Hatchboard storage

[commanderpete]

I never really found a good place to store the hatchboards. I kinda wedge them in somewhere.

Anybody come up with an idea?

It would pain me to buy something

http://shop.trailersailor.com/detail.htm?fno=300&cart=11473588235129473&group=302

[mbd]

A PO built a holder for the hatchboards, sort of like a magazine rack, with two separaters on each side to keep the three boards apart when stowed. It's mounted in the aft locker against the cockpit wall - not sure if it would work if you have an outboard though. But it's great. I take out the boards, stow them, and forget about 'em. The same thing would work just as well in a cockpit locker too...

If I can ever get back to the boat I'll snap a pic.

[Mike Goodwin]

I always stuck them behind a cushion under the sink , handy and out of the way.

[Robert Lemasters]

Commanderpete, I was out sailing today by myself for a couple of hours. You must have read my mind, I was thinking the same thing. One of the washboards dropped on my toe(add own cuss words and oaths), and mine are somewhat heavy.I thought about replacing the washboards with a two part door? Has anyone done that, if so I would be very much interested in seeing what they have done. There are just too many things here and there and everywhere to keep secured all of the time. :eek:

[commanderpete]

Willie made some doors. I think we've seen some others

Check out these beauties

http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?t=1018&highlight=doors+companionway

[Robert Lemasters]

Yeh, Commanderpete,that's what I have in mind. Good winter project after the furler. Those are beautiful doors, I should be able to make them myself. Willie, if you read this, I'm going to steal your door designs.Great job, welldone.I had proped the washboards up against the cockpit seat, slam right on my big barefoot toe before I even left the dockthis mourning. :mad:

[Bill]

Appendix A of the manual has plans for companionway doors beginning at p. 62.

[mbd]

Here's the hatch board storage in the aft lazaret in my boat.

[Lucky Dawg]

I have a little sewing project that I'm surprised I'm not finding a pattern for on the net... See http://picasaweb.google.com/kyle.amy.sadie/Hatchboards#slideshow/5475017589729999490 (http://picasaweb.google.com/kyle.amy.sadie/Hatchboards#) for my mock-up. (for all the other good technology, an iPhone has a %&$# camera) My plan is to use sailcloth for the outside (I have a mystery jib that is asking to be sacrificed) and duck cloth / denim for the inside panel and pockets. (the latter for a little bit of cushion for the boards.) Pockets facing, they fold up on each other from the bottom. The flap goes over and Velcros closed - (Embroidered "Lucky Dawg" (by someone else, not me) will be the crowning glory.) I have to space the seams out between boards/pockets for the folded dimensions... To date, it isn't uncommon for my hatch boards to go clattering across the cabin floor in a blow. Will be nice to get them contained and I have a good spot for them by the battery. I actually like the pic from Mike above, but I'm not sure where I'd locate that aboard. It will be a learn as I go project - will keep you posted.

[mbd]

That looks like a good idea Kyle. It'll keep them from getting scuffed up too...

[Tony G]

Kyle, that is a really good idea. Good sewing projects like that just add a certain touch of class to a boat. Like the owner cares. Everything has a place and a value that justifies it being there on board. I am a little concerned about the size though...

Mike, I like Sea Glass' storage for the hatchboards. You're still holding out on us when it comes to photos, aren't you?

[Rico]

I like your design Kyle -

I inherited a lovely hatch board bag to store the boards...
It was custom made, and just the right size for the boards. It is made of nice thickly padded material all-around and has a nicely padded slot for each board. On the outside it has a top zippered padded cover, carying handles, and some storage pockets where I now habitually store things such as keys and phone when underway.
I keep it at the bottom of the cockpit locker where it sits comfortably, keeping the boards handy, as well as well protected.

I like to keep the bottom two boards handy in case of big swells.
(I have to admit that I've yet to feel like I need to put them in for this reason though!)

I'll post a picture shortly...

[Lucky Dawg]

I am a little concerned about the size though...

Hey Tony, in what way?

The setup that Pete posted in #1 above might be easier to handle - rather than my plan of it unfolding out flat at approx 48" x 23" - while standing at the hatch. The side-by-side configuration is just beyond my sewing capabilities. (Not to say that my plan isn't also...) I think, however I can do it for well under 80 bucks (closer to 10 without embroidered hull name) and I'll enjoy the outcome more.

I'll be interested, Rico, in how yours is configured.

[CapnK]

Reading this thread, I came up with the following idea. Should be very cheap to make, and will be very easy to sew, since it is all straight lines and no fancy corners or anything. Made right, when the envelope gets inverted over the sleeves, that will hide the stitching of the envelope part.

6698

The envelope piece will need to be a bit larger than the rest, since it will need to have room enough to fold over the others with boards in the sleeves. It could also be made just like the sleeves (leaving the end open @ opposite the sleeve openings), and slid over them from the end similar to how a spinnaker sock works, with either a drawstring or velcro'ed flap for enclosure.

[Lucky Dawg]

Nice! I like this idea better than my beach towel sized configuration. I think it would be about as easy to sew either, but this one, with the "envelope" as a separate piece (your alternate idea) compacts the work stowing process. Maybe make the sleeves out of leftover interior cushion sunbrella fabric that I have and the envelope out of the old sail. I am wondering though if my sewing machine will go through 8 layers of sunbrella... Thanks for taking the time to illustrate!

[Rico]

Here are a couple of pics of the hatch board bag... I do not know where it came from - I inherited it... But i think it is quite spifffy...

the background is a bit overexposed as it was getting late...

I like it because there is no fumbling the get to the boards I need and it is nicely padded to keep the varnish intact. It lives in the Port cockpit locker ready to access.

mbd's built-in strorage is quite elegant. You must have an inboard... (I need that space for my outboard). What are those hoses for in the lazarette? Does that hole in the side access your locker?

I also like epiphany's envelope design, but I think these are all viable... The key is the padding if your boards are varnished.

[Commander 147]

Dang Rico

It's not nice to show us something as nice as that for hatch board storage and then tell us yoiu have no clue where it came from. :-)

[ebb]

Happened to have Cabela's current 2010 camping catalog open.

If you want a ready-made padded bag, a stove bag might do the trick.
They have separate compartments for the stove, griddle and a skillet.
And the 'two-burner' bag MIGHT be long enough to take our drop-board width.
It's maybe a little too tall. $20.

Might also hold the bug screen, or an alternative vented dropboard?

[Commander 147]

Thanks ebb for the tip. For me I think I have the wife talked into making a bag for me to store the hatch boards. But your thought about the added slot for a vented board was a great idea and something I will have her include.

[ebb]

Using Kurt's great idea (post #14)*:

Authentic Polar-Tec 200 fleece fabric and some velcro would make a nice COMPACT sleeve system.
Tough, long lasting, doesn't pull out of shape, won't rot, won't hold water, great colors,
soft enuf for the finest varnish!
Not Walmart polyester blanket material. It's the stuff used for warm outdoor jackets. Fabric store should have it.
online: www.milldirecttextiles.com

*Can see the envelope part being an oversized flap that wraps around the bundle top and bottom of the horizontal. The short end would also have an extension that wraps and velcos around the open ends.
Simpler and more compact would be single layer fleece material sewn into a single bundle of pockets with an end flap.
Extra pockets not only for a vent board but also clear plastic coverboards that let light in?

Later Edit:
Commander 227"s (on page two here)
use of TopGun material for storage of the boards in the cockpit locker makes me think that that a fleece bundle could be put into a hanging bag just like that, happy as a hen in her nest. A separate bag could be made for heavier alternate cover boards of plastic - and the companionway noseeum netting.
The Top Gun hangers could be secured to the locker LID itself keeping them out of the way of bulky stuff rummaged in the locker!

[Commander227]

The recent posts on this thread inspired me to do something about my sliding hatch situation.
I sewed up the bag with scraps of Top Gun and sized it so its top mounting screws are hidden by the lazerette lid and the lower screws go into the plywood divider that keeps stuff from falling into the bilge.

[Lucky Dawg]

That takes the cake. No question. Your skills on just casually rocking out a project blow me away.