Cockpit locker gas strut

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KAM

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Has anyone retro fitted gas struts to a cockpit locker lid. Is it necessary to use stainless steel. How did you work out the load and geometry.
 
I put gas struts under Kestrels (Snapdragon 747) cockpit locker lids last year and they are still working. Used mild steel 'L' brackets fitted both ends. I guessed the compression force, but it turned out to be 5kg / 11lb and worked well. (Lids don't drop on your head when bobbing about searching for a fender but also don't fly up at least provocation )
I also guessed the sizes - the extended length needs to be just under the front track measurement of the lid. I used a stick of appropriate length to work out where the strut would sit when the lid was down.

Just checked, they were on eBay, advertised as "Liftgate 5kg 11lb Force Compression Gas Strut Shock Sprin......" And cost £13.74 for the pair


One of the better mods I did on that boat.
 
This is also on my 'to do' list. I did in fa t buy two gas struts off ebay about 3 years ago but still not got round to fitting them.......
 
KAM said:
Has anyone retro fitted gas struts to a cockpit locker lid. Is it necessary to use stainless steel. How did you work out the load and geometry.
Click to expand...

I did this a few years ago, buying gas springs for both both the cockpit locker lid and the chart table lid (which had an original coil spring strut that had devloped brewer's droop :eek: ). RS components sell a range of them, both stainless and not, including some that have a gas release screw to reduce the pressure, so my lighter chart table lid wouldn't go into orbit. Measure the maximum length available when the spring will be compressed when the lid is shut, then you can play about with locating the brackets to ensure:

a) the maximum lift you want (i.e. just before the lid hits the cockpit coaming), and
b) the lid closes before the spring is fully compressed.

I fitted only one strut on each lid, because one provided enough power, and also the extended springs can get in the way of getting larger items in/out the locker.

Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
My reaction to this thread is: Why??
A gas strut will limit the distance that the lid will open, cause an obstruction when lifting out rolled up tender or similar large objects and is just something else to go wrong. My preferred solution is the traditional, cheap and cheerful, length of bungee hooked onto the guardwire.
A good idea on the chart table, though.
 
I fitted one to a First 305 and was very smug. It would start to lift as soon as the latch was released, and opened to within a few degrees of meeting the guardrail. The boat end was fitted to an offcut of toerail.

We all know how dangerous open and unsupported locker lids are. All that weight about to fall on the head or fingers of one's youngest offspring.

In the 25 odd years of sailing I have never either been hurt or seen anybody else hurt by one.

Until fitting the gas strut. Twice. The strut slipped as I sat inside the locker. Each time I slammed it shut on my head. It hurt a lot.
 
boguing said:
I fitted one to a First 305 and was very smug. It would start to lift as soon as the latch was released, and opened to within a few degrees of meeting the guardrail. The boat end was fitted to an offcut of toerail.

We all know how dangerous open and unsupported locker lids are. All that weight about to fall on the head or fingers of one's youngest offspring.

In the 25 odd years of sailing I have never either been hurt or seen anybody else hurt by one.

Until fitting the gas strut. Twice. The strut slipped as I sat inside the locker. Each time I slammed it shut on my head. It hurt a lot.
Click to expand...

My lids were a definite safety risk, held back by cabin hooks which would vibrate loose. The hasp part of the hasp and staple was positioned so as to smash into the skull of the unwary!! Cabin hooks repositioned but I'm still wary!!
 
Spirit of Glenans said:
My reaction to this thread is: Why??
A gas strut will limit the distance that the lid will open, cause an obstruction when lifting out rolled up tender or similar large objects and is just something else to go wrong. My preferred solution is the traditional, cheap and cheerful, length of bungee hooked onto the guardwire.
A good idea on the chart table, though.
Click to expand...

+ 1, cheap and foolproof, as long as you remember to attach it.
 
Thanks for the advice so far. I have sent an inquiry to SGS who seem to have a good range of struts and fittings. Already got cords (bungee was too dangerous) and hooks but still manage to get smashed fingers and banged head each season. I can fit struts without impeding access or opening angle. I single hand a lot and it tends to get busy coming into moorings or marinas diving for fenders warps boat hooks etc Not to mention liferaft extinguishers flares etc in an emergency. I have 5 locker lids and not all the stuff I need to access quickly will fit in one locker having struts (if it works) is one less thing to think about.
 
Do the struts have to be gas....

KAM

Not answering your question about where to get gas struts (sorry)... but how about solid stainless struts as on the Moody?

These pivot about one end, clip away under the locker lid and when lid open they take seconds to insert into a small flagstaff style hole in the locker edge.

I insist crew latch the lockers open this way every time the lockers are used... No ambiguity... and no dropped locker lids.

Photos here... https://solfastnetcampaign.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/final-checks-on-the-liferaft-locker-contents/


Previous experience of re-gassing boot lid struts for a car showed what can go wrong if pressure is not quite right. Too low and the boot lids just drops.. too high and the boot lid flies up into your chin and then is a menace to close...

Personally I'd keep it simple.
 
Martin_J said:
KAM

Not answering your question about where to get gas struts (sorry)... but how about solid stainless struts as on the Moody?

These pivot about one end, clip away under the locker lid and when lid open they take seconds to insert into a small flagstaff style hole in the locker edge.

I insist crew latch the lockers open this way every time the lockers are used... No ambiguity... and no dropped locker lids.

Photos here... https://solfastnetcampaign.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/final-checks-on-the-liferaft-locker-contents/


Previous experience of re-gassing boot lid struts for a car showed what can go wrong if pressure is not quite right. Too low and the boot lids just drops.. too high and the boot lid flies up into your chin and then is a menace to close...

Personally I'd keep it simple.
Click to expand...

I was wondering where the strut goes when the hatch is down. Might be able to engineer something like a cabinet stay which latches automatically.
 
Kam

You can see in the first photo at that link, the two 'C' shaped clips that hold the strut whilst the locker is closed...

Maybe later (if needed) I can post a picture of the simple holder that the lower end of the strut is placed into...
 
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