Door screen alternatives

[meridian]

I'm looking for ideas on screening for the port and starboard sliding doors on my 36-DC. I have a sliding aluminum screen on the port side but it is difficult to use.

[jleonard]

Wife made one screen "door" by cutting fabric mosquito mesh to size and sewing velcro to it and glueing velcro on the frame. That works good. She made another by making a curtain that slides on a spring loaded rod mounted above the door and a couple of velcro pads to keep it extended to cover the door. We tie it to one side when not in use like a regular curtain.
I like the curtain style better as it's easier to get thru so she'll probably change the first one to be like that.
A friend has one made from sunbrella that snaps in place and has a center zipper. Thatworks well also.

So there's a couple of ideas.

[lfrankooh]

I made both door screens made from screening from Home Depot. After cutting the screening to the shape of the door opening, I sewed strapping (available from most fabric stores by the foot) around the edges to reinforce the screening. Snaps in the appropriate places and done!

With the frame around the inside it was easy to make it mosquito proof by stretching the screening for a tight fit. Best of all the screen rolls up and tucks out of the way quite well.

[meridian]

Thanks for the ideas

[saltwaternurse]

Hi - this is the solution that the previous owners came up with - the lower helm side door is a fixed screen that snaps on and the port door has a similar canvas frame with a zippered opening that I roll up and pin with a clothes peg during the day when it's being used.

[Pitou]

And one more .. similar to some of the other suggestions. Screening with stainless snaps and a center zipper to sneak through. Unsnap the bottom and sides and it stows above nicely with velcro straps.

CIMG0920 (640x480).jpg

[Nepidae]

My presumption is that "Terry" has already done what was earlier suggested.

We have a different solution.

Look around the stores that carry, "As Seen on TV", Boscov's as a store has one.

There is a screen that is used on an outside door at home. You attach it at the top with a curtain rod and you can secure it on the side with snaps (or tape).

The difference is that down the center are magnets. When you push thru, the magnets separate and then due to weight initially and then magnetic attraction the screen pulls back together.

We use one on each door on our boat. I am looking forward to taking a sewing machine to it as now it is doubled over and taped to maintain the door size.

Much easier to deal with going in & out opposed to snaps or zippers and it works great.