but the screen is so light weight that constant hooking and unhooking of Velcro might damage the system.

The second image shows the detail of the joints.  The 1/2" plastic tubes allow the exact lengths of each side.  Since I remove the top and bottom dowels for storage, it is important to mark the point where the tube sits on each dowel.  By using 1/2" tubing and dowels, the system fits snugly into the companionway.  No bugs allowed!  You cannot see the hand stitching with coat thread on the vertical dowels as they are covered with my favorite blue painter's tape.

The third picture shows me slowly lowering the bug screen into position.

[Indian Falls]

Ha! we should have a contest to see who comes up with the best bug screen on the C34...

[Ken Juul]

Late entry.  It costs a bit more but is easier to use.  Using the hatch boards as a pattern, 2 1/8" pieces of plexiglass were cut to make a frame.  Screen inserted between them, then glued together.  Stores easily under the aft berth when not in use.  Rough diagram.