Hatch - advice please

we have a smaller round type in the cockpit of a macwester and it cracked we had to plate it to stop this i hope this is of some help
 
Thanks - I might have to get one and strengthen it. Been Googling all afternoon and this is the only one I've found so far. Unless. of course, anyone knows differently.....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Surely the hatch illustrated is far too small to give you effective access.

[/ QUOTE ]The cockpit floor is 500 mm wide, and is about 300 mm above the propshaft. I only need to be able to put my hands through it to tighten up the coupling nuts, adjust the stern gland and tweak the grease cup every now and then. The Corribee isn't exactly a big boat, and that size of hatch is about the biggest I can fit in the available space.
 
I have two of these on my boat, mounted vertically for access to an aft compartment. They are not built to be walked on. Neither the hinge, nor the material thickness is suitable for a sole installation.
 
If you are going to fit a hatch in your cockpit sole make it as big as possible consisent with keeping it strong and waterproof. My Sabre 27 has a sole hatch which at a guess is 18 inches wide and two foot long. With a bit of contortion I can get down in there on my knees and work on the stern gland, fuel tank and gearbox end of the engine. Anything smaller than that and you will be struggling. Better to make one than to put up with something unsuitable?
 
Strong aluminium hatches...

Bomar, who make many of the plastic access hatches, also make very strong aluminium hatches which can easily withstand being walked on. Not cheap though - some info here.
 
Re: Strong aluminium hatches...

Beat me to it! The plastic ones are certainly not waterproof or very strong. Bomar are both. You gets wot yer pays for tho......
 
Re: Strong aluminium hatches...

Thanks pvb and Boatmike - yes they are a bit pricey but I think you're right about getting what you pay for. There's little point in spending 60 squid on something to curse at, and I might just end up making something - maybe some decent marine ply and some glass/epoxy. Thanks for everybody's advice.
 
I fitted one of these last season for exactly the same reason as you require. It does flex a bit when walked on and would undoubtedly crack if jumped or dumped on. However, I have a cockpit grating which negates these problems.
 
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