Dorade Boxes

[jhenson]

I'm filling holes around the boat this month left by deleted engine and sail instruments. While I'm patching holes, I am trying to decide what to do with the dorade boxes next to the companionway.



I like the idea of keeping the dorade boxes (with new dorade vents), but the location might not be ideal. As you can see, the hand rails are missing and need to be replaced. There is room for a sea hood if I decide to add one. I haven't decided what, if any, sail controls will be run aft. With the addition of the hand rails, space would be pretty limited.

For what it's worth, I'm not planning on re-coreing this part of the deck. I have taken several core samples of this deck and the mast step deck, and the core is sound and dry throughout both.

Where, if one were to move these, would be the ideal place ot put them? Opinions on running halyards aft, would also be appreciated.

Joe

[Rachel]

Have you had a chance to look inside the dorade boxes? I'm not sure I've ever seen any with such a low profile, and it made me wonder if there was really room for all the parts that make it a "real" dorade box, or if they were just wooden boxes holding the vent scoops.

That might make a difference as to whether or not you decided to keep them, or where you decide to put them...

By the way, I also like the eyebrows - great look!

[jhenson]

Rachael,

These have some of the elements that you are talking about. There are weep holes on the lower side for drainage. A 3" PVC pipe was used for the inlet into the cabin and stands proud of the deck by about 1". There are no middle dam sections like I think you are talking about. Also, there are no screens or plugs.

I am going to turn a round decorative ring on the wood lathe for below decks and integrate both a screen and plug into this part.

Can you think of any thing else that a good dorade box should have?

Joe

[Jason K]

I have my halyards running aft along the cabin top on the starboard side, outside of the handrails. I really enjoy having them run aft and do not find that it clutters the cabin top or the cockpit, so long as the lines are kept organized. I would be happy to email you some pictures (can't post them here as I don't have a website to reference).

[jhenson]

Jason,

Thanks for the reply. I would certainly never refuse the opportunity to see pictures of someone else's sailboat, especially another Triton. My email is:

[email protected]

Thanks again,

Joe

[Tim]

I was hoping to find an article online showing diagrams and such of a proper Dorade box, but a search didn't turn up exactly what I wanted.

There are a couple articles linked off the Mariner's Hardware website, including this one:

http://www.marinershardware.com/InfoDoradeBuild.htm

Unfortunately, what it sort of comes down to is that a Triton is a little too small for the ultimate Dorade boxes and vents. To ensure watertight ventilation under almost any circumstance, a Dorade box needs to be pretty tall, and incorporate the dam in the center.

Still, in this case it's more about the looks than anything, so if you like the look of those boxes (and they'd look nice when all prettied up with (ahem) bronze vents on top), then by all means keep them in place.

I love Dorade boxes, but I want the real ones with dovetailed corners and vent guards over the top ot the cowls...slick, very slick. I'll wait for Pixie for those, but she'll have them!

[Rachel]

Okay, I'll admit that I saw your question about what makes a good dorade, and then I kind of ignored it to see if someone else would answer... I didn't have any ready information at-hand either (and it was summer-like weather outside that just begged to to be taken advantage of).

I do remember an article in (I think) Good Old Boat wherein someone described how to make a decent home-made dorade. Not quite as fancy as the really nice ones, but easier for most people to fabricate. For example, the inner "tubes" were squares (not that they show).

IIRC, they had calculated to see how small they could make them and had gone that route, but it's a bit sketchy in my mind at this point. But if it sounds intriguing, at least you know the article's out there.

I enjoyed looking at your web page - thanks.