Robust hatch for cockpit sole needed!

[bumblefish]

I have asked this before and tired some of the suggestions but I think I still need to find a robust hatch to fit in my cockpit sole. Quite large. Are there any suggestions as to the better manufacturers or suppliers?

 

[Guest]

I've just bought 2 4" round hatches from eBay seller .. standard white 1/4 turn jobs. I intend to fit one so I can view my stern-seal without having to lift the cockpit sole all the time. Being reasonably small - it should be strong enough to take a foot standing on it ...

Second one was to be fitted to fuel tank ... but have shelved that idea ...

 

[Billjratt]

I see it's an elizabethan. Surely that has a treaded GRP floor? Why not jigsaw 1" bigger than required then use the cut-out as the hatch having fitted(glassed) a suitable fillet round the underside of the hole. This can be fitted with a rubber seal, and the hatch retained by twist handles like mobos have. And it will match the surround..

 

[srp]

I've asked the same question as well. In the end I decided to make my own, in a similar way you describe, as shown here .

 

[LeonF]

Interesting problem. I have just had a boatyard replicate a hatch in my cockpit floor as designed and made by another Victoria 800 owner. The canoe stern made access extreme difficult and now several other owners are also keen to have the hatch made. I had seen a previous botch up while boat hunting. The boat in question had a larger engine installed and had the hatch made to facilitate over engine access. It was sitting on draught excluder. If possible in addition to sitting on neoprene tape, embed neoprene beading in the edge of the hatch to make a second seal, otherwise one could get water sitting in the groove and seeping gently. This can make a snug fit and neccessitate the use of jack up screws to get the hatch out.

 

[seaesta]

A few years ago I had this problem. One thing to have in mind is that you need to tread or kneel somewhere whilst you are accessing through the hatch. A great big hole is great but not if you end up damaging things with you feet or getting wrapped round the prop shaft.
My solution was
1. make a nice solid floor board to cover the cockpit sole. This rests on three transverse wooden cross members
2. Mark where these touch the cokpit sole and leave these areas well alone
3. Make up hatch frames from acetal plastic and hatch covers from clear polycarbonate (or Lexan) . These should be as big as possible Whilst leaving enough strength in the floor
4. When the floor board is lifted the Polycabronate lets a lot of light in and you can see well. Raise the hatch you need for access.
Cheers
Martin

 

[bumblefish]

That looks like it would have been ideal, howsoever my hole is already there! I could make up a flat of GRP with reinforcement though. I plan to take out the existing sole covering, old marine ply with cork veneer and install a teak grating in its place so I could work that in. Thanks.

 

[bumblefish]

I have been looking for twist type handles as one option for this project. Any suggestions where I can find them?

 

[Bajansailor]

Would one of these twist lock Henderson hatches from Tek Tanks be suitable?

Have a look at http://www.tek-group.co.uk/acatalog/Fittings.html

I bought one of the TCL4 from them at SBS - only difference to the one in the catalog is that mine has a clear plastic lid. I am planning on using it for access to a built in fibreglass water tank on our boat, but I am sure it would work in a cockpit sole, especially if you have a timber grating already on the sole - you could then just cut an aperture in the grating for the hatch (?).