sprayhoods..hatches

[Wansworth]

rememer seeing an american yacht with spryhoods for the forehatch and midship hatch.Modernhatches dont even have side flaps.With forward facing hatches with aft facing srayhoods there would be good ventilation at sea and inthr rain at anchour.....problem would be less light.

 

[nimbusgb]

I think it's the MCA boat safety scheme that recommends that hatches are installed hinged at the front so most builders do so. First job would be to turn all my hatches round

 

[Wansworth]

I think it's the MCA boat safety scheme that recommends that hatches are installed hinged at the front so most builders do so. First job would be to turn all my hatches round

That may be so;but with little spray hoods the hactches could be left open.Ventilation is one of the problems of european boats,having to close up going to windward because of the spray or occassional dolop of sea on a nice sunny day.Proper wooden hatches as found in hiscocks cruisin under sail are at least have side flaps.Obviously modern hatches win on total watertightness and light and eas of fitting.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

From a safety standpoint I think the forward hinge is the right way to go.

At anchor it really is no problem to rig some sort of a scoop. Our hatches hinge all the way over and then lay flat.

One of the reasons I chose the Rustler 44 raised saloon layout is the big opening windows in the saloon.