Gunnel Dive Door on a 20

[JohnC]

I just wanted to get some opinions about adding a side dive door to a 20. I would love to add this feature however it seems like to gunnels are integral to the rigidity of the smaller hulls. I don't know that the stringer system and the deck are enough to provide longitudinal stiffness without a continuous gunnel. I occasionally venture out in bigger seas than I should so structure matters.
That being said - I really want one! Is there a reasonable way to replace the structural integrity of the gunnel while cutting a door into it? has it been done? I searched but I cant find where this mod has been tried on a 20 (or even a 23).
Opinions please.

Thanks,
John

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by JohnC

I just wanted to get some opinions about adding a side dive door to a 20. I would love to add this feature however it seems like to gunnels are integral to the rigidity of the smaller hulls. I don't know that the stringer system and the deck are enough to provide longitudinal stiffness without a continuous gunnel. I occasionally venture out in bigger seas than I should so structure matters.
That being said - I really want one! Is there a reasonable way to replace the structural integrity of the gunnel while cutting a door into it? has it been done? I searched but I cant find where this mod has been tried on a 20 (or even a 23).
Opinions please.

Thanks,
John

I wouldn't be afraid to do one out the back of the transom but would be afraid of cutting the sides out for a door. I've noticed stress cracks in the Sceptre 20s and the Seafari 20s in the gunnel area and would think they work like a roll cage on a car. They act like a I beam with the side being the verticle and the top cap being the top to the "I" parallel with the floor. Not saying it couldn't be done but would think it would drastically reduce the strength of the hull.

[JUST JOHN]

Check out Jasnyder1's transom pass thru opening / dive door...
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ad.php?t=29825

Been heavily browsing CSC today, found another lol...
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ad.php?t=18800

[JohnC]

Thanks for the input. Bad idea confirmed!

Transom door requires a re-design of my transom but it isn't put together yet so perhaps that's the best way to go.

[kmoose]

I considered one on my 23’s transom but we roll in and shuck packs on return and pass them to the wife with our guns and fish and slide up on the bracket. We then shuck our fins sitting on the full transom... easy peasy. Adding a viable sized door on smaller 20 is going to be tight and I’m not sure I would want that kind of open exposure on a transom that is low to the water anyway.