Anyone got a Hatch Latch?

[Fourbees]

I'm thinking of fitting a Hatch Latch to secure the companionway on my Feeling 32, which has the sort of lock that Tom Cunliffe would say is not strong enough for a heads door! The Hatch Latch brochure shows boats with wooden washboards; ours are polycarbonate/perspex, as is the main hatch, although the latter also has a teak strip on top to aid sliding. Could I fit a Hatch Latch, and if so which one? Should I - are they any good? Any advice welcome!

 

[samwise]

Went through a similar thought process when looking at ways to improve on the rather flimsy barrel lock on our Westerly Storm. Our boards are solid GRP. Anyway, I opted for an RORC lock ( Developed after the FAstnet disaster, which has an opening lever on the outside and inside so that in heavy weather, when the boards are locked anyone below can open up and get out if necessary) I fitted one on my old Sadler and it worked well. When the boat is left, the external lever is retained by a substantial padlock with a coded lock. ( Saves worrying about losing keys!) It is a pretty robust device made from stainless steel. I fitted stainless plates either side of the fitting to increase security. The only tricky bit is cutting the slot in the underside of the hatch to take the locking lever.
You can get the locks from Mike Lucas Yachting. Try his website. They are not cheap ( Around £30 at last count), but to my mind provide an excellent solution.
While you cannot prevent a truly determined villain from breaking in I think that this set up presents a sufficiently large and obvious deterrent that might make that villain seek an easier target

 

[oilyrag]

I fitted one to my perspex washboards and it is pretty much impregnable - only someone armed with a chainsaw could get in. It can be opened from inside. However the 'keep' needs to be mounted on a vertical surface, or back edge of a conventional moulded hatch. I would guess that it couldn't be fitted to the fiddle on top of a flat perspex hatch.