Securing washboards at night and underway

[rjandhl]

We are looking for a method to secure the washboards / main hatch whilst underway but at the same time allowing access from above and below. It would also be useful if the locking mechanism could be used to secure the hatch from the inside so as to prevent any intruders waking us from our slumbers at night. The night time security issue has arisen as whilst on a cruise recently a yacht on the next pontoon at Trebeurden was "visited" by three drunks during the night, fortunately no harm was done but it was an unsettling experience for those asleep onboard. Other yachtie friends of ours have also experienced unwanted night time visitors or just felt the need to secure the hatch during the night. The French chandlers stock a latch that is locked with a key from the outside and can be opened from the insided by turning a small handle, but I can't find anything similar here in the UK.
Does anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks in anticipation.................

 

[DinghyMan]

Try http://www.duncanyacht.co.uk/showpartnumber.asp?CategoryID=2409&PartNumberID=173483

or the heavier Hatch Latch http://www.ospreymarine.co.uk/

 

[MoodySabre]

My boat has, in addition to a normal lock, a swinging arm that has an arm on the inside too. You have to move it through 180deg to open the hatch. If the boat was inverted then the catch will hold the boards in place. It can be operated from the inside. I have no idea what it is called or where it came from and I don't have a picture of it - really helpful

I would say though that any device which locks the washboards in place whilst you are asleep is potentially dangerous. A rapid exit at night whilst on fire is not a time to be fiddling with a lock. Intruders need to be challenged asap. I would be reluctant to sleep in a boat with the washboards in and hatch shut and fixed.

Oh b.... - it's the one in the Duncan link above.

 

[colvic987]

i've got a yale type lock on the washboard which can be locked from the inside with a tumble lock, works well...

 

[rjandhl]

I think it must be something like colvic947 has that I am looking for but can't find in the UK.
We have looked at the Hatch Latch but it wouldn't be a simple job to fit it to our hatch and although you can secure it from the inside I don't think that it can be locked from the inside.
The need for security at night is still something that we would like to address, we sleep in the aft cabin any escape from fire or similar would be through the Lewmar hatch above the bed, so a locked hatch / washboards would not be a problem for us. It is odd that we wouldn't consider going to bed at home and leaving the back / front doors wide open but are happy to do so on board. Several of our friends have had unwelcome visitors at night both here in the UK and overseas, perhaps the proliferation of walk ashore berths and ease of access to our boats has become more widely know amongst those with an opportunistic thieving or otherwise tendency.

 

[DinghyMan]

The Hatch Latch just appears to have a plastic knob on the inside so doesn't look like it could be locked from the inside.

Keeping it simple a Yale type or a better still a London Pattern Lock which has interlocking sections rather than just a simple triangle like a standard Yale.

You could go with something like http://www.locksonline.co.uk/acatalog/Cisa_45110-30_Sliding_Door_Lock.html and then fit a Euro lock insert with a thumbturn on the inside like http://www.locksonline.co.uk/acatalog/Euro_Key_and_Turn_Cylinders.html (Cheaper at ToolStation) - entry by key from outside and then lock from the inside by turning the knob, and its cheaper.

 

[rjandhl]

Thank you for all or your replies. The information has given me some ideas - now to find the tool box.........................

 

[michael_w]

The simplest way to prevent loss of the washboards is a lanyard. I've fitted a deck clip/lacing eye to the washboard and the companionway. A simple bit of string with a snap hook completes the job.

 

[Neil_Y]

I use the same approach as Michael.
A line runs through the hatch and is locked in a jam cleat on either side. Easy, quick removal from either side. Washboards are locked in place so they can't fall out in a knockdown.

For security a simple and cheap rape alarm attached to a fishing line either across the cockpit or attached to the hatch meant we could sleep in the tropics with hactches open knowing we would be woken up if someone was heading downstairs. The noise of the rape alarm going off on a quiet night is a very good deterant way before anyone gets near the goodies or cabins.

We slept well in some quiet anchorages and backstreet marinas in rough areas.