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The covers (called washboards?) to the cabin on Night Cap are in need of sanding and a re-varnish. I am going to make up a set, so the boat won't be exposed to weather and prying eyes whilst I take the existing boards home and work away at them. I have noticed that all boats seem to have different numbers of boards and different size splits to the boards. What is the best way to split them up? pros and cons? Is ply OK or does one need marine ply (I plan on painting the temporary boards with PVA paint, but one never know, they might become permanent). At least maintenance will be easier once I have 2 sets. Any comments on adding vents to the boards will be welcomed. Thanks, John

Mine are Perspex. about 12mm thick with stainless hinges and haspen clasp for the padlock. Very solid and no maintenance. Plus, they're easy to make. There are three pieces, and unfortunately I don't have a pic, but there is a small one for the bottom which is about 15 cm high, then the main one which has a mated chamferred edge at the bottom so water doesn't get in, same at the top. To close it off, there is another small peice which is hinged in the middle, so you can fold it to get it into the top, then it clasps to the middle section with a padlock.

Sorry, that description isn't that great, but there might be an idea on this pic.



Michael

hello John (another nice four letter word)

Splash ,wash , companion (if your lonely )call what you like ! They are normally in 2 peices so that if you take a wave over the back(stern / transom for you nautical minded ) the wave doesn't disappear down inside
(below )Gee I hate wet carpet.The only reason some have them in 3 pieces is for storage reasons. Under Offshore rules you must have an inspection port or simalar fitted to the top section of the boards so you can unscrew the inspection port and reach inside and release the boards to allow exit in case of an emergency .Regarding perspex companion boards don't be fooled they do crack and they do shatter .And although they let in light , people like them because it's like window shopping. plywood is fine as it is strong Egret II has the tradional 2 piece fibreglass key hole type. At the end of the day unless you are super hero and are going to sail in 50 plus knots of wind and mountainous breaking seas on your week end sail why bother .If works why change it !

Another problem solved

Regards Bear

Now Bear,

You know that darn bottom wash board is too high to get over .

I made an extra wash board that is only as high as the cockpit seats, works like a charm .

And if I ever run into 50 knots, well, I'll just have put in the two normal fibreglass ones as you would .

Phillip

SEAKA, a Mk1

bearmcnally wrote:The only reason some have them in 3 pieces is for storage reasons. Regarding perspex companion boards don't be fooled they do crack and they do shatter .And although they let in light , people like them because it's like window shopping. Snipped..............
Regards Bear

Bear, you do like a stir don't you

My perspex boards are three pieces so you can lock them correctly, but yes, it does help with storage. They're 15mm thick and tinted, so it would take a big hit to crack them and they're difficult to see through, unless you have a big torch. If they looked into my boat all they would see is a sink, bench and a chart table. There is very little of any value aboard anyway.

I do agree though, if you have something that works, why change it. Unless you want something that doesn't require maintenance........

Michael

Mike

I like to think of it as enterainment It keeps us on our toes and our minds ticking over.I have seen a big boof head break a perspex stormboard after the 40 foot IOR yacht we were racing fell off a wave and slammed into the wave in front

Regards Bear

I have two varnished marine ply 'dress' boards on Storm Petrel. The lower one is reinforced with a horizontal strip of timber. The upper board has a simple stainless vent (though I have seen boats with solar exhaust fans fitted to the upper washboard).

I have also made up an extra lower board that I keep on the boat and use when at sea. It is marine ply, reinforced with an upper and lower horizontal piece of timber and has two hatch clips to fix it in place when at sea. If you knock down a Tophat, water comes into the cockpit in a rush and with no bridge deck a lot of this may end up down below (potentially very dangerous) so you really should keep the lower washboard in whenever you are in serious seas and wind. At least something as high as the cockpit seats. Mind you, I have had my Tophat out is some pretty horrible conditions and have only had it knocked down low enough once to have water come over the comings and into the cockpit.

Cheers,
Mark
Storm Petrel

hi jhon with your question regarding vents i find them very handy as i open up the mushroom vents up the front of the boat and the vent in the storm boards allows the through flow of air and drys the boat out by the time i get back in a couple of days that way i can just sweep up the dry sand , much less work than sweeping wet sand out plus you dont get that humid feel in a well vented boat just my 2 cents

hey guys, this site is magic. Thanks for all the information. Night Cap has great wash boards, but they are in need of TLC. My wife and I are not in agreement. She wants varnished boards (as they are at present) and I like the look of timber, but maintenance is a problem. So I am 90% decided that I will buy some ply and make up a set (using what I have learned from all of you). Will size the pieces to be optimal and will fit one of those metal louvre vents ont one of the pieces, will simply paint with cream PVA paint which I have. Then for a few $ and few hours work at home I will have a set to fit and can sand and varnish the existing borads at home when I am bored (LOL). Comments on the style type of vent (louvred metal?) much appreciated. On a side note, found a computer on road side (put out for council collection) and recovered from it 2 great 12 volt fans. Thinking of hooking one of these up to washboards, put on timer (to run when solar panel is making juice and it needs only a connector to couple it when wash boards are being fitted. Can anyone think of any other good spots to mount a small fan.Anyone have details of timers (maybe Jaycar would be good for one of these). Maybe fit a fan on side of quarter berth venting out into cockpit??

Interesting discussion on the Compass site some years ago, that the flow of air(while locked up & sitting on mooring) goes in reverse....it goes in through the vents on washboards then forward & out through the roof vents, might be worth investigating & experimenting to improve air flow in your design.
cheers
shaun