Plastic Escape Hatches?

[toolbar]

I looked at those hatches, when I was shopping around for replacements on my boat. In the end I just bought new handles and a new rubber seal for the old hatches.

I think they look a bit flimsy. The good thing is, that they are pretty small, so when you need to change them down the road, you can get a good hatch and just have to enlarge the cutout an little bit.

Also note, that they have a pretty big frame, i.e. the see through post of there hatch is small.

Paul

[Chotu]

What about these?

I like the styling and the “less moving parts” aspect

https://www.vetusdirect.com/deck-hat...le-in-7-sizes/

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Manateeman

I need to replace all four Bomar Ocean series hatches. I’ll build all aluminum to replace them. One of the plastic lenses split clean across the hatch from the hole drilled for the dog. Even thought they were just out of warranty, Bomar told me to stuff it. Almost $1,000 each. Extruded frames frequently crack at the weld because the frame is anodized and it’s difficult to TIG anodized aluminum. Not impossible, just difficult. Anodized before bending results in very fine cracks where the extrusion is bent and that’s where corrosion will start. The rubber seals will shrink and the superglue will fail as the plastic of the lense expands and contracts. I’ve never seen TefGel used on any of the factory stainless fastenings so you can guess what fun is on the way.
Cast aluminum is a whole different story...ask commercial fishermen why it’s the only hatch they trust.
You can have a good aluminum shop fabricate any design and while you might pay more than an extruded recreational hatch, you will know it will last.
Mark and his TIG happy manatee crew.

I’ve heard a lot of similar stories. About Lewmar too.

Not very encouraging.

Still working my way through this piece of the puzzle.

[Franziska]

Personally I'd chose some with an aluminum frame for the glass as well.

That covers the gasket from the onslaught of green water on deck.
I like the "Magnus" model or "Altus" model on the same Vetus catalog.
Both are about the same price.

Magnus even has 4 latches. If you want to use the open hatch to funnel air down below, choose the Altus which can be set at various opening angles.

The Planus model you show may look a bit more stylish but I'd prefer strength over styling in this case.

I have old Moonlight hatches and they lasted fairly good.

Originally Posted by Chotu

What about these?

I like the styling and the “less moving parts” aspect

https://www.vetusdirect.com/deck-hat...le-in-7-sizes/

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Personally I'd chose some with an aluminum frame for the glass as well.

That covers the gasket from the onslaught of green water on deck.
I like the "Magnus" model or "Altus" model on the same Vetus catalog.
Both are about the same price.

Magnus even has 4 latches. If you want to use the open hatch to funnel air down below, choose the Altus which can be set at various opening angles.

The Planus model you show may look a bit more stylish but I'd prefer strength over styling in this case.

I have old Moonlight hatches and they lasted fairly good.

Ok, entertain this idea for a moment:

I think the Planus hatch looks stronger than the framed one for the follow reasons, which are certainly open to debate...

*Much thicker acrylic to keep it stiff since there is no frame
*No frame to depart from the acrylic and cause a leak (no rebedding it in the future, maybe replace a gasket is all)
*lower profile means less force from water running over it
*in many years when the acrylic crazes, just buy a new piece, cut to the right size, drill proper holes, and you have a brand new hatch.

I see strength in simplicity.

[Franziska]

How about prying that up when trying to break in?

If you go for that one, you could add some sort of "spoiler" on deck right in front of its forward edge.
That may give a little extra safety to prevent water from pushing onto the gasket which I worry a little about.

Another thought you could install the hatch with the hinge towards the front in high risk areas (way forward).

Your points are valid though.
An added advantage would be less problems with heat expansion of the glass. I think you'd like that one after your issues with the bridgedeck windows.

[goboatingnow]

I thought escape hatch was defined by an ISO standard for hatches

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I thought escape hatch was defined by an ISO standard for hatches

I thought there were just “deck hatches”.

I’m getting older and the world just gets more and more complicated.

“Escape hatch “ and “ventilation hatch” are now the two types of deck hatches.

No idea when or why this changed, but like most of this stuff, I think it’s silly

[Franziska]

The main difference is that the designated escape hatches fulfill the relevant standards to escape from below.

They can also be used as normal hatches. To discern them they are called escape hatches. Hatches which are not designated escape hatches do usually not fulfill these standards. Mostly because the opening is to small and/or their watertight ess is not ensured to the same level.

Multihull escape hatches close to the waterline may have even more stringent requirements.

Originally Posted by Chotu

I thought there were just “deck hatches”.

I’m getting older and the world just gets more and more complicated.

“Escape hatch “ and “ventilation hatch” are now the two types of deck hatches.

No idea when or why this changed, but like most of this stuff, I think it’s silly