If you’re passionate about boating, you see it as a lifestyle and not a simple hobby. That’s great. Boating is amazing as long as everything on your boat functions. Its heartbeat is not the engine, it’s the cabin. As long as the cabin is in order you can enjoy your boat even if only anchored in the peer. There aren’t too many things that can be wrong with your cabin, but if your cabin door start malfunctioning it’s trouble.
When your door is not functioning as it should and replacement is on schedule you need to know how to act. Not knowing how your cabin doors work and how you should replace them is not a sin. With our help, it will become a piece of cake soon. All you need to do is to read this article with care and follow the instructions we’re about to lay down for you below.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in the in-depth knowledge of cabin doors before you start learning how to replace them you can learn more on TeakIsle.com before you come to us. Now that we’re here let’s start this lesson!
How to Tell That Cabin Doors Need a Replacement?
It doesn’t matter how well-made or high-quality your doors are, the sea, wind, and weather in general will take a toll on them. You will learn to tell the signs in no time. The majority of them are visible with plain eyes. First, you’ll notice faded paint followed by a few cracks here and there.
The biggest sign you will encounter is the lack of possibility to lock your doors properly. With time you will start noticing moisture within your cabin which with the lack of insulation should round up the equation. These signs need to be seen and action must be taken. Damaged doors are not only ugly but they are also a safety risk.
Which Type of Door to Choose as a Replacement?
Luckily for all of you boat owners today’s market is well saturated with cabin door options. The classic ones are of course the wooden doors. Beyond wood, you can also choose fiberglass or aluminum as a material of your choice. If you want the charm of the old days preserved you’ll go with a wooden door.
But, if you want more modern design, longevity, and a step forward to a different future for your boat you’ll go with the other two. One thing that you need to have in mind is that aluminum as its major flaw has the ease of denting.
Durability
One thing that matters the most with cabin doors is their durability. Considering that you’re here because you already need a new door, you’ll have durability as your focus when selecting a new door. Wood is, as you probably know, sensitive to weather.
This is what makes it less durable compared to aluminum or fiberglass options. If you go with the fiberglass option, you can rest assured that it will live quite longer than both you and your boat. Aluminum, while sturdier than wood needs protection from corrosion, denting, and climate too. While aesthetically pleasing option you should only consider it for waters that are not salty.
Aesthetics
Considering that we’re talking about the year 2024, you need to take good care of your new cabin door aesthetics. Design matters and if you want modern doors, you need to have a modern approach to replacing your old ones. Consider personalizing your new doors or simply going forward with a minimalistic approach.
First of all, when we talk about cabin doors, their functionality stands above all else. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take an artistic approach towards replacing them. Whatever you do, just don’t be bland. Make a change and stick to it.
Cabin Door Safety and Security
As we already said, cabin doors serve the purpose to protect those who reside within the cabin. While you can dedicate some time to design and aesthetics, you need to maintain the primary part of your focus on functionality, safety, and security. First of all, pay attention to locks.
Today you have access to some of the most modern locking mechanisms. Beyond that, if you want to take the game a few levels above, think of reinforced frames, shatterproof windows, alarm systems, and even an electric lock. You can never be too safe, even on open waters.
Weatherproofing
When it comes to boats and boat doors, weatherproofing is everything. After all, your boat is in the water for the bigger part of the year. In addition to that it will also be out of the sun, wind, salty water, snow, rainwater and thunder, and everything in between.
Your cabin door needs to be weatherproof and this is best done by handling their insulation from the get-go. You need them protected from both warm and cold weather. Also, from the sun and the humidity. We live in unpredictable times, so picking a door that is resistant to all the elements might be a wise decision.
Ease of Installation
Here we have an underrated part of the cabin door business. While everything we said above is important, we shouldn’t neglect the ease of installation. It is the final part of the puzzle and it should be easier to handle than that difficult.
If you want a DIY project, you need to pay attention to this part. In any other case, you’re better off hiring professionals. This is something you need to have in mind when buying doors. You should buy only from a provider who will also handle the installation process.
Maintenance
When it comes to cabin doors, the maintenance doesn’t have to be thorough each time. What it needs to be is frequent. With regular maintenance, you will be able to notice the first fades or cracks in time and take action before it’s too late.
When you buy a new door you must do an inspection every few weeks to avoid any of the possible issues being aggravated by your neglect.
Summary
Everything is much easier when you know the options you have at your disposal. In this guide, we have given you a simple walkthrough to buying a new cabin door. It’s never easy replacing an integral part of your boat, but now you know how to do it. Take the easiest route and do what needs to be done. Then you will be able to enjoy your vacation without worry.
