[Public-list] Redoing Teak in Hatches and Seat Tops

[Gordon Laco]

Hello Roger - 

I would suggest that creating places to stack gear on deck is generally to
be avoided.  Similarly, you will generally avoid going up and down the deck
on the leeward side while under weigh unless there  is something down there
that needs particular attention (genny track adjustments etc)

On the windward side having the rails inboard is a good thing as it widens
your stance when moving forward and aft. We have not found the handrail in
its normal position to be uncomfortable to sit on.  I have on occasion
considered adding rails on the forward (lower) section of the coach roof but
I guess since you can hang onto the shrouds up there we have not done it.

Our main source of crew security are the jacklines that run up each side of
deck.  Aboard Surprise they go from the life line stanchion base abreast the
main sheet winches up through the cleats on the foredeck and back down the
other side.  We use red 1/2" dacron braided rope with the core stripped out.
Nothing else in the rig is red and nothing else is flat; so the potential
for mistakes clipping on are minimized.  I used wire on my last boat but
wire rolls under foot and we wanted to eliminate that hazard.

Well - there is a rambling response...

Gord #426 Surprise







> Gord & Pete,
> 
> I got some great Burmese teak from Steve at 401 253 3620  (an importer in
> Jew Jersey).  I paid about $14 per board foot.   I believe it came in 8/4
> thickness and I had it cut and planed down to mostly 5/8. I learned the hard
> way there is allot of junk out there.  His stuff is the real deal.
> 
> I used some of it to replace the Plexiglas tops in the forward and lazarette
> hatches (using original teak frames).  Some day I would like to laminate
> teak strips on the plywood main hatch and build a teak cover into which the
> hatch slides when open (I know that thing has a name).
> 
> In the "related but not relevant" department, one thought is to integrate
> fore/aft grab rails onto outboard sides of the cover that would extend
> forward past the cover and slope down to the lower cabin top.  This would
> form the sides of a "tray" to stow stuff (sail bags normally stowed in
> forward cabin while under way).  Eliminating the original grab rail, which
> runs at about the middle of the space between the hatch and outboard edge of
> the cabin, would make the cabin top a better seat and eliminate that lower
> mid thigh welt.  I don't know if it would help or hurt the ergonomics of
> using the grab rails while healed over.  It would probably be better to have
> the leeward rails more inboard but harder to reach if transiting the
> windward deck.
> 
> Roger
> 


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