air assisted pocket doors on 13M express

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:03 pm

Hi folks,

So I found this 3ft air tank in the foward bilge, followed the air lines to the doors which have air pistons above.

Nothing works.

I think I am just going to remove everything and get doors in workin order.

Anyone have this system on their boat?

Does it work?

Any suggestions?

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:02 pm

Wow with 38 views and no responses are these "airdoors" an option that only an idiot would order when buying the boat new.

I mean, let's be serious, they sound cool in theory, but obviously a total disaster in real world boating.

Sad part is most of the system looks updated, that tank looks brand new.

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:04 pm

Just so I make myself clear, I am talking about the pocket door to the head, the door to the master cabin as well as the side cabin.

I gotta start posting some pics too...

turtlem1969 · Post by **turtlem1969** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:17 pm

Dougnash- this is the first I have heard of air assisted doors on anything other then the enterprise (star trek)

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:20 pm

no doubt!!

Me too, who the heck would spend money on such a stupid option.

I will take some pictures when I am on the boat this weekend.

Keeping all fingers crossed, she is going in the water on Saturday

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:20 pm

I've never heard of that option on any boat and wonder why it would ever be offered. Some pics would be nice to see.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:31 pm

Now that's different! Was this an option or a tinkering previous owner? How was the air tank filled? Vacuum off engine, fill tank manually?

turtlem1969 · Post by **turtlem1969** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:42 pm

I would assume that there is a small air compressor somewhere hidden on the boat, might be attached to one of the engines like a tractor trailor or a small remote one like an emergency tire inflater.

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:00 am

Yes there is a compressor in the forward bilge as well, I think this was an original option, I have the original sales brochure and I think I read that it was on the boat from new.

I will definitely have some pictures up by the weekend...

g36 · Post by **g36** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:00 am

doug needs some responses from the international series guys. we guys with the old school f series could only watch star trek and not be able to have anything fancy like the air assisted doors. international guys jump in. i read about these but i cant remember which model/ years but
heres one i found that mentions the "electric doors"

http://www.boatsmiami.com/3382trojan.htm

S.A.M. · Post by **S.A.M.** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:42 am

I thought the doors had electric motors.

RWS is the most informed on the International Express'. He might know more about it.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 9:04 am

I'm with Sherman, I'd thought RWS would have chimed in by now. He'd be the one who may be able to answer your question.

I'm interested in your findings. Good luck.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:00 pm

Hi Guys!

O.K. here's what I know some of it may not be 100% accurate but with that said I'll give it a try.

The 10 Meter was the first of the International series to be introduced.

It has numerous curved surfaces in the cockpit, on the helm in the salon and head.

The walls (bulkhead) to the head are curved as is the one seperating the forward cabin from the salon.

The use of curved bulkheads gave additional strength and also provided for more efficient use of space in general.

This was the first production boat to offer a curved windshield.

For it's day, not many 33' boats could boast a totally enclosed head with shower AND a seperate, private forward cabin.

There is a curved stairway as well.

The main closet, head and forward cabin all have curved fiberglass doors that fit inside the opening and run on tracks.

The 10 Meter features electric motors with a friction wheel that actually open and close these doors. There are microswitches that kill the motor at the fully closed or fully opened position.

There are a set of buttons on the inside and outside of the door openings.

Mine work well, and have since I got the boat inb 2001. Other than a squirt of silicon once every few years, mine have seen zero repairs and maintenance.

It is my understanding that this feature was added to the larger International series and that (don't quote me) the 11 meter and larger boats featured the air controlled "star trek" doors.

These work just like the air operated tailgate controls on dump trucks and tractor trailers. The cylinder can be pressurized in either direction to either open or close the door.

And YES they do make the star trek "woosh"

Mine have been virtually trouble free, an interesting finding for such a feature on a 27 year old boat.

If you look at the helm instrument cluster "pod" design, the stainless air intakes,the curves of the wetbarand other subtle features like the light switches, etc, you can easily see the star trek design influence at work here on the International Series.

Beam me up, Scotty !

RWS

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:00 pm

http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... linder.jpg[/url]

Not sure if this pic will show up...

DOUGNASH · Post by **DOUGNASH** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:01 pm

how bout now