Cabin door handle/lockset

[PNWPederson]

I just purchased a 1970 GB 32. The door to the cabin is a sliding door, but it doesn't have a handle on it. I have to put my finger in the opening for the handle to lift the latch to open the door. I know that this isn't how it was designed originally. The lock for the door isn't on the door either, it's on the door frame. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement handle or lockset for this door? I forgot to take a picture of the door and get that in a day or so.

 

[Grand Illusion]

That is indeed how it was designed originally, same on my boat and two other late 60s-early 70s GBs I regularly visit. Some previous owner of a friend's boat even made a nice custom teak plug that fits in that hole when you want to keep the breeze out!

 

[PNWPederson]

Interesting! I would never have guessed that. Has anyone actually put a different lockset on it?

 

[Grand Illusion]

I'm sure someone has, and I'm not at the boat now to check. But I think there is very little clearance between the edge of that hole and the door frame when the door is slid fully open. If you replace it with anything else, it would need to be very small form factor. Plus, at least for me, a big part of the charm of owning these boats is the original hardware. If your lockset is like mine, it is super cool in that when you extend the bolt, it also splays out to the sides so it can grab the inside of the strike to prevent the door sliding open, I've never seen any other lock do that.

 

[PNWPederson]

Thank you. Yeah, it does have its charm. I did not realize that this is how it is originally formatted, so it does change my thoughts on it.

On a side note, looking at the interior of your boat, it doesn't have the usual bench seat with pull up bunk. Do you know if that came from the factory like that or if it was a modification? The reason I ask is that I don't have the bench and pull up bunk either, though I do have a cabinet (about twice the width and height that is pictured here) next to the door that looks like it's original.

 

[Grand Illusion]

Ours was modified, we believe very early on by the original owner. The original high/low table top was removed from the adjustable bases, and attached to fixed legs. The port side settee was removed and the table is now there with 2 freestanding chairs. This allows us to move the table around, and even out to the cockpit which is nice. A set of drawers was built against the aft cabin bulkhead on the port side as well, just barely visible in the picture.

On the starboard side, the original L seat was removed, and a bench settee was built that pulls out to a bed. Whoever did the modifications did very nice work, the only way you can tell it didn't originally come like that from the yard are a few bungs in the sole, and the original height adjustable table legs were with the pile of "boat stuff" that came with it and have the hull number written on them from the factory.

I remember seeing the listing photos of your boat and noting the cabinet. I haven't seen another like that, and would think it was maybe also modified in period?