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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

covering teak hatchboards and grabrails

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TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/27/2004 : 12:29:28

My boat sits in the slip year-round unless we're sailing her. I'm looking for a way to protect the exterior teak from sun and rain. I've seen the grabrail spats from CD, but I'm thinking about a way to cover the hatch boards, as well. I'm sure that rain occasionally enters through the vent.

Any ideas about rigging a tarp across the top and down the companionway? Maybe something like a boom tent would work. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Tom

Tom Albright

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 12:37:17

A C-25 in my club has a Sunbrella hatch cover that snaps on--I have wondered about ventilation, but they think it's great.

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Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 12:40:20

We made a piece that covers the cabin and cockpit using the snaps that hold the pop top. It pretty well covers everything including our teak back rests in the cockpit. I'm moving the boat out of the shop tomorrow and will try to get some pictures. Dave

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 13:17:28

Boom tent, using the pop top snaps.

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TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 13:46:44

Frank, Neat solution! Did you have the cover custom made?

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 14:22:53

Boom tents work... you can get fancy and make one/have one made out of sunbrella... or do it on the cheap with a 4X6 plastic tarp and some bungee cords. Note that if you leave it draped over your sailcover for extended periods of time it can cause chafing due to movement in the wind (same with any kind of cover)

Other folks have made custom-fitted sunbrella covers that snap over the hatch and companionway boards.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 15:10:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TomA
 Frank, Neat solution! Did you have the cover custom made?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
It is generic.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 20:24:34

My boat has a pop top cover. To attach the pop top cover, male snaps are installed on the trim on both sides of the companionway entrance. I wanted to make a cover to protect the hatchboards and to keep the mud daubers from getting in through the hatch board louvers, so I made a sunbrella cover for the hatchboards, and attached female snaps on either side of it. The hatchboard cover is very easy to snap on and off, and I haven't had to refinish my hatchboards for the past 4-5 years, since I made the cover. If you don't have a pop top cover, you can easily install ss snaps to the companionway entrance.

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TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 22:10:15

Steve, That sounds like a good solution. I also have a pop top cover that attaches as you have described. I need to do some research to find out how snaps are fastened to the sunbrella fabric.

Thanks for the tip.
Tom

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 23:26:16

http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051& catalogId=10051& langId=-1& productId=334876

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allencl
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 14:22:46

I wasn't thinking about protecting the teak drop boards when I had a dodger cut for the boat, but it has made a big difference with respect to how the teak finish around the companionway holds up. We always touched up the Cetol every season due to minor deterioration from UV and rain exposure. This is only the second season with the dodger, but the teak drop boards and companionway trim look perfect still and they haven't been touched up since 2002.

Regards,

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TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 16:28:00

Chris, I really like the look of your dodger. Spirit looks great!
I would imagine the dodger also helps prevent deterioration of the captain and crew from rain and UV expoosure!

In my part of the world, I would worry about leaving the dodger up during my absence because of the possibility of hurricanes.

For reasons known only to me, I continue to use teak oil on the wood. But, let's not fire up that discussion again

Tom

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rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2004 : 21:51:33

Greetings, Catalina Direct has a pre-measured sunbrella cover that fits over the pop-top railings and the teak hatch boards. I highly recommend it. All one needs to do is install the snaps where one wants them. We have used it for two seasons, and it has been fantastic!

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allencl
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2004 : 08:59:40

Thanks Tom!

Let us know what you work out...

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nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2004 : 16:23:38

Tom,
After removing all of the exterior wood on my boat and refinishing it with Cetol, I decided I needed a cover to protect all that hard work from the Las Vegas sun and blowing dust. I took a couple old flat sheets and layed them out and cut a template that I later used as a pattern for the cover. I purchased some "Top Gun" fabric from Sail Rite and did the sewing myself. The fabric is ceaper than Sunbrella and is intended for that use.The cover goes from about a foot in front of the mast all the way back to the companionway. I installed 6 straps with Fastex buckles that hold the corners on and I made a simple collar to go around the mast. Where the cover ended in the cockpit, I used metal snaps along the wood trim at the bottom of the companionway. I used the cover for 3 years now and have found it to be great. The finish on the teak stays nicer longer and the cover adds some protection from leaks that may occur along the handrails or other cabintop hardware. I'll try to find a pic of the boat with the cover on and post it soon.

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TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2004 : 23:48:37

Nate, Using a sheet for a template sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the tip! I would really like to see a picture when you have a chance to post one.

Tom

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nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2004 : 14:00:11

Tom, This isn't the greatest pic but it gives you an idea of what the cover looks like.

Edited by - nate on 07/02/2004 14:03:34

TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2004 : 15:41:47

Nate, Thanks for the ideas and pic! I assume you slit the fabric in front of the mast and then gathered the excess around the foot. Did you use a velcro strap to make a collar around the mast? How do you secure the ends of the slit in front of the mast, using Velcro or snaps? Finally, where do you attach the 6 fastex straps? It seems that you hook them to the stantion bases? Is that correct?

I think this is exactly what I would like to make for my boat. As you said, it protects the teak and may prevent leaks from a variety of sources. Yours looks really good on the boat!

Tom

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nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2004 : 19:26:50

Tom, The collar around the mase is a seperate piece that was sewn into the cover. I use a little bungee cord to "seal" it around the mast. The slit in front of the mast overlaps a couple inches and closes with 3-4 metal snaps. You can see the webbing straps (black) that go around the lifeline stantions (sp?) 3 to a side....the Fastex buckles make removing the cover a little quicker. You can see in the pic that I even made a cover for my Walker Bay dinghy.

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TomA
1st Mate

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USA
91 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2004 : 22:42:24

Nate, Got it. Thanks!

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