Need recommendation for new hatches.

[AndrewB]

Can anyone recommend a company that does 'made to measure' hatches?

My 20 year old 'Houdini' style hatches have broken hinges, broken handles, broken clamps, are distorted and leak round the seals. Beyond refurbishment IMHO, time for replacement. But no manufacturer seems to have off-the-shelf hatches of the required sizes.

 

[bumblefish]

You could try Sea Glaze they say they make one off windows etc.

 

[Dipper]

Houdini make them although they are quite expensive when made-to-measure.

My forepeak hatch is an odd size so I had it made by Houdini when I first bought the boat. I made up a thick paper template for them to copy. I also gave the dimensions including the corner radii in writing. It was an perfect fit and is still going strong 10 years later.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Vetus also make-to-measure.

 

[davidbains]

I had the larger Meteor hatches 24ins square with 4ins corner.
I did have an Imperial copy made but wasn't very impressed with the design.
Recently I have bought and fitted a Vetus hatch. Although nominally 620*620mm it is a reasonable fit with reasonable 55mm corners.
Get the Vetus catalogue, they do a good range. Although they advertise custom hatches they quoted £500 for one , which is worth quite a bit of your time in altering the upstand to fit a standard metric size.

 

[AndrewB]

Many thanks for these helpful leads, guys. (nm)

nm

 

[colvic987]

try gebo i fitted a 495 x 495 hatch this season, a direct fit...

 

[ColinHuggins]

Endorse praise for Houdini who replaced a forehatch that was a cheap copy but smaller. AND they incorporated top access handles too. Now I feel like a real yottie!!
But have you considered the implications if/when Helmsman collapses and blocks wheelhouse door? How do the crew get to him?
So I want to die in the arms of a bikini-clad nymphet.
Dream on . . .

 

[tillip]

unless the situation has changed this year, vetus stopped making hatches to order in 2005 as they closed their factory in holland and moved production to india. I bought a Bowmar, www.pompanette.com they have the biggest range of hatches in the world. Imported via www.cquip.com . Hope this helps somone somewhere. see www.cobra-seawolf.com

 

[markdj]

Also try Eagle boat windows. Did a great job for us on our last boat.

http://www.eagleboatwindows.co.uk/

 

[TNLI]

Houdini

Can anyone recommend a company that does 'made to measure' hatches?

My 20 year old 'Houdini' style hatches have broken hinges, broken handles, broken clamps, are distorted and leak round the seals. Beyond refurbishment IMHO, time for replacement. But no manufacturer seems to have off-the-shelf hatches of the required sizes.

Houdini will make a hatch or door to order, BUT I'm still in a satate of shock over the 1500 quid quote for a door.

 

[Tranona]

Why are you wasting your time posting on an 18 year old thread, particularly when what you are saying is little to do with the original?

 

[AndrewB]

As a matter of interest, I recall that I did get made-to-measure hatches from Houdini as a result of approaching several companies mentioned in this thread. As TNLI implies, they were expensive, but they took us through a hurricane, a capsize, and several complete deck immersions (two by pooping). Yacht long since sold.

 

[TNLI]

Yep, I'm building an offshore lifeboat at present and the only hatches I use are Houdinis, with 3 in all. They are a classic case of you get get what you pay for, so are more expensive than a Lewmar. Alas I can't afford new ones as it's a charity project, and I'm going to contact them as the El cheapo seal, (The old one was missing the seal) from Fleabay did not fit. I didn't realise there might be 2 types of seal, a thick and a thin one.

PS: The old threads are always the best, as they have had time to mature.

As a matter of interest, I recall that I did get made-to-measure hatches from Houdini as a result of approaching several companies mentioned in this thread. As TNLI implies, they were expensive, but they took us through a hurricane, a capsize, and several complete deck immersions (two by pooping). Yacht long since sold.