Companionway Doors - Hinged & Removable

I’ve been slowly working on this in the background while doing other projects.

I made them out of teak with tongue & groove joints. Also epoxied and screwed for reinforcement. I also replaced the little hasp which could have been popped open with a screwdriver. The new one is a beefy German stainless steel thing that would need to be hit with a grinder to break it. The screws on the hinges are Torq Security screws which need a special bit to unscrew.

I'm just finishing the Cetol that the rest of the wood is slathered with

Jim Ball & others had posted photos of doors they constructed - thanks for the inspiration!



You can lift the hinges out and remove the doors really easily.



In case anyone is considering this, here are the stainless hinges I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HWY1699/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here is the stainless hasp I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C47L8E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are the security screws for the hinges:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SFZ0P3Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nice work Mark. I too have pictures stored up to do the same.

A fine addition reaffirming a fine vessel. Great job.

Mark

OK, OK, now I officially have teak envy!!! Beautiful construct.

Jim

Really true Jim! All that nice shiny teak, and that impressive shiny propeller.
I'd put that prop on my dining room table for holiday dinner.

Awww, thanks guys! I really am a hack when it comes to woodwork. I consider it a victory that I didn't saw any of my fingers off.

The other nice shiny thing on Zia now is her fuel tank. I just spent 2 days mucking out 36 years of sediment, goop and poop. Now there is nothing bigger than 10 microns in there. I'm gonna do a separate thread in the next few days with photos, etc. I used a little endoscopic camera with a light on it and it worked great.

Cheers!

There are many pics on the archive Maluhia site. If you are building new companion way doors, I would think about adding Lexan panels for light and view of the cockpit from the cabin.

Jim

Mark
How far forward were you able to reach into the tank?

Jim

I’m going to do some measurements this weekend but it was approximately 36”. I’m going to look closer with my camera, but I don’t think I have baffles. Do you have baffles, Jim Cleary?

Thanks Jim Ball, that was one of the photos that inspired me. Yes, windows have a lot of appeal, and I think they look better, but I ended up deciding not to put them in. I’m avoiding thinking about it too much so that I don’t have regrets.

Mark
When I attempted to clean out the tank and polish the fuel I didn't have a camera or a flexible reacher. Working through the fuel gauge opening I was only able to go a very short distance forward. The aft end of the tank I could reach but not see. Cleaning was done with a rag securely taped to the end of a 3/8" wooden dowel. If there are baffles in the tank I couldn't see them or feel them. My results yielded no water but a considerable amount of blackish crud which could have been anything. No solid pieces of anything came out. That cleaning was done about 3 years ago after a rather rough sail churned up what was in the tank and clogged up a couple of sets of filters. Been running fine since. I was hoping that you were able to use the camera to inspect and clean the forward end of the tank.

Jim

When I cleaned out my tank I was able to put a mirror inside, the baffles are on the top of the tank hanging down.

Rick
How many baffles are there and how far down do they go?

Jim

Hi Jim, I did take pictures but deleted them. If I remember there were 2 and were about 2” from the bottom.