Boating – June 2019

BOAT DOCTOR /// WEEKEND WORKBOOK

46 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2019

DIY

+ Weekend

Workbook

TOOLS AND

SUPPLIES

SKILL LEVEL

FINISH TIME

You don’t find many

new boats with teak

companionway hatches or

console doors these days,

and with good reason.

While freshly oiled or

varnished teak trim lends

a touch of class and visual

warmth to an otherwise

stark-white fiberglass boat

interior, the wood requires

constant maintenance or

else it weathers, turns gray,

and eventually detracts

from the boat’s appearance

rather than enhancing it.

If this sounds familiar,

you can spruce up your

boat by replacing the old,

faded eyesores with made-

to-fit doors that are crafted

from King Starboard, a

high-density polyethylene

material that’s durable,

available in a range of

colors, and requires

virtually no maintenance.

Ocoee, Florida-based

Boat Outfitters’ website

(boatoutfitters.com)

allows you to spec out new

custom doors, complete

with frames, choice of

hardware and other

options, that can serve

as straight replacements

for the old doors. Once

you place your order, Boat

Outfitters will mill and

assemble the doors and

frames, hinges and latches

to your specifications.

Boat Outfitters also pre-

drills and countersinks

the frames for fasteners

(not included), then ships

the items to you for DIY

installation. Here are

the key steps based on

replacing a door for a

14-inch-wide-by-16-inch-

tall opening in the helm

console of a dual-console

boat. —Jim Hendricks

REPLACING OLD TEAK

DOORS AND FRAMES

ILL

US

TR

AT

ION

S:^ T

IM

BA

RK

ER

Give your boat a fresh look with new custom doors.

• Boat Outfi tters King

Starboard Boat Door

($161.44 for base door

and frame for an opening

measuring 14 inches

wide by 16 inches high,

boatoutfi tters.com)

• Measuring tape


• Power drill and bit set


• Stainless-steel fasteners

(to fasten frames)

• 3M Marine Grade

Silicone Sealant

($24.99/10-ounce car-

tridge, westmarine.com)

• Phillips screwdriver


• Socket or box-wrench set


• Shop rags (to wipe

excess sealant)

Approx. 1.5 hours

(per door)

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