Cockpit sole hatch - whats on the market?

[slawosz]

Hi,
I have a small engine access hatch in the cockpit sole - as photo. It's too small and doing anything there is a nightmare. Is there something on the market that could act as an access hatch, sturdy and waterproof?

 

[Plum]

Hi,
I have a small engine access hatch in the cockpit sole - as photo. It's too small and doing anything there is a nightmare. Is there something on the market that could act as an access hatch, sturdy and waterproof?

one of these? Osculati Inspection Hatch WIth Hidden Screws - 520mm they do other sizes too

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Poignard]

If you fancy having a go at making something yourself, how about this? Perfect access and some useful extra storage space.

 

[zoidberg]

Lewmar do a wide range of opening hatches: low-profile-hatch-specifications available from an array of outlets.

It will likely be thought prudent to reinforce the cutout opening to resist the unavoidable flexing which bodies' weight/footfall will cause, with resultant leaks below. The small external handles can be protected by glueing strips of suitably-thick wood onto the glazed surface.

 

[Praxinoscope]

I have a similar problem, but I decided against the plastic Osculati hatch as I felt that in the cockpit floor it was going to recieve regular stresses with crew standing or jumping on it which it might not be strong enough to survive.
There are s/s hatches which would do the job, but are expensive, so I ended up keeping a s/s circular hatch not unlike the OP’s, which is not perfect but substantial enough to survive.

 

[slawosz]

or jumping on it

Is this a party boat ?

 

[Tranona]

Don't think you will find a ready made hatch other than the type you have. A larger hatch would be properly designed and constructed to be strong enough to act as a floor and in a self draining cockpit be either water proof and/or have gutters to ensure that water flows to the cockpit drains. The larger Sadler 29 has such a hatch. On my boat the cockpit floor has an upstand moulded in it and the hatch is like a plug that fits in and can be locked down. The top is level with the teak grating as the first photo shows. Lift it out and you get access to the aft end of the gearbox, the stuffing box, exhaust and further aft the stern tube. This photo was taken before all that was replaced with a new engine/shaft/shaft seal and the cooling water relocated to a more sensible location in the engine compartment.

 

[Poignard]

I used to have a fine book entitled "How to build a Wooden Boat" by Bud McIntosh.

I kept in mind his advice when contructing the framing and floor hatches for my cockpit.

It was, as far as I can remember, something like: "Imagine the cockpit full of water and three 200-pound men jumping into it........"

 

[Praxinoscope]

Plastimo have just introduced a series of aluminium deck hatches which may just be what you are looking for, haven’t found prices yet, but the smallest in the range has a product number 67923. Page 64 of 2021 catalogue.
I am going to investigate these further as one of these may just suit my boat.

 

[Plum]

Plastimo have just introduced a series of aluminium deck hatches which may just be what you are looking for, haven’t found prices yet, but the smallest in the range has a product number 67923. Page 64 of 2021 catalogue.
I am going to investigate these further as one of these may just suit my boat.

I would be concerned about using them for this purpose. No mention of them being made of a marine grade (corrosion resistant alloy) of aluminium and they show only one of the range having an anodised finish which implies the others are not.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Praxinoscope]

#10 ^ Have only just seen them so have not had chance to look at them closely, another option is ‘the wetworks.co‘ that offer a range of aluminium deck hatches which look quite solid.

 

[KevinV]

Not sure if you're on the "pretty", or "practical" end of the PBO spectrum, but composite manholes are strong, light and watertight. Just a matter of the right paint.