Companionway Boards

Ou la la, new companionway boards. 

Went to Peacock Lumber and order 1" x 10" x 10' piece of Meranti Mahogany. I used my thickness planer to bring it down from 1" to 1/2" to fit in my companionway slots. I notched the board joints, sanded and applied the stain last night. Today I gave it 1 of 5 coats of Sunbar Spar Varnish. Very happy with the mahogany grain. The stain gives it a deeper brownish red finish than its original color. Can't wait to fit them in the spring. 

Say Bye Bye to the old plexiglass companionway piece!

Bart has provided some good feedback regarding how to latch the boards for racing (based on French Vanilla's latching system). Will attempt to do this in the spring.

My concern here is similar to the concerns raised by Storm Trooper (Soverel 33) in 2010. I believe that the same predicament and solution applies to Santeria, even more important to be able to permanently latch the bottom companionway board while underway.

Unfortunate for Storm Trooper, the companionway boards were the least of their worries in 2010 (de-masted in heavy winds).

LO300 Safety Requirements FAQ’s

Q. – It seems however there is a new rule that may not have been in play for last year’s event. Specifically it is 3.083, which seems to come from the Offshore Special Regulations where a companionway hatch cannot extend below the Local Sheerline for a boat with an open transom. A Soverel 33 has an open transom and the companionway entrance is lower than the settees but elevated about 10 inches off of the deck. Is the meaning of Local sheerline the deck or is it the classic sense of the term sheerline which would refer more to the top extremity of the hull. Would we actually be ineligible to race given this layout of our deck and companionway or are there other things that we can do, ie. Build a special companion hatch and secure it that extends to the top of the settees etc…?

A – you are correct in noting the wording is from the Offshore Regulations Cat.3. I am assuming the requirement stems from the concern of a following wave coming in through the open transom and finding its way below. I have always liked open transoms from a safety point of view, having once been swamped with a boarding wave into a closed cockpit with two miniscule cockpit drains, promptly blocked by loose spinnaker sheets. Keeping the water out of the cabin is the paramount concern, long enough for the outflow through the open stern or drains. I would recommend you try to have the bottom of the companionway blocked up to the side deck level with a secured drop board (Shock cord or slide bolts)Let us know if this is possible and we can put the answer onto the FAQ link for others to follow.