Replacing Lewmar friction hinge for ocean series hatches

[ErBrown]

Howdy Folks,

We have a hatch with a shattered friction hinge. Not sure what happened to it as the boat was this way when we bought it. I have the replacement hinge assembly and am not sure the best way to go about the replacement. The top part of the hinge was simple to replace as it's removable via two Phillips screws to the lens plate. The lower edge is another story, the hinge brackets that fit the inside face of the hatch opening appear to be more like a rivet. The replacement part has something similar to a nail attached to it, and I'm not sure the best way to remove and replace.

I've been searching online and haven't seen a good description of how these should best be removed. So, I figured I'd ask in here in hops that someone has done this before. I'd like to get the old one out with as little impact as possible but am not sure how to best go about that. Since this isn't exactly a critical project at the moment I'm hoping for a few suggestions from the group.

Thanks,
Erin

[captjcook]

It is a closed end blind pop rivet. Drill old one out..."nail" pin will be something harder than rivet body and drill will tend to wander off. A tad smaller bit than the body (measure against replacement) may help. Cheers!


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[44'cruisingcat]

Yep. Just drill the old rivets out. I've had a few of the rivets come loose and need replacing.


When you install the new friction hinge, set it to the least friction that will support the hatch where you want it. If you set it for a lot of friction it will work those rivets very hard, and also stress the perspex around the hinge.

[ErBrown]

Thanks folks, having never riveted before I thought that's what the old head looked like, just never actually seen installed one, or seen one pre-instal. Thanks for the info, looks like I need to go get a rivet gun.

Much appreciated.

[44'cruisingcat]

Use the new rivet as a guide for the size of drill to use, and you'll be fine.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by ErBrown

Howdy Folks,

We have a hatch with a shattered friction hinge. Not sure what happened to it as the boat was this way when we bought it. I have the replacement hinge assembly and am not sure the best way to go about the replacement. The top part of the hinge was simple to replace as it's removable via two Phillips screws to the lens plate. The lower edge is another story, the hinge brackets that fit the inside face of the hatch opening appear to be more like a rivet. The replacement part has something similar to a nail attached to it, and I'm not sure the best way to remove and replace.

I've been searching online and haven't seen a good description of how these should best be removed. So, I figured I'd ask in here in hops that someone has done this before. I'd like to get the old one out with as little impact as possible but am not sure how to best go about that. Since this isn't exactly a critical project at the moment I'm hoping for a few suggestions from the group.

Thanks,
Erin

Appears to be a pop rivet?

[ErBrown]

Thanks folks, pretty darn easy operation once you know what you're looking at. Thanks for the info. Finally no more propping the hatch open.


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[44'cruisingcat]

Just remember, don't overdo the friction or you'll be doing it again very soon!

[ErBrown]

Understood, I started with it as loose as possible and then stepped it up until it would stay open, so don't think I could do much lighter. I think the old one was shattered by the hoyt boom for the staysail, at least that's my best guess. It was completed split in half and when we still had the boom (we removed it a few months ago) you could just barely open the hatch (2-3 inches) without it hitting when the boom was centered.

Thanks again,
EB

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by ErBrown

Thanks folks, having never riveted before I thought that's what the old head looked like, just never actually seen installed one, or seen one pre-instal. Thanks for the info, looks like I need to go get a rivet gun.

Much appreciated.

Be a bit careful when you drill out the old rivet so the drill doesn't wander about & enlarge the hole. You might need a pop rivet gun with a short snout if the rivet is in the bottom a counter bore.

[Psy at SEA]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Yep. Just drill the old rivets out. I've had a few of the rivets come loose and need replacing.


When you install the new friction hinge, set it to the least friction that will support the hatch where you want it. If you set it for a lot of friction it will work those rivets very hard, and also stress the perspex around the hinge.

Do you mean 'open the hatch completely' ~ this will remove all stress on the friction hinge?