Transom Door's

[CEShawn]

Okay, not going to bore everyone with the typical transom door questions. I know I need to put one in, more for getting on the boat everyday than for tuna, although I wish different.

Working on ships, we go to cut out a bulkhead or deck, we basically have to put the same amount of material that we cut out, around where we cut. Whether we double it up, or any other thing we do to it.

So why have since the dawn of me realizing this, do I question cutting a door out of my transom and especially breaking the covering board across the stern. Sure I absolutely know it gets done to every boat, some boats do not even have transoms, etc.

Why do I just think its weakening the structure? Sure I know boats that are from the 70's that are fine but just very curious... Perhaps because I only have one bulkhead in my boat, lol...

 

[Live Wire]

tuna door for the elderly

My other boats had a tuna door, and how nice, for fishing and entering boat. My new DE boat never had one installed but would love to have one.I mostly do canyon fishing ,so 99% of catch can be lifted over the gunnel,but sometimes I go tuna wishing off Chatham and if I ever caught a real one would be in trouble.I could also use a door for entering our dinghy,as we cruise the Bahama's in the winter.Only counting the days that me or my wife will go on our ass climbing in or out over the gunnel
does any one (around Martha's Vineyard) specialize in this,how long,how much???

 

[backman]

I'm in also for a local builder - Falmouth or MV - that will do this right. I have the same issue - I was the boat tied up next to you in OB last weekend and I can't get rid of my swim platform till I grow a door!

My ex marina whom I parted ways with quoted 9K which seemed absurd.

 

[tashmoo2]

There are 2 issues that would concern me on my boat.

1. Finding hinges. I've seen some really terrible custom hinges to get the transom to close and open straight

2. Height of deck about waterline

 

[Raider Ronnie]

So far I LOVE my door.
Absolutely no water coming in, makes it real easy getting on & off the boat & makes it SO much easier to wash the boat.
Only thing I haven't done is put a latch to keep door open all the way but will. Been using a bingie cord so far.
Hoping to christen it soon with a few big tuna.

 

[steveinak]

The slide in door looks like a simple solution to me, only thing i would do is left the gunnel cap on it so it would look like the rest of the cap. Make the track out of some nice stainless strips. Add a chain or line to the door so it doesn't get lost.

 

[WoundUpMarine]

Ronnie, this is what i have for my tuna door, the door swings open and latches. I got it my local hardware store.

Boat Marine Door Stop and Catch Stainless Steel | eBay

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Ya, I've seen that latch on other boats. Not sure something like that sticking out so far is what I want.
Before my project The boat had a bunch of hook/clips all around the boat that were for a custom cover for the boat when I bought it. Made it a real pain in the ass when we gill net pogies (the net getting caught on hooks) I want to at all cost have nothing that will get the net hung up now.
If you look at the pics Bill took of my boat, I was setting up a pvc rail to sit in 2 rod holders to shoot out net to avoid catching net on boat.

Ronnie, this is what i have for my tuna door, the door swings open and latches. I got it my local hardware store.

Boat Marine Door Stop and Catch Stainless Steel | eBay

 

[Frigate]

Tashmoo2,

From my build pictures here is the answer to #2.

 

[CEShawn]

Wow this thread took off...

Perhaps we can all get in on a 3 transom door builder? LOL I will do my own this fall, for this summer I have a large block and tackle.

I like the slanted slope, but only thing worries me is I always want to have it for boarding charter customers at the dock, worried somoene might try to step on the slanted part, could also do a fill in piece...

Ahh the pull in/out door... watch out for that, I remember Luhrs had that one some of their 29's I think at one point... We'll its funny when need to call them for a replacement door because someone dropped it...

Larry, 9K over at that marina... insane... why I left in 2001/2002...

Livewire, I think you need it for those state record fish!

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Just wondering.
Why did you do such a steep pitch for the ramp ? because height of deck off water line ?
That looks to be 40 45 degrees ???

Tashmoo2,

From my build pictures here is the answer to #2.

 

[Frigate]

Sorry for not getting back but we went to the boat Wednesday afternoon and just got back. Last of the inshore trips. We had dock partys every night.
Today was clean up the the boat and start the transition to offshore fishing. Have a shark trip next weekend. Then it is take the fighting station off the boat and drop the chair on the stanchion. The outriggers will go on the boat this week and we are good to go for tuna fishing.

Ronnie,

Yes, the angle has to due with the height of the deck above the water. The bottom of the ramp is at the water line. Get the fish's head on the ramp backdown a little on in it comes. Not like you have to flood the cockpit like on the sportfish to get the fish in.

Shawn,

The builder's put covers on the ramps so people can step on or walk over when fighting a fish (see picture below). BUT most builders's don't put floation on the under side of the cover. When the shit hits the fan of getting the fish in the boat covers are lost overboard. Never to be seen again. When Kenny Flower built my boat he put floation under the cover. It floats I have tested it.

 

[duxbait]

Thread derail... you have a sweet fishbox on there for a 38 Frigate!

 

[CEShawn]

Not to derail it any more, does anyone have a good thread on how to make the fishbox, mainly a good cover, I see a few things but just curious... ?

 

[finaddict]

Anyone else notice the extra support to the base of the swivel rod holders? I Like that!

 

[Blitzen]

Anyone else notice the extra support to the base of the swivel rod holders? I Like that!

I got the same thing on every one of my holders.

 

[FL Marine Plastics]

Not to derail it any more, does anyone have a good thread on how to make the fishbox, mainly a good cover, I see a few things but just curious... ?

What about making the cover out of non skid starboard. It would probably be more cost effective that a glass one by the time you purchase core material and mat etc.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

I got the same thing on every one of my holders.

I did my 4 across the transom.
Glassed in blocks of Coosa Board.

 

[Frigate]

Two more pictures that show ramp and cover:

First picture shows the buildt ramp.

The second picture shows the floatation buildt in under the ramp cover so it floats. Two other things to look at in the picture:

One, look under 2013 in the picture, on the cooler is the handle of the Flush Hatch Lift (Hamilton Marine 2013 page 161) for the ramp cover. It lasted eight years. The fix, take the the lift plate off. Get a stainless cotter pin that fits the holes in the handle and plate. Bend the cotter pin straight, hammer as need and cut it to length just inside the back two screw holes.

Two, the piece of 300 lb. mono around the rod holder, the piece sticking up above the ramp cover plus a few more behind the ramp cover are used to stick down the spinal cord of tuna to relax the muscles before it goes into the saltwater brine. Those were from tuna for home consumption so the mono was put in a little bleech and water and were out drying before being put back in the 2 gal. zip lock bag.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

One benefit I grown to love about the ramp at my door, makes washing the boat SO easy !
Fish blood washes right out the ramp quickly !
Even more so for soap when washing boat, although I don't use soap all that often

Two more pictures that show ramp and cover:

First picture shows the buildt ramp.

The second picture shows the floatation buildt in under the ramp cover so it floats. Two other things to look at in the picture:

One, look under 2013 in the picture, on the cooler is the handle of the Flush Hatch Lift (Hamilton Marine 2013 page 161) for the ramp cover. It lasted eight years. The fix, take the the lift plate off. Get a stainless cotter pin that fits the holes in the handle and plate. Bend the cotter pin straight, hammer as need and cut it to length just inside the back two screw holes.

Two, the piece of 300 lb. mono around the rod holder, the piece sticking up above the ramp cover plus a few more behind the ramp cover are used to stick down the spinal cord of tuna to relax the muscles before it goes into the saltwater brine. Those were from tuna for home consumption so the mono was put in a little bleech and water and were out drying before being put back in the 2 gal. zip lock bag.