New deck hatches, how large?

[JPA Cate]

Matt,

The hatch dams work a treat.

The dorades are a must have if you even dream of a circumnavigation. As SteadyHand described. When you dare not open anything else, the dorades provide you with fresh air to breathe. It is invaluable!

Ann

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

When you dare not open anything else...

Is this going to be another of those falling mast things. I talk about radios, you tell me my mast will fall down.

I talk about hatches, now I am in a hurricane battened down below clutching my Rosary and wondering where all the oxygen went.

You are all systematically figuring out ways to make me nervous. I am NOT going to submit.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Matt,

The hatch dams work a treat.

And... er.. we are talking about the little wall that surrounds the hatch when it is closed? Or something else?

Matt

[Panope]

Matt, The hatch is located directly above the V birth so no need for a ladder. Also, it may not have been clear in the other picture, but the entire seat hinges out of the way leaving only an internal coaming of about six inches in height. One of the hinges is just visible in this picture.

I do not have the dimensions of the hatch handy, but it is wiider than it is long by a fair amount. I will sometimes use the hatch for routine egress/ingress as it is nice and roomy.

As of now, I have not added any rubber seal to this hatch. The lower edge of the hatch was scribed to the contour of the deck and that's it. To enter the boat, water must squirt under the hatch and then shoot up and over the coaming. I am not planning on making ocean passages but if I were, some rubber would be needed. I recently burried Panope's bow for the first time (on purpose, motor sailing into an an extremely steep chop) and a bit of water did make it's way under the hatch, over the coaming and onto the bunk.

Further thread drift: On the subject of burying the bow in green water, I'll mention that this never happened (over 18 years) when the boat had an anemic engine and prop. She just did not have enough windward ability to drive into the waves hard enough no matter what combination of sail and or motor. I assume that when faced with violent storm conditions at sea, green water will be boarding the deck from even the fourth dimension.

Steve

On edit: I was typing when you were making your reply to Ann. I promise that I was not trying to make you nervous. Cheers.

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

The hatch dams work a treat.

Or to misquote Ann, the dam hatches work a treat.

They are basically copied from a standard marine hatch, there is no direct force on the hatch seal. Any water squeezing under the lip expands and looses force, draining to the Lee side. If it does squirt through at force it gets directed away from the seal by the top flange.

A hatch dam will help, but isn't essential if the gap is minimal. I did intend to add rubber flaps to the outside to further deflect water, but it wasn't needed.

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[Snowpetrel]

Water flow during wave strike.

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[GILow]

Originally Posted by Panope

Matt, The hatch is located directly above the V birth so no need for a ladder. Also, it may not have been clear in the other picture, but the entire seat hinges out of the way leaving only an internal coaming of about six inches in height. One of the hinges is just visible in this picture.

That, sir, is exceedingly bloody clever!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

I would pick large Dorade cowls. The hatch can go between the two Dorades. I see this for your aft hatch (still before the mast).

Here's a picture of one of the arrangements for Dorades on the S42. I am not sure this is the most common, but it is one option. You'd probably consider these dorades a little under-nourished, but better than nothing.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Water flow during wave strike.

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You forgot to draw the little stream that makes it through despite your best efforts and dumps itself in your sleeping bag.

But I get the idea.

Very different to what I was thinking, I will consider some more.

[Panope]

Originally Posted by GILow

That, sir, is exceedingly bloody clever!

Thanks Matt, but there is one aspect that is not so clever about this setup. Because the hatch is heavy and can be opened and closed while standing next to it, the hatch makes the perfect toe guillotine. Thankfully, I have not tested it yet. Everyone who comes aboard must listen to my graffic predictions of spraying blood and crushed toe bones before the hatch dogs get released.

Steve

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by GILow

You forgot to draw the little stream that makes it through despite your best efforts and dumps itself in your sleeping bag.

amazingly it's been completely dry. Especially since my double bed was right under the hatch, and the hatch was right on the bow of a wet 33 footer!



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[Snowpetrel]

Another thought is to make the hatch square, with hinges all around so you can open it facing any direction. I guess you could do the same with a rectangular hatch as well... Just brainstorming mad ideas.

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[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

amazingly it's been completely dry. Especially since my double bed was right under the hatch, and the hatch was right on the bow of a wet 33 footer!

Do I sound smug or what... Bet I'm gonna get a sopping wet sleeping bag one day for that bit of extreme smugness



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[GILow]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Another thought is to make the hatch square, with hinges all around so you can open it facing any direction. I guess you could do the same with a rectangular hatch as well... Just brainstorming mad ideas.

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Cool, I love mad ideas.

My current mad idea is to have a two position hinge for the aft edge that will allow the hatch to be opened as a sort of mushroom vent, giving airflow while in the pen, without rainwater getting in. Making that work is gonna use up some welding wire.


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[GILow]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Do I sound smug or what... Bet I'm gonna get a sopping wet sleeping bag one day for that bit of extreme smugness



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As long as you confess when it happens, it balances the karma.


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