Poll: Seafari door opening in or out?

SailorChlud · #1 08-31-2017, 04:47 PM

Hello, Folks:

I am about to start installing a door for my Seafari, and we are debating the merits of it opening into the cabin, or out of the cabin.
After using Ciao Bella without a door, it is pretty convenient for the mates to duck into the cabin to grab something while we ride.

I'd like to take a poll: Do you prefer in swing or out swing for the door, and which side should the hinges be on?

I am debating using hinges with easily removable pins so I can take the door off if not needed. Here is the door I am installing (photo is before refinishing)

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Dogbomb · #2 08-31-2017, 06:20 PM

I installed a bi-fold door that swings out and mounts on the passenger (port) side. So far I like it and am happy with the placement.

doug7488 · #3 09-01-2017, 07:52 AM

door should open out, otherwise if something falls off the bunk it wll jam the door shut
hinged on the left so not in drivers way if stowed open

Capt Terry · #4 09-01-2017, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug7488

door should open out,
hinged on the left so not in drivers way if stowed open

The non-bifold door on my '76 was factory installed on the right. Preference for stowed open may depend on the size of the driver. I am not large and although it is a little inconvenient to walk past it or release it from its stop, I am probably more careful about it than my passengers would be, some of which are larger than me. When the kids were infants I put a net about half way up so when we were trolling with the door open, we could see them, but they couldn't roll out if we were distracted.

SailorChlud · #5 09-01-2017, 10:03 AM

Thanks guys -

I am not a small guy (5'11"" and 250lbs) so I can imagine having difficulty reaching to the floor on my left to unlatch the hook holding it open. That would indicate running with it closed or hinged left. I think mine was hinged right from the factory, based on the divot in the gelcoat about where a latch would go.

I did not think of the issue of gear falling off the bunk and jamming the door. That is a strong point in favor of opening out. Good insight!

wattaway2 · #6 09-01-2017, 07:31 PM

Interesting and well made point about the Door opening outward ! That's a common sense observation that makes this site so valuable

Tiny · #7 09-01-2017, 08:57 PM

I prefer no door...but that's just me :-), gets in the way of large cooler storage in the dropdown when we have one there...and if you fab up the floor flush and all the way to the door opening someone can stand there and you can stow all sorts of anchor rope under there.

SailorChlud · #8 09-02-2017, 12:46 PM

Actually, my 5'3" wife likes to stand in the well so she is out of the wind completely. But I will be going with the lift off hinges so that I can remove the door wen warranted.

Vezo, Part II · #9 09-02-2017, 02:31 PM

I have a question. The Blank Canvas, 1976 20 Seafari opens out, hinges on right. Same with 1977. The pic of the door of OP looks to have opened out but hinged on left. Unless pic is "backwards"?.? On my finished '77, hinged right, opens to me, operator, 5'10", 160 lbs. works perfect.

Main Point? There is a stud on outside base of door. Receiving magnet screwed into top right side of step down well. Minimal effort to release and no bending!!!

Vezo, Part II

Bushwacker · #10 09-02-2017, 05:34 PM

I would mount it on right like Potter did. Reason is if you need to open door to get something out of cabin, you can't get it anyway when driving, so passenger has to do it and door won't be in their way if it's hinged on right. I have done that myself when going slow however. It's ok to leave the wheel then for a few seconds, since it's hydraulic steering so it doesn't move when released.

As far as a cooler in the stepdown, that's a cool feature of the '72 and earlier models with the big stepdown, which is big enough to hold a 70 qt Coleman cooler with the door in place. I've personally never found a need for a larger cooler, and I've stayed on the boat for as long as 3 nights at a time. My 65 qt Engle cooler will keep ice for 5 days in the S. Fl. summer! Putting cooler in stepdown improves the ride noticeably when it's rough.

I believe the early Moesly models used double doors with half mounted on each side and latching in the center (see pics below from '69 brochure) but it's not clear if they open in or out. Seems to be a clever arrangement, but if they opened inward, you would not be able to mount a board between door and lid over the head to hold 4 scuba tanks like I did.