Can anyone identify this forehatch?

[greenalien]

This is my boat's forehatch. It used to have a mechanism that prevented it from opening too far, but this has failed, and it has subsequently cracked across the front hinges.



I'd like to identify it to see if any spares are available - ideally, I'd like to keep the base, which is intact, and just replace the top section and perspex.

it's about 30 years old and moulded from grey glass-filled plastic, probably nylon, with the usual 'smoked' perspex clear panel. The top and bottom mouldings are attached to each other with black plastic hinge pins. It used to have a blue and gold 'Lloyds Approved' sticker in one corner.

Any information would be gratefully appreciated!

 

[Seajet]

Looks very like but not identical to my Lewmar Ocean, maybe an earlier Lewmar ?

Does it have a sticker warning not to apply solvents to the perspex ?

 

[sailorman]

What boat is it fitted to might give us a clue

 

[30boat]

It looks like it's made of plastic.Possibly a Campa?

 

[sailorman]

It looks like it's made of plastic.Possibly a Campa?

were not Canpa ali with a coating

 

[greenalien]

Does it have a sticker warning not to apply solvents to the perspex ?

No.

What boat is it fitted to might give us a clue

Won't help - self-built between 1983-1986, can't remember where the hatch came from.

It looks like it's made of plastic.

Yes - see the description in the original post - probably glass-filled nylon.

 

[robmcg]

Yep, looks like a Canpa hatch. Bad news, no spares and generally of a size where there are no direct replacements

 

[alahol2]

No spares around for those any more. Is it square or trapezoid? If it's a square 500mm Canpa then the Gebo 500mm with flat base was a good replacement fit when I replaced mine. http://www.seateach.com/Gebo-Standard-Deckhatches.htm

 

[greenalien]

Thanks for all the replies, I now know it's a Canpa hatch. It's useful to know that the GEBO is a close replacement, however, I'm trying to find a cheaper alternative.

One option I am considering is stripping the damaged top section of all its fittings and the perspex 'window', repairing it with filler, then using it as a pattern to get an alloy casting made by a local foundry (assuming I can find one...). Once cleaned up and anodised, this should be a cost-effective replacement that will let me use the existing base. I'd be interested to hear what you all think of the idea!

 

[Seajet]

greenalien,

I'm not crazy about that idea to be honest !

If you have the dimensions, try asking Seateach chandlery at Emsworth, Hants; they have a range of hatches inc Lewmar and I think Houdini etc at good prices.

01243 375774 ( no connection etc ).

 

[Twister_Ken]

Thanks for all the replies, I now know it's a Canpa hatch. It's useful to know that the GEBO is a close replacement, however, I'm trying to find a cheaper alternative.

One option I am considering is stripping the damaged top section of all its fittings and the perspex 'window', repairing it with filler, then using it as a pattern to get an alloy casting made by a local foundry (assuming I can find one...). Once cleaned up and anodised, this should be a cost-effective replacement that will let me use the existing base. I'd be interested to hear what you all think of the idea!

Or you could build one in timber.

 

[greenalien]

Or you could build one in timber.

Certainly worth considering - I think cast alloy would be stronger though, it would be difficult to replicate the hinge arrangement in timber.

 

[30boat]

Certainly worth considering - I think cast alloy would be stronger though, it would be difficult to replicate the hinge arrangement in timber.

I built my own hatch in stainless to replace the old Canpa that was craked in several places.The top is a 15mm thick pane of acrylic on which I routed a groove for a rubber seal .It never leaked a drop.

 

[duncan99210]

I suspect that by the time you've paid out for a custom alloy casting, you'd find it cheaper and a lot simpler to source a replacement hatch. Might be able to pick up a secondhand one at a boat jumble?

 

[Graham_Wright]

There is an outfit around (whose name I can't remember) which specialises in hatch repair. Met them (husband and wife) at the SBS and found them very knowledgeable and friendly. They might be able to identify.

 

[rob2]

Just wondering if anyone has any technical details on Canpa hatches? I have one and whilst, for the moment, it is fully functional it is only a matter of time before it fails. There must be someone who hoards old data sheets, like I do. Replacement would be a whole lot easier if I knew the cut-out size and radius of the corners before taking it out so I can chose the nearest replacement! I have nightmares about having a sheet of ply screwed over the hole for months whilst I rebuild the headling and framework so that I can reshape the hole to suit a replacement.

Rob.

 

[Graham_Wright]

There is an outfit around (whose name I can't remember) which specialises in hatch repair. Met them (husband and wife) at the SBS and found them very knowledgeable and friendly. They might be able to identify.

Fund them;-
http://www.eagleboatwindows.co.uk/index.asp