Hatches

[Conche]

Hi All,

Has anyone replaced the deck hatches in the saloon and forecabin?

Lewmar 30 and 60 seem to be the right size, but I’d like to hear what anyone else has done.

Also, has anyone removed the steps to the foredeck hatch on the bulkhead in the forecabin?

Thanks,
Rob (Conche)

[Voltair]

Not yet, but our foredeck hatch is badly crazed and one of the hold-up legs is U/S. If you find out how to get a new one, I’d be interested too!
I don’t remember a hatch in the saloon though…… Where is that on Conche?

[Jeff]

Hi Rob,
I replaced the original Canpa fwd hatch with a Lewmar ‘Ocean’. (500mm X 500mm)
Jeff

[Conche]

Hi Jeff,

That’s good news. The 500 x 500 hatch is the size 60.

Does yours have a vertical flange going down the opening or does it just sit flat on the deck?

Rob

[Moderator]

Our hatches were badly crazed, so we took out the plexiglass and had a local supplier cut us new ones. Now our hatch frames still look rough, and one of our fore-hatch hold-up legs failed too – but with the new glass installed, they are fully functional – and we didn’t have to go through the pain of trying to remove all those corroded screws that hold the hatch to the deck.

Prior to replacing the glass, I looked at replacing the entire hatch with one in my price range (e.g. lewmar ocean series rather than something custom). After some studying of the current offerings, I decided that the original hatches are solidly constructed, so why replace them? Sure it would be nice to have dogs that tighten easier, and a two hold-up legs rather than one – but we would rather spend more time sailing in the good weather than struggle on the deck trying to get out those corroded screws….
Marilyn and Van

[Jeff]

Hi Rob,
Yes that’s correct, it’s a size 60, & yes, I had the hatch opening built up a few inches higher, to give me extra headroom . (I’m 6′-2″) The GRP base is now about 100mm proud of the deck, & the fixed half of the hatch is screwed down on top of that, making the top of the hatch-glass about 150mm above the deck.
Jeff

[Jeff]

Voltair…How about going to a car scrap-yard & look at hatchbacks for replacement air-assisted rams that they all have on the rear lift-up hatch.? Try for a matching pair of the same length as your broken one.
Jeff

[cfbreekie]

Hi Rob, I removed the steps to forehatch in Grey Wolf to replace the bulkhead lining. The screw heads are gelcoated over in the wc, you may have to remove the mirror above the toilet and the inlet and outlet hoses to gain access to them. You should be able to see where they are as the gelcoat covering the screws is probably not a perfect match with the moulding. Drill and chisel to access the screw head screwdriver slot. I think that there are three relatively large long screws per step. They unscrewed relatively easily considering they had been in place for forty years, and were refitted once lining replaced.

[Conche]

Hi cfbreekie,

Thanks for that info. I felt sure that they had to be attached something like that but didn’t want to go ‘ripping’ just in case.

I bought a couple of second hand lewmar ocean hatches on ebay! Hope to fit them in April.

Rob

[Voltair]

Hi Jeff – yes, an air strut would help to keep the hatch up when needed, but I would really prefer to get the part off the frame and machine it properly in the workshop so it works like the original – you push it up, set it and do up the knobs. The other problem with using a gas strut would be it would be difficult to lay the hatch wide open and not on the struts – necessary for fire exit from cabin and saloon in case of cockpit fire, and also impossible to fit wind scoop. Trouble is – boat in Greece – owners in UK! Maybe next time we lay up (which may be the last, as we have a “for sale” sign up now) I should remove the complete hatch and bring it home or at least take a coupla days extra and take it to a workshop where I could fix it.

[Jeff]

Hi Voltaire,
‘one of the hold-up legs is U/S. If you find out how to get a new one, I’d be interested too!’

My suggestion was based on the assumption that you already had 2 legs on the original hatch, but obviously more economical to completely re-furbish the original. Especially if you’re putting her up for sale. It’ll look good, & it shows a potential buyer that you really care about your yacht:-)
I wish MY previous owner had done that as I had everything to do, & he’d just lost interest in the boat, & at the time of the sale he’d already bought another one.!
Jeff

[Author]

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