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Cabin door for Catalina 25

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Captain Max
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/16/2011 : 09:57:18

My Cat did not come with a outer door to the head/vberth compartment. I was thinking of making a door for it and wondered what wood would be best? Teak would be ideal, but I don't want to go that expensive, I would want something that would compliment the rest of the cabin. Any ideas, practical experience on this?

Thanks

Captain Max
"Wyvern"
84 Cat 25 FK
Bayview Marina
Dallas Tx Area

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 10:10:57

Max,
I don't have a 25 so take this with a grain of salt because I don't know exactly what you're trying to replace.

Try looking at door skins at your local lumber yard. They're typically made of Luann which is a Philippine hardwood that's similar to Mahogany. They can also be made of other tropical hardwoods and it's quite possible you'll be able to find something made from Teak or Ironwood (Ipe). We have a place here in WA that's called Dunn Lumber that stocks a really nice selection of them. They're typically used for exactly what they're called, door skins, but they're a nice colorful wood product that would be easy to laminate into a door for your head. They tend to be very thin (a few millimeters thick), so you may need to laminate two of them together to a get a suitable thickness, but that's not overly hard to do.

Edited by - delliottg on 06/16/2011 11:06:24

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 10:40:59

The door to the head/v-berth on my boat is basically an "accordion" type thin wood slats. It's a POS. If I were to replace it, I might consider some type of curtain instead.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 11:19:40

Make a curtain!

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 12:17:15

I agree with the curtain route. My accordion doors are still serviceable, but are showing their age. When it comes time to replace them, I'll do it with either a curtain, or a shower accordion door that I can easily trim to size. Unless, of course, I get lucky and someone is parting out a boat and I get the doors first...and they're good....

The only problem I can see with a curtain is that it will billow in the wind if you have a good breeze going through the boat...but that is easily solved with snaps.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 12:21:04

If you do a search here, there's a picture of a one piece door installed on a C25 . . .

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 13:51:27

OJ, this one?

My PO made and installed it. It's a nice piece of stained plywood with teak trim. It is a great improvement over the accordion doors.

Edited by - TCurran on 06/16/2011 13:52:36

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 13:58:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TCurran
 OJ, this one?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's the one!

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 14:26:14

I am a curtain guy myself. Bought a nice shower curtain and put a curved hem on the bottom. That way ladies feet do not show when using the head... they care.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 18:41:10

I notice that the one-piece door doesn't have the "head knocker" above it--the piece that holds the track for the original accordion door. (You can see it over Frank's curtain.) Getting rid of that is one of the better upgrades you can do to the C-25.

When I had Sarge built, the standard was a hard, bi-fold door for the head--somewhat more space-efficient than one piece in a tight space. I opted to have a curtain (that matched my cushions)--even more efficient. When you start putting "stuff" in a boat, it starts encroaching on the swing-space.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/16/2011 18:41:43

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 02:51:48

Dave...the missing head-knocker is what sold the boat for me

I don't know how many times I hit my head on my old Catalina 30, but if I'd had a small sledge hammer onboard it would have been gone...

Edited by - on

Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 05:27:14

I spent some time attempting to get a door to fit the head that would close over the cabin .. then fitted the curtain as shown. It is a pre made very cheap from the curtain shop.
(if photo works) The main feature not shown is that the curtain rod is on a simple hing that allows it to swing from the port side to close of the head/toilet. this helps private use of head when someone is in V berth . Free end fits onto support on starboard side and on port bulkhead behind V birth

Had to shape bottom of curtain to hull

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 06:44:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Boomeroo
 ...The main feature not shown is that the curtain rod is on a simple hing that allows it to swing from the port side to close of the head/toilet...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I'm guessing you mean "from the starboard side" (unless that's reversed in the southern hemisphere)... Nice idea.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/17/2011 06:45:33

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 08:35:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TCurran
 Dave...the missing head-knocker is what sold the boat for me

I don't know how many times I hit my head on my old Catalina 30, but if I'd had a small sledge hammer onboard it would have been gone...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I've thought about removing that piece. So there's nothing added structurally with it? It is not used to help stiffen the beam?

Both my wife and I have egg-shaped lumps on our noggins.

Carlos

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 09:38:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by calden
 I've thought about removing that piece. So there's nothing added structurally with it? It is not used to help stiffen the beam?...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Tapering down to practically nothing on the outboard side, it wouldn't seem to be very structural. (A beam is only as strong as its weakest point.)

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 10:07:01

That solid door does look nice. However, I think that if I was going to go the 1-piece solid door route, I'd make it more of a cafe door, i.e. leaving more air space at the top, and maybe the bottom too.

Edited by - dmpilc on 06/17/2011 10:09:08

Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 11:29:48

"I'm guessing you mean "from the starboard side" (unless that's reversed in the southern hemisphere)..."
no Dave we are the same way around just upside down ( and a day ahead )

My toilet is on the Port side , and the curtain swings back to cover its little alcove . This also means full air flow and ...
the toilet out of view to visitors sitting on the starboard settee,
.Typed with my starboard index finger as I keep checking my left from right .
I must get some better Phot's

Edited by - on

Captain Max
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2011 : 12:56:04

Hey guys, thanks for the response, I think the plywood with edged teak looks really good. I may go that route.

Edited by - on

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2011 : 06:53:39

Great ideas.

Just to confirm about structural integrity if removing that headpiece, I emailed Catalina. They said absolutely take it away and that there is no need to have it there.

So I took it off yesterday. I was relieved that it came right out with a single screw (I thought it might be glued in and I'd have to saw and chisel.) To celebrate, I walked back and forth through the doorway and smiled.

I'm going to look for a curtain track I can attach to the ceiling and buy some drapery fabric.

Carlos

Edited by - on

Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2011 : 01:30:18

THE curtain Idea is great and when on a hindged rod works even better.
below expands on my earlier post
.
A FEW photos may explain further

This is with the curtain closed over the toilet . this allows the front hatch to be open with airflow and the toilet out of site .

This is close up with it over toilet looking back to cabin . Sorry the Al tube was for trial with intended replacement of a wood rod ( Soon maybe). Curtain is a pre made just cut and hemmed on the bottom to the curve of the hull
Below shows the curtain half way . .Note the clip on the Cabin Bulkhead

Enjoy your Summer Brrrr!!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2011 : 06:37:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Boomeroo
 THE curtain Idea is great and when on a hindged rod works even better.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think we have a winner--If I still had Passage I'd do that with a hinge and two rod hooks (or four rod hooks), and remove the head-knocker. In the "closed" position (covering the throne only), it's about what I have on Sarge.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/27/2011 06:38:36

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2011 : 06:53:14

Graeme....what have you done to the cabin sole? That looks good....

Edited by - on

Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2011 : 04:50:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 Graeme....what have you done to the cabin sole? That looks good....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

PO .. I think that means Previous owner.. But it is good . It is soft Wool-like thick pile outside carpet with a rubber back . The previous owner was the manager of a large slip and boat repair facility so I think this came from a gin palace when they did some repairs and replaced the carpet . Have not seen it in normal outside carpets places..

Edited by - on

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2011 : 16:10:12

No more headbashing this weekend! What a nice feeling. Thanks for the suggestion to get rid of the header over the door.

Carlos

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2011 : 21:10:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by calden
 No more headbashing this weekend! What a nice feeling. Thanks for the suggestion to get rid of the header over the door.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You're welcome! Wished I'd done it myself... but maybe "Voyager" Bruce (current owner) likes the accordion door, which needs the head-knocker.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/04/2011 21:11:13

calden
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 07/04/2011 : 21:39:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by calden
 No more headbashing this weekend! What a nice feeling. Thanks for the suggestion to get rid of the header over the door.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You're welcome! Wished I'd done it myself... but maybe "Voyager" Bruce (current owner) likes the accordion door, which needs the head-knocker.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We left the accordion door on. It still works. In fact, it worked fine having already fallen off the track, so removing the header made no difference. I'll still be looking for a curtain, though. The accordion door makes the already narrow opening too much of a squeeze for my hunkin' manliness to get through comfortably.

Carlos

Edited by - on

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