Cockpit floor hatch

oldbilbo

oldbilbo

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I'm musing over fitting a modest hatch in the GRP cockpit floor, providing easier access to the stuffing thingy, 'cos I'm getting too old and stiff for the 'Severe' caving contortions this wee boat has designed in.

There must be some awareness here of what might be good kit and good practice, and I'd welcome any sharing of knowledge/experience. :D


Good info so far..... :)
 
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We had exactly such a hatch in Kindred Spirit. The one the previous owner had fitted was not really strong enough to walk on - I'd suggest that probably applies to nearly all plastic hatches. He'd solved the problem by adding timber duckboards that were raised a fraction of an inch above the hatch. It's one way of doing it.

Pete
 
oldbilbo said:
I'm musing over fitting a modesty hatch in the GRP cockpit floor, providing easier access to the stuffing thingy, 'cos I'm getting too old and stiff for the 'Severe' caving contortions this wee boat has designed in.

There must be some awareness here of what might be good kit and good practice, and I'd welcome any sharing of knowledge/experience. :D
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I have been thinking of doing the same thing for the same reasons, but haven't found any good 'n' strong hatches on the market. Lots of them out there, but all rather flimsy. I'd be very interested to hear of a more substantial solution - other than wholly custom construction, which has been done on boats like mine but is a pretty complicated business. Surely there must be some commercial application for strong, corrosion-resistant, waterproof hatches about a foot square?
 
JumbleDuck said:
I have been thinking of doing the same thing for the same reasons, but haven't found any good 'n' strong hatches on the market. Lots of them out there, but all rather flimsy.
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There are some cast aluminium types which look pretty strong, but I bet they're expensive.

Pete
 
I've got one of the cheap, circular screw-up types on my cockpit floor. I don't know why, because it's nowhere near the boat's stuffing gland, but it's a royal pain in the arse as it doesn't seal properly - I've had five goes in as many years with all sorts of stuff. Latest attempt is something from the builder's merchant - sticks like sh*t, or one of those, and I've actually got a dry bilge at the moment.

I might actually glass it back in at some point, but the only thing I can pass on is - don't use those screw in sort!
 
ghostlymoron said:
Mine is ok to tread on.
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I think that's the same type as fitted to Kindred Spirit. I wasn't happy standing on it. Probably ok for somewhere that gets stepped on occasionally, but for a cockpit sole that's continually walked on, jumped down onto, etc, it didn't fill me with confidence.

Pete
 
A friend of mine replaced the entire cockpit sole with stokboard and a few s/s hinges. Quite effective, doesn't rot, anti-slip, cheap and looks ok. Certainly better than using (ply)wood.
 
ghostlymoron said:
I've fitted one of these http://www.force4.co.uk/1437/Force-...m--Cutout--200x300mm--Opening--193x293mm.html its well made and has moulded bracing on the back. It gives access to the rear of engine and stern gland. Time will tell how durable it is.
I also asked the question on here so you could look up the other recommendations. I think Baimbridge was mentioned as well. Mine is ok to tread on.
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Looks like the same hatch as we've got in the cockpit sole giving access to a useful space to stow fenders etc

No problem walking and standing on it at all although it does tend to get grubby and it's the devil to clean (dirt just seems to get ingrained in the plastic)
 
Good info here, thanks.

I think I'll have a word with the ASAP guys at So'ton later this month re the 'Cornish Yawl' style 4Dek thingys. Such a t'ing could also give access to some otherwise-inaccessible storage space. 'Every little helps'..... ;)
 
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