Gday,
Im after a couple of good hatches, 1 for the cabin roof & 1 for the foredeck. The manufacturers seem to be calling the good ones "Ocean" hatches??.
Anyone got any opinions on which are the best?
What are Maxwell hatches like?....they seem almost reasonably priced!
Also whats the best way to install these on non-flat areas, do you make a flat area from marine ply, then glass it? As I would prefer to start again for the cabin top hatch, or has anyone had success repairing the surround as well?
cheers
Maxwell hatches are good but personally I like Lewmar because of the way they split to change seals. This means no sealant needed between the glass and ally rim.
Have never fitted one on a curved surface but building it up with ply/foam and glassing over seems the way to go.
Hi BlueMoon
Just recently completed cabin hatch replacement . Must be many ways to do it, more less professional or
just functional with reasonable look.
This is the way how ,,not to do it,,
Sometimes ago, I purchased the hatch from Whitworts.
Removed the old one.
Draw the new shape using a template.
Cut with hand saw strait lines, drilled the corners out.
Placed new hatch and predrilled all pilot holes.
Probably 50% was ok the rest was curved.
...old hatch had a hard wood insert, and still after 42years was ok...
...I would not use anything else...
I was too "busy" to worried about insert, and instead, I made many pieces
of hardwood different thickness, not very long.
Fill with white silicone, covered small pieces too, and push the into gaps.
Loaded the hatch overnight and next day installed all screws.
It's 2 months QLD sun and now 2 days tropical rain...all sweet.
Thanks for replies,
Charriot, I notice your new hatch doesn't have a strut to hold it up, have you found it a bit flimsy? or is the friction enough to hold it firm?, I wonder if it would blow further open in windy conditions, cheers
