Making a New Companionway Hatch Cover

[NavySailor]

Hello all - I'm planning on making new hatchboards tomorrow. Nothing wrong with my original ones, I just don't care for the appearance. I'd like to have something like this:


I'm heading out to buy the wood later today. Does anybody have a recommendation on what kind of wood to use? Teak obviously - anything else?

I found this useful website - http://butlerprojects.com/articles/hatc ... /index.htm - but they don't recommend a type of wood.

I've been to the local Lowe's and Home Depot, all they have is pine and plywood. I'm heading to a specialty lumber store today. I'm sure that they'll have an idea of what to use, but I want to see what you all think.

[NiceAft]

Don't dismiss the use of marine plywood. You can stain it and finish it with a spar varnish.

During WWII, PT boats were made of plywood.
http://plywood.boatbuildercentral.com

Ray

[NavySailor]

Don't dismiss the use of marine plywood. You can stain it and finish it with a spar varnish.
Ray

Thanks! I thought about that but I can't find it anywhere. I'm just 30 miles SW of Washington DC - nobody carries it that I have found. I don't want to drive 75 miles to go to a Home Depot or Lowe's closer to the Bay.

[NavySailor]

Well, I just got back. They had a lot of planks of different varieties but no teak at all. They really didn't have anything in the size I need except for plywood of different varieties. They can order marine plywood but the guy working there said if I got sanded plywood from Lowes and just put 3-4 layers of spar varnish on it that it would work just fine. So I guess that's what I will do....

[Russ]

Maybe you can find an online source. Teak is a gorgeous wood well suited for marine and exterior applications, but it is extremely expensive.

[dlandersson]

I'd like to have something like that too.

Hello all - I'm planning on making new hatchboards tomorrow. Nothing wrong with my original ones, I just don't care for the appearance. I'd like to have something like this:


I'm heading out to buy the wood later today. Does anybody have a recommendation on what kind of wood to use? Teak obviously - anything else?

I found this useful website - http://butlerprojects.com/articles/hatc ... /index.htm - but they don't recommend a type of wood.

I've been to the local Lowe's and Home Depot, all they have is pine and plywood. I'm heading to a specialty lumber store today. I'm sure that they'll have an idea of what to use, but I want to see what you all think.

[Whipsyjac]

Just my experience but I would go with the marine grade. I was told there was little to no difference and made a new rudder for our 12'dinghy. Even with copious amounts of Cetol it delaminated in one season.

Willy

[Barnacle Jim]

Anchors Aweigh, Navy Sailor—

Yes, you can build what you see there, and the best part of it all is that you really do not need prime grade lumber.
I am familiar with the Butler website; he has a lot of good projects. Let me encourage you.

Here are a couple of photos of a similar companionway hatch. This hatch was built by Bob Smelser from the Northwest.
You may like his design as well. First, let's take a look at what he started out with.



Not sure what type of wood Bob used, but as you can see, everything looks a bit rough around the edges.
By the time he finished, the finished product looked very respectable. As I recall, he used ship-lap joints to keep the water out.



The porthole is probably purple heart.

I did something similar myself, but used mahogany. The boat was a bit larger, and the design more suitable for the era in which the boat came. At any rate, here is a glimpse of a companionway hatch, built for a Friendship Sloop replica.



Mahogany is a good wood; it's traditional and looks very nautical. Besides, compared with teak, you will find mahogany much easier to work and much easier on the pocketbook. (Yes, I sandblasted the seahorse on the porthole; I don't know why.) You should be able to find a hardwood lumberyard. That is where you want to go, not Home Depot. Want you want is African mahogany, 4/4 surfaced both sides.

Once you have finished your project, sand it smooth, and use a good marine varnish. Here is a word of warning: any exterior brightwork includes the word, work. You will need to refurbish your project from season to season, but the project will look very good. The Smelser design would be much easier to make, and would allow you to store the planks in a lazarette. Keep your planks relatively narrow, and you will have less problems with warped boards.


Fair winds,


Barnacle Jim

[DaveB]

Often you may want shiplap teak solid wood to do this.
If you want ply teak or other, try this
http://marine-plywood.us/mahogany-meranti-aquatek
I have made Companion way hatches from 8 ply oak marine Ply glue from Home Depo and applied Stain and 6 coats Captains Marine Varnish.
Dave

Hello all - I'm planning on making new hatchboards tomorrow. Nothing wrong with my original ones, I just don't care for the appearance. I'd like to have something like this:


I'm heading out to buy the wood later today. Does anybody have a recommendation on what kind of wood to use? Teak obviously - anything else?

I found this useful website - http://butlerprojects.com/articles/hatc ... /index.htm - but they don't recommend a type of wood.

I've been to the local Lowe's and Home Depot, all they have is pine and plywood. I'm heading to a specialty lumber store today. I'm sure that they'll have an idea of what to use, but I want to see what you all think.

[81venture]

Just my experience but I would go with the marine grade. I was told there was little to no difference and made a new rudder for our 12'dinghy. Even with copious amounts of Cetol it delaminated in one season.

Willy

It really depends on WHAT you are using it for....in your case laminated or not it wasn't meant to be "submerged" as in with a rudder. I had to look up "Cetol" and it looks like it is "Moisture resistant" not "waterproof" which is a big difference. I'm not a woodworker, but if I was using either type of plywood on a rudder I would at minimum seal it with Epoxy Resin, if I didn't go ahead and glass the whole thing with CSM/cloth.....if I was going for a wooden look rudder I would use a hard wood in that application and spar varnish. I have never seen a plywood rudder before that was "bare"


However for making a hatch cover you could use regular ply and spar varnish and it would be fine....seal it well.

Again remember you are using it on a Trailer Sailor....not a slip kept boat. Although I am not saying the "experts" are wrong for advising you to use the best (and most costly) materials I am saying that on a trailered boat that is not kept in the water you can get away with doing things on a budget. (Obviously only on things where safety is not compromised)

For example I have used plain old rustoleum oil based enamal on many antique powerboats I have restored...the "experts" swear its a bad idea but it was cheaper than "Marine Paint", looks great, and lasts just as long as when I have used the Brightside Interlux paint.

Again, on a trailer boat its a little more forgiving.....My Hatch cover a neighbor made for me out of scrap wood...I think it was pine, not sure. I stained it and sealed it with spar varnish....it's lasted 2 seasons fine so far. However its a 1 piece unit (like the fiberglass one came with the boat) and I want to move to the "stackable" kind so it's easier to stow....


It's just a hatch cover... Here is mine It's a little dusty in this pic from being in the shop....cost was zero dollars.



I also cheated and used a $1 drawer handle <gasp>

Cheers!

[NavySailor]

Thanks for all the opinions guys. The Admiral has convinced me to get the boat put back together and get her keel wet before I begin any more 'projects'. I suppose she's right (I mean she is right).

Waiting for my bimini to be delivered on Tuesday and we might have the maiden voyage next weekend.

[dcaldarona]

Wow there are some really great looking covers here. I'll be sure to keep checking back. I'm working on restoring & updating a '85 Mac 25. You can check out my adventures here.

Notalotayacht | Restoring a 1985 MacGregor 25
https://notalotayacht.wordpress.com/

[Russ]

The Admiral has convinced me to get the boat put back together and get her keel wet before I begin any more 'projects'.

Yes wink

[tulgeywood2]

I am also making a set of hatch boards to replace the single sheet of plywood that came with my 1984 M-25. I decided to make this set with "pine" from Home Depot. If after a while I decide that these work I intend to replace them with good wood. Right now I am in the sand, stain and varnish stage - hope to have them completed in a couple of days. Then on to the next project.

[The-strikes]

I used Oak 4 years ago and it has held up excellent. Didn't cost near as much as mahogany or Teak. I have an "X" and made four pieces.
3 coats of spar varnish and it hasn't warped or faded. I have not re-coated it since, but probably will this winter. It is under a bimini most of the time, but it gets plenty of sun and rain.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1636