I am about to order new zacor doors http://www.zarcor.com to replace the teak boards in the companion way. Does anybody have these? Can any one offer a comment?
Mark Wey C-36
I had thought about doing this. But in the open position they intrude too far into the cockpit. Would end up removing then and stowing below to go sailing. Seems like a lot of money spent to look good at the dock when you aren't aboard.
Ken.
I agree they do protrude into the cockpit. But they are hinged and are easy to remove at the hinges. I have a full enclosure on my boat. When we cruise my wife likes to keep the mosquito's out from down below or the cool night time air out as well . This door has a screen plus options for a full privacy door etc. etc. Taking the boards in and out can be a pain. Besides the teak needs constant attention. Expensive yes, but.........
Here is another thread on the C-36 sight with a similar discussion.
Mark
Here's another fairly related question.
What is the best way to lock your hatchboards from he inside for security while you are sleeping? I have replaced my factory hatchboards with a one piece Lexan hatch with the hasp at the outside top to mate with the factory padeye.
Mike
Mike, why not padlock the boards as you would normally do from the outside and then enter the boat through the forward hatch over the v berth.
I would not recommend padlocking the hatch from the inside or outside while you are sleeping, as it it could be a real safety hazard in the event of something requiring immediate evacuation, such as fire.
We don't lock ours at all but if we thought it was necessary, I would use some sort of slide bolt from the inside to prevent the hatch from being slid open.
Roland Gendreau
Gratitude #1183
To keep bugs out of the cabin we have a plexiglass frame with screen in the middle that fills the entire hatch. Light weight and thin so it stores easily under the aft mattress. To keep the heat & A/C in the cabin we have a similiar solid peice of plexiglass we use in place of the teak boards when we are aboard. We also have a piece of sunbrella the size of the hatch boards that snaps to the sliding companionway top. It's real purpose is to keep the UV's off the hatch boards to ease maintenance, but also comes in handy as a shade for clear plexiglass.
Yes they have to come out to go in and out of the cabin. But they are light weight & easily handled with one hand. Alot easier than dealing with 3 hatch boards.
I agree with Ken's suggested solution, and I have seen very similar set ups. However splitting the companion way doors to an upper and lower would make storage a bit easier.
What will these doors do in the event of a knock-down? They do not appear to be sea-worthy, but seem quite handsome and appear easy to use.
We had a member of our yacht club in our marina who lived aboard and would lock from the inside. One night his dog knocked over a space heater and sadly smoke killed them both right in his slip.
DON'T LOCK YOURSELF IN AT NIGHT WHILE SLEEPING. LATCH BUT NOT LOCK!
Having smoke and CO detectors on board is a must! I only have one in the main cabin but will add a second for the aft birth.
I don't worry about locking the boat when I sleep at dock because someone stepping on board will wake me up. If someone is breaking in they'll most certainly flee when they realize someone is below.
Mark, check this out: http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=73347530581&fno=39
Quote from: sail4dale on March 08, 2008, 01:41:47 PM
We had a member of our yacht club in our marina who lived aboard and would lock from the inside. One night his dog knocked over a space heater and sadly smoke killed them both right in his slip.
DON'T LOCK YOURSELF IN AT NIGHT WHILE SLEEPING. LATCH BUT NOT LOCK!
In hindsight, if this fellow could compile a list of things
not to do, locking himself in would probably be very near the bottom.
Interesting thread about securing oneself inside. My first inclination was to say: "What kind of neighborhood are you hanging out in?"
Upon further reflection, there is a reasonable NEED to SECURE (but not necessarily to lock) the companionway boards (doors seem much easier) when in heavy weather (rather than just at the dock). I have always been interested in finding a way to do that from inside that can use a simple barrel bolt or door hooks. The arrangement should be one where the hatch can still open, but the boards would be secured by hasping the top board to keep the lower ones in.
We keep our two boards together when we take them out, so anything with protruding hardware would result in us having to rearrange how they are stored. Ron Hill's solution, written up in Tech Notes, has them in a nice double slip holder in the port locker. If the barrel bolt(s) were secured to the jamb of the companionway and only the barrels poked into the top board, something like that could work.
I don't recall being in weather heavy enough to warrant this idea, but one day...
Anyone have any solutions? Pictures?
I have installed a barrel bolt to the port side of the companion way. It goes up and secures the hatch. Very easy to install and works very well.
I will get a picture of the installation.
I have done the same thing that Tom is talking about, and it works very well. Once you prevent the companionway hatch from moving, the boards automatically stay in place. :clap
John
Hi guys...I ordered these doors at the Strictly Sail in Miami a few weeks ago...to be delivered in the spring 'cause we have quite a bit of snow this year and I have to supply them a "print" of my existing panels (3)...that is a full size drawing of them... so that they'll fit well.
Now...as I don't have access to the boat 'till spring...so I still have time to cancel...
I'd like to get the real feedback on the doors. Above there's a couple of guys that have them so it would be nice to hear there comments!!!
If they would have known of the end result....would they have still purchased them?
Do they like them...a bit...a bit more...or a whole lot? Do they look good?
Are you satisfied of the quality, the finish, etc...
Your comments would be greatly appreciated
Thanks in advance
A broom handle cut to the appropriate length wedged between the companionway frame and the lip of the sliding hatch prevents the hatch from moving backwards - and thus the hatch boards from being lifted. Thus, a secure, inside "lock" that can be removed in less than a second if necessary.
The barrel bolt installation to secure the sliding hatch from inside the boat.
is that a particular metal or just hardware store stainless? thanks
I have a similar install but attached the barrel bolt to the sliding hatch and drilled a hole in the side of the cabin top. The SS barrel bolt came from Zarcor. This would not stop someone determined to open the hatch while I am aboard, but will cause extra noise and slow an intruder down so I have time to react.
i am thinking about doing lacing instead. i need something that will stop someone and yes, i do live in a bad neighborhood.
QuoteI ordered these doors at the Strictly Sail
Were they Zucor? If so they offer a combination lock. From the inside you can just move that to lock the doors and sliding hatch. To that I drilled a hole and use a pin, like a grenade pin, to lock the doors and hatch. Isn't real strong, not crowbar safe, but good enough for where I go.
Jim
where are you buying zurcor from? thanks
Quotewhere are you buying zurcor from?
I bought direct from Zucor, was a few years ago, think I got a boat show special price. I like them. If you want can post some pictures.
Jim
please do post. thanks. there is a member of my club who keeps coming onboard my boat, when i'm there alone so i need to start locking it.
Love my Zarcor doors. They will keep your unwanted visitor out.
Here's a pic of the doors and combination lock from the cockpit.
Here are pictures of the way I lock my doors from the inside. Also is my storage system for storing the screen/window not being used, plywood with a spacer glued to fit. I store it using the same shock cord as the OEM drop boards.
Jim
oh, i wasn't thinking about changing out the doors, just locking the boards and sliding hatch
Quote from: anaisdog on September 03, 2018, 07:20:23 AM
please do post. thanks. there is a member of my club who keeps coming onboard my boat, when i'm there alone so i need to start locking it.
They board your boat, open the companionway and enter uninvited. I'm assuming you have asked them not to do that.
Can you form your hand into a fist?
yes, yes i have. i'm sound asleep and startled when it happens. i'm going to look into the bolt, the lacing, anything else, for now
There might be more to this story but... the Detroit Yacht Club would deal with this person if you told them.