Companionway hatch for a 25 foot gaffer

[lesweeks]

I've reached the stage in my gaffer restoration where I need to design and make a sliding hatch cover for the companionway. I've got 'Bud' McIntosh's book 'How to build a wooden boat' where he has an idea or two with the sliding part going into a 'cavern' when pushed forward and I've got a couple of useful photographs of similar sized boats but I wondered if anyone has any alternative references/designs/drawings/photos/links etc. which might help me decide which way to go.

 

[Peterduck]

Companionway hatch 'garage'

Yes, Bud's book is excellent, as he frequently gives several different variations of how to construct a particular item. A 'garage' for the main hatch is an excellent thing. It allows you to have a really watertight hatch, which is difficult to achieve without it. It also means that if you want to mount your tender on the cabin top, it can rest it on the 'garage' without impeding the use of the hatch. On a 25 footer, you'll need every inch of cabin top space that you can get! May I suggest that you screw the garage sides horizontally into the hatch rail pieces ( I'm looking at Bud's fig. 16-3) so that the garage can be removed later on if you need to. Always leave yourself a way out!
Peter.

 

[lesweeks]

Thanks for the reply Peter.
Yeah, I've spent more time looking through his book than is really healthy! It all seems based in common sense and the drawings are excellent. I'm in the process of splicing a bit onto the top of the broken mast à la Bud, so I guess I'm becoming a devotee.

I was just wondering if there was an alternative hatch cover that comes upto scratch.
Les

 

[Tranona]

Haven't seen the Bud design, but I made my own hatch garage with Iroko sides and ends and a central spine front to back with recess for teak faced ply panels. flange around the bottom for mounting screws into the coachroof. Bed it down on Polysulphide so it is easy to remove. Not possible to seal where the hatch slides in so left drainage holes in both the runners and the mounting flanges. Works well.