Lewmar Hatch Trim Kit - any tips?

[salar]

My coach roof has a Lewmar 44 square hatch on a moulded bump. The inside of the moulding was raw, which I have covered with removeable headlining, in two panels each with a cutout the size of half the hatch. However I am not happy with the result so I am planning to retro fit a hatch trim kit and make a central headlining panel encompassing the hatch hole, and two ceiling panels each side. That should follow the curve better. I see from the catalogue that Lewmar expect you to make a larger cutout if you are installing the trim kit, which means the hatch will have to come off. Is it possible to butt the trim kit up to the base of the hatch or is there some reason why the trim goes inside the hole? Has anyone done this and can offer tips?

 

[salar]

One more push before this drifts off to Page 2 - has nobody fitted a Lewmar hatch with a trim kit?

 

[Cloven]

I have fitted replacement trim kits to both my Lewmar hatches. From memory, the trim kit not only covers the cut out inside the cabin but also covers the raw cut within the depth of the area cut out. In one case the trim fitted as supplied but in the other I had to do some fairly severe trimming as the thickness of the moulding the hatch was fitted to was much thinner. In both cases the edge of the trim kit butts onto the base of the hatch and if I remember correctly slots in behind a ridge/flange in the hatch so it is not seen. I would imagine it would be quite difficult if you had trim the edge of the trimkit to get a really good flush fit onto the hatch without having the ridge/ flange to hide the cut edge. The trim is held on by screws on the intenal flange which also holds the latches to support the fly screen.

In my case I was replacing like with like so no issue of having to alter the size of the opening. It could be that you need the extra few mms to allow the raw edge of the trim to slot in.

Not sure if this answers your question but its the best I can offer.

 

[salar]

Thanks Dave, that is helpful. I'll take a punt and order one, I am sure it will finish the hatch opening better than the way it looks at the moment!

 

[theoldsalt]

Salar,

This information on the Lewmar website may help.

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=7964&lid=24940

 

[salar]

Thank you - it was that information that prompted the original question actually as it shows the trim running round the outside of the hatch rim meaning the hole has to be bigger. The kit has arrived at the marina now, so I'll be down at the weekend to see what is possible.