Sometimes a boat does not need a full-on locking companionway cover. Just a little fabric flap for those warmer-weather, casual days when one needs only a bit of canvas and windowpane to block the breeze yet still let light down below.
Here’s how I did it: with the horizontal sliding portion of the companionway hatch in the closed position, the top side of the vertical companionway opening measures 27-1/2" wide, and the bottom side is 25-1’4" wide. The vertical length between top and bottom is 27".
I cut a trapezoid in clear plastic (1 mm, flexible) measuring 26-3/4" at the top, 17" vertical height, and 25-1/4" at the bottom. Sandwiched this plastic with a zigzag stitch between two layers of two 2-1/2" wide Sunbrella sides, a 3-1/2" wide top piece, and an 8" bottom piece. Edged the perimeter with piping. Set 3 snaps into the top Sunbrella piece to attach to the hard edge of the companionway’s horizontal sliding section. Added a buttonhole to accomodate an eye bolt we’ve installed in the companionway hatch for reasons unrelated to this sewing project. Sure, there’s a bit of raveling of the Sunbrella’s edges, but from a distance it looks pretty much OK. Bonus: it was all done with scrap Sunbrella left over from larger projects, and we use it so often we just stow it rolled up behind one of the salon seats until we reach the next port or anchorage:
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