Companionway hatch boards.

[C. Shamis]

So, the old boards were a wreck. Maybe 10 years of neglect. (I only bought the boat in September so don’t blame me… )

it took a palm sander and grit 60 to get through the “bark”. Then a smoothing pass of 120.

Then 2 coats of Star Brite Teak Sealer. So we’ll see how things go this season.

 

[JSM]

Then 2 coats of Star Brite Teak Sealer. So we’ll see how things go this season.

Have been using Star Brite Teak Sealer for the last few years and really like the results. Unlike teak oil I find that it lasts for an entire mid west sailing season.
Last year I used it on the interior companion way walls and hand holds. The natural teak color seems to match the original finish well.

 

[Loren Beach]

Probably not the "romantic teak" solution you want... but I replaced our set of factory solid teak hatch boards about 20 years ago. They were always difficult to store while under way, and awkward to handle.
Remembering our previous smaller boat with it's one-piece "board" in teak veneer... I made a replacement single panel out of half inch honeycomb, which weighs maybe three or four pounds. Inside our boat I found a place to secure this panel while under way, flat against a bulkhead inside the aft head compartment. Painted with LPU to match the deck, we like the looks of it. The next owner is welcome re-use the varnished set of hatch boards!
Mind you, I do like the look of varnished teak, but only inside!

 

[Frank Langer]

So, the old boards were a wreck. Maybe 10 years of neglect. (I only bought the boat in September so don’t blame me… )

it took a palm sander and grit 60 to get through the “bark”. Then a smoothing pass of 120.

Then 2 coats of Star Brite Teak Sealer. So we’ll see how things go this season.

View attachment 55101

So they are looking much better, pretty good. How about 3 coats of clear gloss varnish to really brighten them up, protect them. Not difficult with only light sanding between coats, foam brush to throw away. Easy!
Frank

 

[tenders]

I held out hope for my hatchboards for a long time...but I bought a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" StarBoard to replace my side coamings, and was able to make a new set of StarBoard hatchboards out of the leftovers of that. They're a bit heavy but I've done nothing to them, or to the side coamings, for I-don't-know-how-long-maybe-since-2006 and they still look great.

Godspeed to those of you still sanding, varnishing, or even Cetoling major swaths of external brightwork. All I have to do these days is slather a bit of Cetol around the cabin entry point in the cockpit (the track the hatchboards slide into) every other year or so, and that's plenty.

 

[C. Shamis]

So they are looking much better, pretty good. How about 3 coats of clear gloss varnish to really brighten them up, protect them. Not difficult with only light sanding between coats, foam brush to throw away. Easy!
Frank

Now that they’ve got teak sealer on them they cant be varnished, but the point is to just keep them up with a fresh wipe on of new teak sealer once a season. I shouldn’t need to sand them again.
—at least that’s what was on the tin… I’ll update at the end of the season to see how it goes.

 

[bigd14]

I like my one-piece acrylic hatch board on my 30+. Easy to install and remove and store in the lazarette and really brightens up the interior. This will be an upgrade on the 34-2 one of these days.

The star brite sounds interesting. Varnishing is a pain…

 

[JSM]

Now that they’ve got teak sealer on them they cant be varnished, but the point is to just keep them up with a fresh wipe on of new teak sealer once a season. I shouldn’t need to sand them again.

I use a coat in the spring and another in August or September, come spring everything needs to be sanded. Over the years I have used varnish, Cetol, oil, and lately teak sealer. No matter what you use you will end up sanding at some point.
I have found that oil and teak sealer however require a lighter sanding .
Teak is tyranny !!

 

[windblown]

The PO applied Bristol Finish, a polyurethane coating, to our hatch boards. After 10 seasons, they still look great, but we do have a sunbrella cover over them. Bristol Finish doesn’t require sanding between coats. For comparison, the Cetol on our stern rail held up well for 4 seasons. The Epiphanes on our handrails needs attention annually, even with covers. I guess we’re running our own rest site.

 

[Christian Williams]

+1 for one-piece acryllic hatchboard. Mine is half-inch, lighter than teak, and provides a view out, but not in.

 

[C. Shamis]

I gotta say, that's a vast improvement. AVAST I say!

I can't wait to repaint that almond-colored non-skid though. Yuck. But it will wait until we can get her from Erie PA down to Sandusky.

 

[Out There]

I gotta say, that's a vast improvement. AVAST I say!

Are you in this lot? https://maps.app.goo.gl/g5gwrSV5pRn118Hd8
That is where I am at and will be there this Saturday from about 11am to 4pm if you are there and want to say "Hi"
I am at the end by the park and will be in a blue pickup

 

[gabriel]

I like my multiple piece hatch boards. They allow me to omit the topmost one to get ventilation and privacy with the companionway hatch closed while at anchor. I deal with them only in the morning and end of day.

 

[Kenneth K]

Another take on teak hatch boards:

One-piece folding hatch board

I' d been planning on having a one-piece plexiglass hatch board made as other have done, but once the local plastic shop in Tacoma closed their doors, I lost interest in the plan. Then, after re-finishing some other teak trim, I had the thought.... it's not that the wood hatch boards are so bad...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[C. Shamis]

Are you in this lot? https://maps.app.goo.gl/g5gwrSV5pRn118Hd8
That is where I am at and will be there this Saturday from about 11am to 4pm if you are there and want to say "Hi"
I am at the end by the park and will be in a blue pickup

The links not working, I'm in the back corner of the Port Authrority lot. The wife and I will be up Saturday to do a little more getting ready. I'll look out for you. I'll be in the black chrysler pacifica with ohio plates.

 

[bsangs]

I like my multiple piece hatch boards. They allow me to omit the topmost one to get ventilation and privacy with the companionway hatch closed while at anchor. I deal with them only in the morning and end of day.

Right there with you. Enjoy being able to utilize as many as I want depending on conditions. Plus they nest up nicely in a canvas bag we had made, and easily slide into the cockpit lazaret.

 

[Out There]

I am right about where the red pin is on the attached pic

 

[C. Shamis]

Okay… I’m over here… I’ll stop by and say hi!

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Mostly a style thing, it seems. I'm in the teak 4-piece camp myself. It's a traditional look and for me there's something pleasantly liturgical about removing and storing them, along with the other things we do to bring the boat alive when we get to her. In cool or drizzly weather we also frequently leave out the top board.

Still, it would be nice to have some additional light, and a view aft when things are buttoned up in really snotty weather. I'm thinking about making one replacement board with an acrylic window.

Lighten Up the Cabin

This was an easy project and really lightens up the cabin. I used a piece of 1/2 inch smoked polycarbonate with AR rating (abrasion resistant). I finish cut the piece on the table saw and rounded the edges with the router table. The sliding hatch cover had to be removed and re-bedded and...

ericsonyachts.org

- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/whats-the-most-useful-modification-youve-made.3857/post-26058

Christopher, yours look great.

 

[windblown]

Mostly a style thing, it seems. I'm in the teak 4-piece camp myself. It's a traditional look and for me there's something pleasantly liturgical about removing and storing them, along with the other things we do to bring the boat alive when we get to her. In cool or drizzly weather we also frequently leave out the top board.

Still, it would be nice to have some additional light, and a view aft when things are buttoned up in really snotty weather. I'm thinking about making one replacement board with an acrylic window.

Lighten Up the Cabin

This was an easy project and really lightens up the cabin. I used a piece of 1/2 inch smoked polycarbonate with AR rating (abrasion resistant). I finish cut the piece on the table saw and rounded the edges with the router table. The sliding hatch cover had to be removed and re-bedded and...

ericsonyachts.org

- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/whats-the-most-useful-modification-youve-made.3857/post-26058

Christopher, yours look great.

I like the routine of removing and replacing the traditional hatch boards, too. However, on rainy days or work days when we're in and out but want to keep the weather or cold on the outside, we often use our acrylic hatch board. It's just 1/4 inch thick, made by PO, I think. It's light and easy to store.