New Companionway Slide
The rig, hull, and systems are now in very good shape so I had to think a bit to come up with projects to keep me busy this winter. I began by thinking over the past three sailing seasons and trying to identify the most likely cause of a cruise ending injury that I could identify and fix. It didn't take long to come up with the companionway slide.
The 3/8" acrylic cover was not strong enough to stand on and too slippery as well so it had to be open when furling the main. This required that I can stand on the brass strips at the sides. Not only was this a major annoyance in the rain, one false step could send a leg down into the cabin and result in major injury. I've had some close calls. I also replaced my skylights with high strength polycarbonate (aka Lexan) and it seemed silly to have the much weaker acrylic in a major opening.
The solution was to remove and raise the "turtle" cover over the companionway slide by inserting a 3/4" thick frame under it. After the slide was reinstalled, I put a trim strip around it. This time, I'll make the cover easily removable rather than setting it in bedding compound as I did the first time I re-did the slide.
Originally, I planned to fasten Iroko (looks almost like teak but not as oily) strips to the plastic. However, while disassembling it, I didn't notice that a screw was jammed in the wood frame and it jacked the plastic away cracking it. It cracked pretty easily so I think nearly 30 years in the sun have taken their toll. A new piece of smoked MR 10 polycarbonate would have been $380.00, Ouch!
After much agonizing, I decided to go with a marine plywood cover for the following reasons aside from cost:
* Lighter
* More tolerant of over strain. The numerous screw holes and materials of different properties make cracking even the tough polycarbonate a possibility.
* When it is bright outside, the slide is likely to be open anyway. When it's dark, a white painted overhead will make the galley area brighter.
* I like to sail late in the season and am headed for cool climates. The wood will be less likely to sweat when steam from cooking hits it. I've had drips before in cold weather and also felt the cold radiating from the plastic.
* With less critical engineering on the 1/2" ply cover and a tough painted surface, I can cut the number of stiffening strips in half so there will be room for my feet between them.
The finished slide installed.
This will provide very secure footing.
Who would have though I would ever be building a steam box for working on a fiberglass boat?
However, it only took a few minutes to knock this together out of a couple pieces of strapping to steam the strip of oak that will make the painted trim piece on the curved front edge of the companionway turtle cover. A 3/4" hole fits the spout of the oil can perfectly. I could bend the strip dry to the curve but I figured I would get a better job not fighting the spring. Besides, steaming oak takes me right back to my youth. Oh yes. This could blow up if allowed to boil dry so the oil residue ignites. I poured two gallons of hot water through the can first and checked it frequently.
Here is the wood trim piece installed and ready for painting.
The trim will be painted to match the cabin top so I haven't worried too much about being neat with the epoxy.