companion way doors

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richard bordelon
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companion way doors

i need the names of a good place to buy companion way doors for my c36.richard bordelon #902

StillaThrill
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Posts: 86

Richard,

There are a couple of places on the web: [url]www.zarcor.com[/url] has the doors and they occasionally run specials and the other one is [url]www.cruisingconcepts.com[/url].

I hope this helps,

Ralph
Still a Thrill # 765
WK, STD Rig
Lake Texoma, TX

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Allan R
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Posts: 177

If you are semi handy and have a little more than basic tools, you could attempt to buil your own. I made mine for under $100.

[URL="http://catalina36mkii.blogspot.com/"]Specs/Upgrades[/URL]

Allan Rex
# 2216

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ProfDruhot
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Posts: 354

I have a question about replacing my companionway boards with doors. I understand that Zarcor is a reliable company. Just wondering if there is anyone else who supplies doors.

Thanks in advance for your tips,

Glenn

Glenn Druhot
Carpe Diem
New Bern, NC
35* 6' 10" N / 77* 2' 30" W
2001 C36, Hull #1965
Std Rig; Wing Keel; M35B

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wfahey
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Posts: 157

I have the CruisingConcept doors and love them. When we race we wrap them in the quilted companionway cover to protect them as the windows scratch easily.

Bill
s/v Lucky
1984 MK I Hull #266
San Antonio, Texas

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Spanki
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We built ours with a table saw, and a planner (get wood to fit to hatch board slides, the only big expense was the plastic (LEXAN). I've built at least 4 set for other boats in our marina (only 12 S/V and 300SP). The hinges are plastic seperating hinges from W/M. The 3 pieces of wood interlock with each other and have to be "worked out". I would post pictures of them but I am not a computer wiz, I've tried for 30 min now-sorry

Spanki & {Russ 12-8-1949/9-6-2010 R.I.P Butch}
s/v Spanki 1993 Catalina 36 #1224
"Don't worry, Be happy""Sail your life away"

Solla Sollew
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Posts: 74

Russ:
Would you be so kind as to email me the photo(s) you attempted to post? You can send the to: [email]XXXsv_sollasollewXXX@yahoo.com[/email]. (Remove the x's)
I''d also be happy to post them here for everyone else to see. All due credit will be given.:)
Marc
"Solla Sollew" #1473
Ventura CA

Marc & Susan Garcia
"Solla Sollew" #1473, Mk.II
 San Buenaventura, Ca.

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dejavu
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Here's an idea. Since many owners go for the nifty Cruising Concept doors, perhaps you could post a "Want To Buy" ad in the classifieds and find someone who would like to sell their original doors. Just a thought.

Mike

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

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ProfDruhot
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Posts: 354

I decided to go with the Zarcor doors and have been quite pleased with them. In fact, I happen to believe that it was one of the best upgrades that I have made to the boat to date.

Glenn Druhot
Carpe Diem
New Bern, NC
35* 6' 10" N / 77* 2' 30" W
2001 C36, Hull #1965
Std Rig; Wing Keel; M35B

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StephenVNoe
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Posts: 35

Just finished the install including replacing wood side rails with SS. Really makes the boat look good!

Stephen Noe
S/V Earendil, Oriental NC, USA
1985 Endeavour 42 

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Allan R
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Posts: 177

Very nice!!

Allan Rex
# 2216

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John Reimann
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Posts: 321

What is the advantage of doors over boards? In most conditions, I simply remove the boards. When I'm outside the bay if there are heavy seas then I just leave one or two boards in.

SF Bay
1998 C36

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Ciscocat
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Posts: 244

I went with the zarcor doors as well and love then the inserts are great and you can make some yourself. the only thing i did differently is that I replaced the teak sideboards with Stainless steel replacements they seemed to work better and it is one less piece of teak on the outside of the boat i have to mess with. the company is great to work with, of course it helps that they are local to the Dallas area. i'll see if i can get a picture of them if you are interested. I believe your boat is a Mark I correct?
regards,

Mike Hogan
s/v Ciscocat #226
Mark I XP25, std rig

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stu jackson c34
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[QUOTE=John Reimann;11414]What is the advantage of doors over boards? In most conditions, I simply remove the boards. When I'm outside the bay if there are heavy seas then I just leave one or two boards in.[/QUOTE]

John, I, too, had that question. Then I realized, yet again, that so many folks sail in way different conditions than we do. Southern gentlemen have heat and bugs. Doors are way easier to keep air conditioning working down below. Same for northern skippers with heating requirements.

The only real downside of the doors that I see with the arrangement of our cockpits and companionways is that the doors are lower than the cockpits seats, so they never open all the way (see Steve's picture).

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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plaineolde
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[QUOTE=stu jackson c34;11422]
The only real downside of the doors that I see with the arrangement of our cockpits and companionways is that the doors are lower than the cockpits seats, so they never open all the way (see Steve's picture).[/QUOTE]

I plan to make doors over the winter, and I've been considering just this issue. I was taking some measurements on the boat and I may make up some sample doors in a frame that fits in the opening above the lowest hatch board. This way, they would open all the way, and the lower board isn't difficult to step over. Still in the thinking phase at this point.

Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay

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stu jackson c34
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Gary, what you might want to consider is to make the doors as large as you can and as low as they will go to "miss" the seats when they open. The advantage is that the lower drop board could be smaller than the one you have (maybe if you have three it would be equal).

Measure a million times, cut a few times.:):):)

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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kinera
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Dumb question, I am sure....but what if the doors were buiilt to swing inside?

Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD

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stu jackson c34
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A clever approach. If you examine the companionway and the construction of the lips that hold the hatchboards, plus the construction of the bridge step, I think you'll find anything that swings in would be difficult at best and hard to keep rain out.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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Steve Frost
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Inward opening doors as Stu mentioned may be tough to engineer to keep rain out not to mention boarding seas. One area often mentioned about our C36 and seaworthiness is the huge companionway being a concern in rough weather. When it getts rough out there I often put my hatch boards in and close the companionway hatch. Inward opening doors would not hold up to boarding seas.

I do like the idea of doors so the boat could be quickly closed up though, I think if I were to build them I would either design a lower hatch board to stay in place that would make the door short enough to swing open without hitting the seats or put a lateral hinge on the lower portion of the door so it would fold up and lay on the seat when the door is open.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

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Allan R
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Posts: 177

Best of both worlds. I designed mine so I could use either or. The doors are on lift off hinges, then remove four screws and the hatch boards are ready to go in.

Allan Rex
# 2216

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Ciscocat
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just a note with the zarcor doors in place you can easily remove the doors and they boards simply slide into place as they normally would.

Mike Hogan
s/v Ciscocat #226
Mark I XP25, std rig

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Capt. Sam
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Posts: 322

Just a note and slightly different opinion. I just received and intalled my new Zarcor doors. I'm less than thrilled. Goods: They look great, were relatively easy to install although I had to call Zarcor three times for clarifications, the people at Zarcor are great to work with. Bads: the combi lock does not work on my boat. The companionway slide can easily be lifted above the locking arm and pushed open, and the lock is, in my opinion, way overpriced at $50. (Zarcor quickly agreed to let me return the combi lock and give me the $50 back. and I installed a hasp and padlock.) The doors are not very secure even after reverting to the hasp with padlock. I'm sure I could just push them in by hand if I wanted.
And lastly, the price seems high to me for the value received.

Bottom line is I think I would try to build my own doors of wood if I had it to do over. But the Zarcor doors look very good and the security issue can be overcome by simply putting the weather boards back in when leaving the boat.
Hope these comments are helpful to anyone considering the issue.
Sam

Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida

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deising
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I think security is a matter of degrees in any case. It is often said that locks just keep 'honest' folks out. Determined thieves have their ways.

Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/

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Capt. Sam
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Yes, that's very true. The owner of Zarcor told me he had one customer who put a plaque by the doors that asks any would be burglars to call him for the combination before breaking in the doors.

Capt. Sam Murphy
1994 Catalina 36, Hull 1327
Shoal draft, two cabin model.
Panama City, Florida

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Rockman
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We always had flimsy washboards, so when they got kicked in it would not damage the mountings. But we did have some strong ones for when we were offshore. (the boat was on a mooring, and the local boys would swim out tithe boat and break in looking for alcohol)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia

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deising
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Reporting that I just installed the Zarcor companionway doors this weekend. So far, we are very pleased with the fit, finish, and function. I agree with Sam that they are much flimsier than the solid wood boards, but we are prepared to deal with that.

Perhaps thanks to Sam's caution, I ordered the doors with no lock, electing to fasten the standard hasp hardware.

I did have to sand the bottom edge down by 1/8 inch to make the sliding hatch work properly, but it was easy to do. I would much rather have to take off material than live with a sloppy fit.

Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/

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