Hatch board stowage
Joe, I had a very simple bag made for the three boards on my boat by a canvas maker who showed me his idea and I went with it. Here's how it was constructed: Picture a piece of Sunbrella the length of the longest board and twice its width laying flat. Now place another slightly narrower piece of the same fabric, the same length over the first piece. Sew them together at the top and bottom and down the middle. Fold them in half along the length and add a zipper around the three outside edges. Add a couple of carrying straps that go from one side, under the bottom and up the other side. This can be done with one length of strap, kind of like folding a rubber band in half. The result will be a bag with three compartments for your dropboards that when inserted, can be zipped up and carried like a skinny suitcase. Here's another try at describing it. Imagine a pillow case that's open at both ends. Fold it in half such that one open end is folded to the other. Place a zipper around those three sides and add the handle, thats how our bag was made. We've had it for years and it's worked like a charm, simple and easy to use. We happen to have a canvas cover over our sliding hatch and boards that we stow the empty bag under. That way it's right there when we open up the boat. The bag and boards get stowed in the V-berth when the boat is in use. Is this too confusing? Call me if you wish and we can discuss it on the phone. 310.453.1892