sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

[barato2]

i'm almost to the point where i'll be reinstalling the rear "slider" panels that close off the area under splashwell. i'm thinking about hinging em instead due to clearance and other issues. would love to hear input from anyone else who's made this decision, whichever way you ended up going with em. thanks in advance!

 

[laurentide]

Re: sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

Could be a manufacturer defect (highly likely, it was me), but my sliders are a little bit sticky. It's good when getting pounded by broadside waves, as they don't budge, but it takes a little muscle to slide the port one over for battery switch access. I can live with it, and a better carpenter wouldn't have the issue. They do really clean up the stern area, as opposed to an open splashwell:

 

[classiccat]

Re: sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

Huge fan of the sliding doors ^^^

 

[dozerII]

Re: sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

I personally like the flip up vinyl cover with the aluminum rod in the bottom for weight, a snap in each bottom corner.

 

[barato2]

Re: sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

pretty sure i'm going to go with solid wood doors rather than a vinyl cover, due to the severe duty planned for this boat....when closed, they'll help strengthen the rear structure. plus i have em cut and epoxied. only Q is whether to slide em or hinge em.

 

[64osby]

Re: sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

Hinged doors utilize a bunch more space than sliding doors.

I have found that I can only be on one side of the boat at one time and the sliding the door to that side allows access to whatever it is I'm looking at.

Gas on one side and kicker gas, battery, vro oil on the other. Stiff sliders stay opened or closed and have very little that can go wrong.

Sliders should provide more structure over time as hinged areas will tend to bow, the sliders will support and hold true even if they get wedged or tight.

 

[barato2]

Re: sliding vs folding rear doors---PROS AND CONS

Senor Osby, your eloquence has helped make the decision. i can sorta work around the space usage by making em bifold, but that would weaken things even more compared to sliders. so i guess sliders it is for this boat.