General Info: Lagoon Escape Hatches Falling Out

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

I think that marketing is indeed a big part of the issue. First to address the over blown fear of capsize and second to make it more asthetic. "Look honey, no worry about capsize, there is an escape hatch! And its a pretty picture window too!" [emoji849]

The whole implmentation is bogus anyway.

Example: on the L38 unless you are in the aft cabin the escape hatch is useless to you as there are a multitude of escape routes which are much closer. Same is true of other designs too (not just Lagoons) as they are all just in one compartment of the hull.

The aft end of the boat also carries the most weight and is most likely to be submerged anyway...making the escape hatch no more useful for escape than a regular deck hatch (in the case of the L38).

[Bean Counter]

I think requirement for transparent hatch was so :
1. Lets light into inverted hull
2. Lets rescuers and crew who are already out see in (see story of Atlantic that pitch poled where the crew on the outside could see crew at the escape hatch - (note CW boats are custom built so no factory imperatives for a view here)
so inside hull is for example may be unconscious crew, a child, elderly etc etc.


I think we all like to be like James Bond and can hold our breath for the time required to navigate the fully submerged hatches to get out, then how do we extract every one else on the boat. When they design these things they they consider many more human aspects than the bullet proof amateur sailor. As noted previously it is about going back in to. Sure a dogged down metal hatch that has not corroded its hinges or dogs due to lack of maintenance in theory does all but let in light. We once had a custom cat that had a fiberglass panel escape hatch dogged down with 10 wing nuts. No way could I get two of them undone by hand when I looked at it one year.

[malbert73]

Yes but a hatch could be metal framed with smaller well attached and thick lens and dogged down- more like a submarine hatch- rather than cheap deck quality hatches which is ridiculous and illustrates price point construction.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Yes but a hatch could be metal framed with smaller well attached and thick lens and dogged down- more like a submarine hatch- rather than cheap deck quality hatches which is ridiculous and illustrates price point construction.

Yes, better yet with a dead eye over the lens.

[AllenRbrts]

I have an FP not a Lagoon but have looked at the “fix” sent out for Lagoons and I’m not impressed. I think a frame that goes completely around the lens and is securely bolted (perhaps even thru bolted) to the hull is what it would take to make me feel comfortable. What is crazy is they sent $5 in parts which will take $1k to install with a haulout. The better solution probably costs $100 in parts although making 2 custom ones yourself is probably a lot more.

FP finally came to their senses and sent a directive to all boats with escape hatches to not sail until corrective action for the hatches was installed.

[AllenRbrts]

I have an FP not a Lagoon but have looked at the “fix” sent out for Lagoons and I’m not impressed. I think a frame that goes completely around the lens and is securely bolted (perhaps even thru bolted) to the hull is what it would take to make me feel comfortable. What is crazy is they sent $5 in parts which will take $1k to install with a haulout. The better solution probably costs $100 in parts although making 2 custom ones yourself is probably a lot more.

FP finally came to their senses and sent a directive to all boats with escape hatches to not sail until corrective action for the hatches was installed.

[Want2cruz]

Originally Posted by Bean Counter

I think requirement for transparent hatch was so :
1. Lets light into inverted hull
2. Lets rescuers and crew who are already out see in (see story of Atlantic that pitch poled where the crew on the outside could see crew at the escape hatch - (note CW boats are custom built so no factory imperatives for a view here)
so inside hull is for example may be unconscious crew, a child, elderly etc etc.


I think we all like to be like James Bond and can hold our breath for the time required to navigate the fully submerged hatches to get out, then how do we extract every one else on the boat. When they design these things they they consider many more human aspects than the bullet proof amateur sailor. As noted previously it is about going back in to. Sure a dogged down metal hatch that has not corroded its hinges or dogs due to lack of maintenance in theory does all but let in light. We once had a custom cat that had a fiberglass panel escape hatch dogged down with 10 wing nuts. No way could I get two of them undone by hand when I looked at it one year.

Required by French law.

[billknny]

Originally Posted by Want2cruz

Required by French law.

I have looked very hard, and while I can find several requirements in various EU regulations that all multihulls above 12M in length built after 2003 have escape hatches fitted, I can find NO requirement that such hatches be transparent.

For those posters who have said that is the rule, can you supply a reference?

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by billknny

I have looked very hard, and while I can find several requirements in various EU regulations that all multihulls above 12M in length built after 2003 have escape hatches fitted, I can find NO requirement that such hatches be transparent.



For those posters who have said that is the rule, can you supply a reference?

Maybe not in any regulation but it sure would be nice to have some light in the hull if you’re upside down. During the day of course. Without a transparent hatch it will be very dark in there.

[Bean Counter]

for interest see page 2 section 3.06.3 and onwards
https://www.rmys.com.au/wp-content/u...-Multihull.pdf

[billknny]

Originally Posted by Bean Counter

for interest see page 2 section 3.06.3 and onwards
https://www.rmys.com.au/wp-content/u...-Multihull.pdf

I see that, but those are racing committee rules, not formal legal requirements, and there is nothing there about needing to have see-through escape hatches.

[Want2cruz]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Maybe not in any regulation but it sure would be nice to have some light in the hull if you’re upside down. During the day of course. Without a transparent hatch it will be very dark in there.

Yes, I think it is so obvious as to go without saying. Whether that aspect of the hatch is codified in law or not, I don't know, but I have read that the are required by law to be installed.

[Byrdman]

https://youtu.be/taP5IOlhIBw

They discuss leaking hatches right at the beginning. IMO, i would glass it in and take my chances swimming out.

[Bean Counter]

Originally Posted by Byrdman

https://youtu.be/taP5IOlhIBw

They discuss leaking hatches right at the beginning. IMO, i would glass it in and take my chances swimming out.

Yes there might be a 50:50 chance you personally get out, what about the kids down below and grandma now with a dislocated shoulder, and the mum who is concussed - yes you "might" be fine. Hatches were not designed for Tarzan, they were designed for everyone else because the designers and the rule makers generally think past the first obvious answer, that is Tarzan is the only person on board. When you come to sell your boat with its glassed in hatches you will have cut your interested buyers by 80% or more.

[JamesPNW]

I believe EU required catamaran hull to equip with escape hatches. Removing the escape hatches could disqualify the cat from EU buyers or Be operated commercially in EU water.