PBO June

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TonyBuckley

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 May 2006
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689
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Boat is in Brighton Marina
www.icloud.com
Just caught up on this issue. Feel a little unwell at the description of a chap crawling under the cockpit sole via the locker to bung a leak on the stern and the lid of the locker falling down and locking in place. He was single handed.

Sinking and trapped!!!

He managed to kick it open and break the lock. Not sure I could do that - the catches are hefty.

It could be over dramatised but my layout is very similar and I could see everything he says happening to me. Blimey!

Tony
 
Last season I had an engine problem and had to dive into cockpit locker to shut off fuel pdq. Lid couldn't fall down as have elastics on inside to hook over winch.

Was blowing F5-6 near Holiwell point in R Crouch, motor sailing, singlehanded. Got stuck in locker (full foulies).

Certainly focuses the mind and improves your flexibility!

Got out before ran aground. Phew!!
 
If you request a CG inspection in the USA they look for this problem. They insist the hasp must be located on the part below the locker lid, not on the the lid, so it can't drop over the 'U' part by gravity when the locker is closed.
 
My Benetau lockers have a little push button so you can release them from the inside. First thing I checked as you have to go down inside to service autopilot and Generator.
 
Salty John said:
If you request a CG inspection in the USA they look for this problem. They insist the hasp must be located on the part below the locker lid, not on the the lid, so it can't drop over the 'U' part by gravity when the locker is closed.
Click to expand...
On both my benes it had little bits of string attached to the lock plunger inside to pull if you did get trapped. I remember one time on the 351, head first, in the back deep locker, and realising i was tilting beyond the point of balance! Lauuuu!!!!! help!
she got me before it was too late, it does happen!
Stu
 
The chap who sold us our current boat told me about the time that he was out sailing with his wife and they were on the run in to the marina. He was diving into the cockpit locker for fenders and lines when his lifejacket caught on an obstruction and inflated, jamming him in the locker opening head down.

The helm was abandoned, his wife was down below clearing up the galley and he could not make her hear his shouts above the noise of the engine. In the end, he scrabbled around to find something sharp and stabbed the lifejacket to deflate it, freeing himself just in time to avoid ploughing into a mooring trot.

Sounds funny now, but at the time........
 
LadyInBed said:
Better than gas struts IMO are the springs (about 15cm Dia) that bend into a U when the hatch is shut and are straight when the hatch is open.
Click to expand...

Until you catch the spring with a fender and the locker lid falls shut on yer fingers:(

Bit of bungee from the inside of the lid that hooks over something handy like a winch.

Spent more money if you want to, but the simplest solutions are often the best :)
 
snooks said:
Until you catch the spring with a fender and the locker lid falls shut on yer fingers:(

Bit of bungee from the inside of the lid that hooks over something handy like a winch.

Spent more money if you want to, but the simplest solutions are often the best :)
Click to expand...

On our previous boat,a Gibsea 96, a piece of cord with a small plastic hook clipped over the lifelines stopped your fingers getting mashed when the lid fell down. Simple and cheap-works for me!
 
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