Companionway hatch boards.

[Second Star]

When we want to "show off" we put in the teak boards, all shiny and new. Normally we have a one piece painted 3/4 ply board fitted that saves the teak from sunlight and rain and snow in the winter. MUCH less sanding and varnishing! Had a plexi one piece a long while ago but it didn't provide much privacy in port and there was some long term degradation of upholstery inside due to sunlight.

 

[C. Shamis]

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.

It really wasn’t too bad. The palm sander really did the bulk of the work. I will probably go the acrylic route like Christian, if nothing else so I have something to put in while refinishing the teak. Now I’m rehabilitating the trim on the hatch garage and the mill work on the hatch slide. Because it’s scandalized!

I hope I don’t need to send it out for replacement millwork. But if I do… I’ll send it to Requarth Lumber here in Dayton. (They sold spruce to the Wright Bros.) so they’ve been around.

 

[bsangs]

Motivated by @C. Shamis, we hit our teak boards with the Star Brite cleaner and brightener this week, and are applying the sealer this weekend. They already look 100 percent better after the cleaning and brightening. Didn’t have to do any sanding. Just scrubbed them with a mildly course 3M pad. We’re going to use it on all the teak now.

 

[C. Shamis]

Motivated by @C. Shamis, we hit our teak boards with the Star Brite cleaner and brightener this week, and are applying the sealer this weekend. They already look 100 percent better after the cleaning and brightening. Didn’t have to do any sanding. Just scrubbed them with a mildly course 3M pad. We’re going to use it on all the teak now.

That does look good.

 

[Out There]

unfortunately we will not make it up until tomorrow

 

[Mark F]

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.

Thanks for posting that link Jeff. It's fun to browse though all the interesting projects people have done over the years

 

[JSM]

Made these for a Columbia 8.3 from PVC board. Previous owner made the last set out of oak and they warped and split. New owner didn't want to spend for teak or fabricated plastic.
Found PVC board at Home Depot for $120.