Foredeck hatch - facing forwards or backwards?

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I will probably replace my foredeck hatch this year as the old one is broken, and wondered what the forum's opinion might be on whether a foredeck hatch should open forwards or backwards.

Currently, it opens backwards. This is obviously not the orientation which favours ventilation when at anchor / moored, but means that the yacht does not get so wet when the hatch is open. I always close the hatch at sea, unless the conditions are very benign - but do appreciate a breeze through the saloon when the weather warms up.

So I am inclined to have it facing forwards. Thoughts?

Nick
 
Faced the same dilemma last year and went for forward opening. I bought a Lewmar hatch (£££££'s!) to give confidence of first rate security and sealing in heavy weather. Pleased with choice so far; lovely breeze whilst swinging. (One can only type that latter piece on a sailing forum!)

rob
 
Traditionally hatches faced backwards for the reason you have explained. However, that goes back to the good old days of changing jibs and stuffing them down the hatch to clear the foredeck. These days with roller furling you should be able to keep the hatch secured in rougher weather.
 
Ours is facing backwards. I think you will find that ventilation is actually OK. If you really want to improve it significantly you should fit a wind sock/catcher gadget...
 
Forwards. Breeze at anchor is always pleasant but almost essential when sleeping in the forecabin in the Med. Although a windscoop will drive air below regardless of hatch opening direction, it can be noisy and keep you awake.
 
I have Goiot hatches which can open forward AND backwards. Brilliant design but don't know if they are still made.
PS I have just found them here:
http://www.goiot.com/pdf/p30-31-32.pdf

and here is a picture
GiotHatch2.jpg

You CAN have the best of both worlds afterall !!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I prefer the fore hatch to open forward ie hinge at the aft end.

The pros are better ventilation at anchor, easier to get stuff from the foredeck below and vis versa. The cons are it is allegedly "safer" to have the hinge at the forward side so if you are dumb enough to have the hatch open in breaking seas it will naturally close as she puts her nose into a green'un.

I think that the MCA insist that it is hinged on the forward side for coded boats. Along with a label saying "do not open at sea".
 
More modern Surveyors thinking is for hatches to hinge at front edge, so that they are not so prone to water ingress etc.

Traditionally many 60's ... 70's ..... 80's boats have aft hinged hatches so air is 'driven' into cabin to ventilate. I like this better and have no thought to keep some surveyor happy by turning it round.

Someone posted that hatches were set for spinny, genny stowing down through hatch - true but only if rear hinged and front opening ... other way round and a right pain to stow sail through ! I know - I've tried both.
 
I think that with improved hatch design that aft hinges are acceptable as leaks shouldn't happen. The important thing is to close the hatch at sea! I have heard of a yacht being lost to a novice owner in the Bay of Biscay due to failure to heed this rather obvious advice.
 
Hi Nick - my only other spin on this would be that it depends on where you intend spending most of your time. If you are staying around N Europe I would keep it conventional with hinges forward & facing back. If you are blue watering it or in the med, I would without doubt reverse and face forwards.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The important thing is to close the hatch at sea! I have heard of a yacht being lost to a novice owner in the Bay of Biscay due to failure to heed this rather obvious advice.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've also heard of the loss of a giant ferry and many lives for the same reason, and that was certainly not a novice owner or skipper.
 
Whatever your proclivity (and I ain't confessing!) one thing I insisted on when I replaced mine recently was that old racing gizmo: catches that could be opened from above as well as locked from below.
Houdini did me a good deal FWIW.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think that with improved hatch design that aft hinges are acceptable as leaks shouldn't happen. The important thing is to close the hatch at sea! I have heard of a yacht being lost to a novice owner in the Bay of Biscay due to failure to heed this rather obvious advice.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the hatch aint closed - doesn't matter where hinges are - result is same. Water over bow will find it's way down.
 
Although a forward-facing hatch will force any available breeze through from bows to companionway, I have always been led to believe the natural flow is the other way round. Maybe that is only the case when the hatch is rear-opening?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Although a forward-facing hatch will force any available breeze through from bows to companionway, I have always been led to believe the natural flow is the other way round. Maybe that is only the case when the hatch is rear-opening?

[/ QUOTE ]

Facing ? Always confuses me - I try to talk in terms of side hinges are on ... then no confusion at all.

I've been on both styles of boat and better ventilation of cabins was with hinges at aft side of hatch so air was deflected down by the angled hatch itself.
If you have hinges at front of hatch - then surely ventilation is dependant on a) air flow blown into companionway and / or b) vacuum effect of air passing round forward hatch lid and drawing out air from cabin ?
 
Have a little care with forward hinges. On some hatches when fully open the hatch is stopped from opening further by resting on the coach roof just forward of the hinge. If any weight is put on to the open edge of the hatch then you have a high force tending to break the hinges.
 
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