Cockpit locker lids falling on arms

[Snowgoose-1]

Thanks all. Good stuff.
I remember a big old ottoman at home with a very heavy lid. It had struts where it automatically locked when opened and a little lift to close.

Point taken in a seaway though.

 

[thinwater]

I keep my anchor lock lid open with a bungee that is permanently rigged from rail to pulpit. Very handy, very fast. The wind loves to close this one.

It looks like rope, but in fact the core of the rope was removed and replaced with bungee (bunch the cover up and sew at both ends). This makes for a very abrasion-resistant bungee. I tired regular high-grade bungee first, and it lasted less than a season. This one is at about 5 years and going strong. The cover was old halyard, so free.

 

[Nina Lucia]

these

Stainless Steel Spring Locker Stay

We have fitted two on each locker in case one is pulled or touched accidentally and saved my fingers so many times!

Force 4 Sprung Hatch Stay | Force 4 Chandlery

 

[Beneteau381]

I have a small hook on a cord tied to a lifeline on stanchion. There’s a hole in the locker lid. Open the locker, insert the hook and you are safe.

Me same

 

[BobnLesley]

bungee loop over winch barrel works well.

gas struts i am not so sure about - suspect they would rust like a rusty thing? but have not had them on a boat.

Wee tried gas struts (I got offered some suitably sized ones for free) and your suspicion was proven correct; we were back to using the bungy cords over the winches in <6 months. (KISS)

 

[Boathook]

I use shock cord set up so that it can go over a corner of a locker lid to hold open. A couple of lockers lids have shock cord with hooks secured on the under side with the hooks going over a nearby u-bolt. Hooks held in place other locker lid with lacing eyes simple and effective.

Edit - pictures added. Note to self to tidy up grp repairs and paint underside of lid. Anchored at Newtown.

 

[PCUK]

Gas struts of the correct strength will keep the hatch open and allow it to be closed when required. You just need the right ones!

 

[Refueler]

I have a small hook on a cord tied to a lifeline on stanchion. There’s a hole in the locker lid. Open the locker, insert the hook and you are safe.

Exactly - I have same problem ... so a bungee strap / hook to lifeline sorts it

 

[dunedin]

Gas struts of the correct strength will keep the hatch open and allow it to be closed when required. You just need the right ones!

Not in a sailing boat. What works bestcat anchor or upright, doesn't have enough strength when feeling, or motoring in cross waves.
If they were strong enough to work in extermis, they would be extremely difficult to close in normal use.
We have gas struts on all cockpit lockers, but still add lanyards for safety at times.

 

[PCUK]

Your experience of gas struts must be different to mine.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Not in a sailing boat. What works bestcat anchor or upright, doesn't have enough strength when feeling, or motoring in cross waves.
If they were strong enough to work in extermis, they would be extremely difficult to close in normal use.
We have gas struts on all cockpit lockers, but still add lanyards for safety at times.

Your experience of gas struts must be different to mine.

Mine too. These are easily the best solution to this problem. If they collapse easily they’re the wrong struts.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Oh, I can do cheaper and simpler than that! Tail of the genoa sheet, from winch, under cockpit locker lid (inverted L shape) and cleated off on the rear (spinnaker) cleat.

Exactly what we do.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Thanks all. Good stuff.
I remember a big old ottoman at home with a very heavy lid. It had struts where it automatically locked when opened and a little lift to close.

Point taken in a seaway though.

I can remember the bonnet on several Austin BMC cars had a locking strut the when the bonnet was listed it would lock open and a little catch could be pressed to allow the unlocking of the strut to allow the bonnet to be lowered

As an automatic locking strut so would not fall due to movement of the cat/boat

 

[dunedin]

Mine too. These are easily the best solution to this problem. If they collapse easily they’re the wrong struts.

What type 9f boat do you sail?
On a sailing boat the angle of heel plus reaction to some waves can put much higher forces on a heavy locker lid.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

What type 9f boat do you sail?
On a sailing boat the angle of heel plus reaction to some waves can put much higher forces on a heavy locker lid.

Was a Bavaria Vision 42. Has gas struts on the lockers, worked brilliantly.

 

[Martin_J]

I like the way Moody do it...

A stainless strut permanently attached to the underside of the locker lid and clipped in place as well..



Nothing to go wrong in the link part.. it's permanent..



A solid stainless fitting attached to the locker side..



And the heavy lid is securely supported whilst open..

 

[alahol2]

Without a pin through the socket I could still see a violent lurch causing that strut to jump out.