[C320-list] Hatch & porthole screens? /// An alternative to expensive hatch screens and commercial companion way screens

[Rick Sulewski]

Here is an alternative to expensive hatch and companionway screens that may
or may not meet your needs.

One can purchase screen material and Velcro strips that can be glued to the
screen and under the perimeter of the overhead hatches. There are kits
available for about ten dollars and it I was able to make a hatch screens
for both the main cabin and the forward hatch. All one needs to do after
gluing the Velcro to the underside of the hatch frame is to apply the sticky
Velcro strip with the sticky side facing the area where the screen will meet
the sticky side of the Velcro already attached to the Velcro glued beneath
the hatch frame (inside the cabin) and by pressing the screen to the sticky
Velcro gently pull off the screen, trim off the excess screen material and
then be sure to glue the sticky Velcro from the opposing side of the screen
material. All one needs to do when using the hatch is to press the screen in
place and the screen stores easily rolled up.  Mine hatch screens have
lasted 14 seasons with an occasional need to glue small portions of the
Velcro under the hatch frame if we ever pull away the Velcro strip.

As for the companionway....with the excess screen material from the hatch
screens, I made a companion way board that fits above the first companionway
board resulting in board that replaces the two remaining companionway
boards.

With the boat in storage and 12 inches of snow on the ground up here in
Ohio, I can not remember if I used 3/8 or 7/16 inch plywood with both sides
good. Look for the smaller sections of plywood already cut in 4x4 sections
at Lowes or Home Depot near the cabinet trim.  I traced the pattern from the
two replaced companionway boards and cut out the template and sanded the
edges to reduce snags as we store this board on the aft cabin self above the
head board. To create adequate airflow for the screens, I cut two parallel
rectangles separated by about 4 to 5 inches of material to provide a stiff
board that will not flex. Each rectangle is also about 4 - 5 inches wide and
about 14 inches long. Simply glue or use adhesive tape to secure the screen
on the inside of the board and slide the screen board in the place of the
two removed companionway boards....again this process works very well. I
applied about 3 coats of clear finish and added a Perko locking hatch
similar to what is used to lock up the companionway hatch. Now I secure the
screen in place and may even lock it in place while away from the boat while
at a busy anchorage or while at a busy dockage area.

All totaled with all of the hardware, wood and screen material, I do not
think I have 50 dollars in the hatch screens and companionway screen board.

Rick
My-Ria #277



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jon Vez
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 8:20 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hatch & porthole screens?

Kevin,

I bought these a couple of seasons ago and they work well. The companionway
screen is a bit of a pain when entering/exiting, but in my opinion well
worth it. The hatch screen works great. I am thinking of building screens to
slide into the companionway, but I don't want to worry about storing. These
screens come with a little plastic storage box that is easy to store out of
the way...

Regards,

Jon Vez
Solstice #582

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
onedrop7 at yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 11:34 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hatch & porthole screens?

Thanks, Dennis. Those screens look like just what I need.

Deck hatch screens:
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?fno=400&group=331&cat=2001
Porthole screens:
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?fno=400&group=1152&cat=2005

So I'll get the right sizes, does anyone know offhand the height/width of
the C320 portholes? Are they all the same size?
How about the dimensions of the deck hatches? (This may be in my
documentation somewhere. I'm just being lazy.)

Did porthole screen come with all 320s, just some, or maybe start in a
certain model year?

Sorry for all the newbie questions. As it's quite new to me I'm still just
getting to know my 320.

Bruce: thanks for the tip on the boat shows but I've got my own companionway
door project in the works.

Kevin
C320#211




________________________________
From: Dennis Harris <dharris02 at embarqmail.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 3, 2009 11:32:52 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Hatch & porthole screens?

www.sailboatowners.com has portable bug screens for hatches and
companionway.  Not as fancy as custom made screens or doors, but less
expensive.  Lewmar makes screens for its hatches and ports (my boat came
equipped with those)

Dennis Harris C320 #694