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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Companionway Cover

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jlannutti
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/11/2007 : 06:57:23

My '98 WB has snaps around the companionway hatch and the popup hatch that accomodate the popup "camper tent" that I use very infrequently. When I bought the boat last winter there was also a sunbrella frabric cover that used the same snaps and covered only the plexiglas hatch and companionway board but it was badly mildewed and I was not able to clean it up to the point where I'd ever put it on the boat. Does anyone(Catalina or Catalina Direct) sell these covers ready made? Or, better yet, one that will cover the plexiglas and the popup portion of the hatch or will I have to get one made to order? Am I wrong to assume that the snaps are standard and not randomly placed by whomever made the first cover. I think because they fit the camper top they must be standard.

Thanks

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2007 : 09:50:37

Even if snaps are intended to be standard they will not be. These boats are not built by robots the way cars are I am sure the two covers were fit to the boat at the same time. See the other thread about this and for links to the vice grip snap installer tool. The only way to get the "best" fit is to install the snaps one at a time at the boat.
Check with Chris at Catalina about having a cover made, he has made carpet for me so he is either the guy or close to the guy.
Chris@catalinayachts.com

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2007 : 14:22:49

We're going to leave the boat in a slip next year, so, we also need the companionway cover. We're going to make one. The marine grade material that is used in making the covers is available at sewing stores and snaps are available at almost every hobby place. We've used both before. It's pretty easy. You lay the material on the boat and mark it with chalk. AFter you get it cut out you put a seam along the outer edge. Then you put it back on the boat and mark where the snaps go with some chalk. Install the snaps and 'Bobs your Uncle'. My wife bought 3 and 1/3 linear yards of 5 foot wide material last week for 15 bucks. If you've never installed snaps before practice on some scraps first.

I don't know how you would buy a cover with snaps already installed. I completely agree that the snaps (at least on my boat) aren't installed with any exactness.

Edited by - on

Breezy Cat
1st Mate

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38 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2007 : 14:41:10

When I bought the boat it had a Sunbrella cover for the companionway but it was old and fraying. I still have it but haven't used it as a template yet.
I now use a piece of the heavy white plastic shrink wrap that they cover boats with in the winter, cut to fit the companionway boards. I slip it under the first, lowest and smallest board and over the top of the third (top) one. It doesn't need snaps to stay in place.
It works great, looks neat, protects the wood and keeps water out of the air vents in the middle board.
The PO added snaps for the Sunbrella cover in addition to the poptop cover snaps so I have way too many snaps. If I finally decide the shrink wrap cover is the answer I will remove and fill those holes.

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2007 : 19:14:00

OK, I gotta ask a dumb question because I don't have a cover for my companionway hatch. (I do have the snaps.) Doesn't the cover trap moisture and encourage mildew on the cover and on the hatch?

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2007 : 21:09:46

I believe it does. I haven't seen a boat yet that won't grow mold if you don't open it up and let it dry/air out occasionally. The issue to me is whether I want a little moisture on the plexiglass or a couple of quarts of water inside the boat.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2007 : 21:34:05

It depends on the material, Sunbrella shouldn't.

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2007 : 10:24:23

The problem with using Sunbrella for a companionway cover is that, while it breathes (which will help with mold) it won't keep water out if the water sits on it. The pop top and plexiglass cover are both horizontal so there's a good chance that water will stand on them. Sunbrella (a marvelous product) will work fine for just the hatch cover which is vertical and won't trap water.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2007 : 10:31:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnMD
 The problem with using Sunbrella for a companionway cover is that, while it breathes (which will help with mold) it won't keep water out if the water sits on it. The pop top and plexiglass cover are both horizontal so there's a good chance that water will stand on them. Sunbrella (a marvelous product) will work fine for just the hatch cover which is vertical and won't trap water.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The solution to that has been suggested in another thread, a simple fender under the cover puts a nice pitch to it.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2007 : 13:25:32

From 2004 to 2006 I did not have any problem with mold or leaking with the cover I used over the hatch, as show in the photo I displayed.
Maybe that is because I used a complicated cushion under the cover instead of a simple cushion.
I did not have a cushion under the sail cover and again no condensation, mold or leaking there either. The sail cover was made of the same material Sunbrella as all the rest of the covers I had on the C250.The only place where water, mold, leaves, dirt or etc on my boat is where the outboard engine attached.

Mildew problems will aways be a problem, in some areas on earth it seams to be worse.
It is not the type of material U use it is how you use it.
Last but not the least do not wash your boat to much you may ware off the gelcoat.

paulj

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2007 : 14:29:33

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/12/2007 : 14:29:38

I toyed with the idea of a cover for the companionway but have decided not to. The fewer steps I have to take to get the boat out and sailing the better. I have very litle leakage in that area and if it does leak a bit, well - it's a boat. I don't have the teak/holly floor and removed the carpet.

My suspician is that the boats that are leaking are not sitting right in the water. Otherwise the very deep flange on the companionway cover should keep water out.

My .02

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2007 : 20:10:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My suspician is that the boats that are leaking are not sitting right in the water. Otherwise the very deep flange on the companionway cover should keep water out.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Once the water gets into the channel it gets out via that route. The water that leaks into our boat when the cover is not on is water that drips from the plexiglass to the top of the slide then it rolls inward and does not travel in the direction it should. I have spent some time watching the process and both sides will leak at the same time, Therefore, if it was a listing issue as you indicate it would have to be a fore to aft issue. I think it is a design flaw that is only really a minor annoyance. I placed two one inch beads of white silicone in the path of the waterflow and that stopped it.

I always put a throwable cushion on top of the plexiglass hatch before putting the sunbrella cover on. That sheds the water and allows for drying.

Edited by - Ray Seitz on 12/13/2007 20:13:06

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2007 : 20:51:09

My sliding hatch has what looks like an 1/8" cut about 1/8" deep on the under side of the sliding lexan. The cut is about 1/2" inside of the edge of the hatch and runs all the way around underneath the hatch. The cut forms a break in the lexan that prevents the water from running along the inside of the lexan and dripping in the cabin. Instead of the water running along the underneath of the hatch the water will reach the cut and drop off into the channel and drain.

I'm not sure if this is stock from Catalina or something the PO did, whomever did it was brilliant. I have no leaks and no hatch covers.

My sliding hatch is the old type that is all lexan. The newer model 250's have the smaller lexan hatch, not sure if this applies to them.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 12/14/2007 21:52:06

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2007 : 11:43:19

My sliding hatch has the same cut that Tom refers to. We don't get water in the hatch so this must be why. Ours is a 2000 model. A worthy mod for boats that don't have it.

Edited by - on

frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 12/15/2007 : 20:00:35

The sliding hatch on my 2000 WK is cut the same way. Just make sure hatch cover is on straight and centered. I have yet to have any leaks.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2007 : 09:11:03

Can someone that has this cut take a picture and post it please.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2007 : 14:35:26

It is in a tough place to photograph. Picture this: You have a large piece of sliding see-through plastic over the cabin. On the underside of this plastic someone has sawed or routed two grooves, one along each side. One on the port side and one on the starboard side. The grroves go all the way from front to back. The grooves are centered over the drain channel on each side of the cabin top. The grooves are about 1/8" wide and 1/8" deep. Water that wants to run under the plastic cover hits this groove, the groove disrupts the smooth travel flow, and the water drops into the drain channel.

If I were retro-fitting this I would remove the large plastic cover and use a table saw with a 1/" wide blade extending 1/8" above the table saw surface.

I'll try a photo tonight.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2007 : 16:47:36

OK, here are some photos of the grooves.

Here is the one on the port side of the plexi:

the starboard side:

Here is the point where the port groove meets the fore groove. There is no groove on the aft side:

Hope that helps. The grooves are about 1/8" wide and about half the plexi deep.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2007 : 21:22:47

Thank you very much. I'll check my 04' the next time I walk out to the end of the dock. Cannot tomorrow, football game you know, Jags vs Oakland.

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