Bifold Door Sceptre

jonbrush · #1 07-04-2016, 08:49 PM

Happy Fourth of July!

Some may recall that last year, Flexpat made me some new clips for my cockpit ladder (3D printing is easy for him and his son!). I have been working to figure out how to set up the ladder to access the foredeck. Denny also gave me some advice and sent pics from back in the day. Well here is the result. It works great and is simple, but took me a while to work it out (doh!). I had some teak around, got some new hinges and from there on it was just thinking about it. I still need to see if the hinged boards move around too much when underway, but I have some ideas to try if that happens.

Thanks to Mitch (Flexpat) and his son for making the clips, to Rod (Otterhound) for fixing the ladder, and Denny (Bushwhacker) for the encouragement.

Jon Brush
Shelter Island
76 Sceptre 23

Bushwacker · #2 07-04-2016, 10:07 PM

Came out great, Jon! Do those hinged boards fold forward like we discussed? Do you also have clips to use the ladder in the cockpit like it showed in the brochures?

Looks like your cabin door also opens inward? Never seen that before but I like it better than the folding door. I think the early Seafari's had double doors, hinged on each side that opened inward, so they didn't clutter up the cockpit. I think I'd like that better than the big single door, although it might be tough to keep 'em from rattling underway!

77SceptreOB · #3 07-04-2016, 11:43 PM

Wow!, an original Sceptre Fiberplastic ladder. You don't see many of those anymore. The step connections to ours broke (like many others) and my brother threw it away. I wished he didn't. Anyway, yours looks great, congrats!

jim

jonbrush · #4 07-05-2016, 07:05 AM

Thanks for the comments, Jim and Denny.

Denny, the boards do fold up. I still have to work out a way to hold them up. The pic is a little deceptive regarding the door; it is actually the typical bifold louvered door which fold up against the side of the helm to starboard. It's raining here today or I would take another pic. I do have the cockpit clips on each side which I photographed and measured. Then, Mitch was kind enough to replicate them using CAD and 3D printer. Came out perfect! If anyone needs clips or other small plastic parts, he is the one to call on!!!

Jim, the ladder was actually in bad shape when I got the boat. In several pieces. Rod Anderson resurrected it with new teak steps and glue. Does not fold up but otherwise works well.

Best,
Jon

jonbrush · #5 07-05-2016, 10:08 AM

Hi Denny,
Here is the door. It actually folds up nicely out of the way as you can see.
Best, Jon

samaha · #6 07-06-2016, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbrush

Well here is the result.

how did you remove the hatch in the first photo? is this a basic Sceptre feature?

jonbrush · #7 07-06-2016, 10:01 AM

Yes that is the way the hatch was built. Just slides forward and aft, or removable. It's a bit of a pain to know where to store it when not in place.
Jon