Escape Hatches: One Opened While Sailing, the Other Leaking

[neelie]

I stand corrected but I thought the Lagoon 380 only had cored decks the hulls being solid glass. In any case, I am unprepared to open my seacocks to prove the theory that the boat will remain afloat purely from the bouyancy within the core.

So as to whether its BS or not, I guess a boat designer can fill us in better.

And yes, you're correct the escape hatch is the same as the deck hatches, both get green water over them from time to time.

[Roy M]

You would have to flip the boat, then open the seacocks to test the premise. Lots of cats have solid fiberglass at the waterline to the rocker, and the foam is above, which, when inverted becomes below, meaning, more floatation.

[Cheechako]

You get about 64 lb floatation per cubic foot if I remember right, you'd better have a thick core! The hatches on my Lagoon 42 never leaked a drop, rough weather or not. If you have them, you definitely would want the best reinforced hatch avail, and that is not what I've seen on some cats. If I was having a boat built I would not have them put in though. The grandkids loved them at anchor, the fish would come up and feed as they fed them with the hatch open!

[fareweather]

If its above the waterline when the boat is rightside up, its sure to be under when the boat is under too. Cant have it both ways.

The boat (a catamaran anyway) has buoyancy upside up or upside down. You don't think all your hatches are containing air pressure while under normal sailing conditions do you? Does it sink the first time you open the door? Didn't think so. It has everything to do with the "center of buoancy".

Where did the "underwater" hatch idea come from, time to read the post I think. The problem I see with that design is that they hinged the hatch in the wrong place, it should be hinged on the front instead of the top. When a wave hits it it will be pushed closed harder rather than potentially opening up.

I love having my "escape" hatch, when things are really dirty I open it up and take a hose to everything and squeegee it through the "escape" hatch.

[sailvi767]

The escape hatch on my boat is more robust then the deck hatches and has 4 latches instead of the normal two. My boat has 4 watertight compartments in the aft and fore of each hull. Between that and the foam it will float just fine even if damaged.

[Mustang Sally]

Cats cannot sink even when an underwater hatch is opened, right side up or upside down. And open hatches are a problem for mono's too. Just last year a mono sunk in the BVi when they went sailing with their port lights and deck hatch open. Got knocked down and water poured in, sank in less then 2 minutes.

[neelie]

neilpride & Cheechako - you're correct, after making a few very coarse assumptions on my boat, its seems that I can count on about 14,000 lbs of bouyancy from the core alone. So unless I get another 8000 lbs from unfilled voids and furniture, it looks like I'd better get my raft serviced sooner rather than later.

And on a separate note: please folks, don't make this into a mono -v- multi debate. After recently reviewing Marina fees for Cats in the Med (Palma de Mallorca, to be precise), I am considering defecting.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Mustang Sally

Cats cannot sink even when an underwater hatch is opened, right side up or upside down.

My research is that they can and do.

The big difference is how long it takes and if someone is there to bail.

[Therapy]

neelie,

Welcome back.

[neelie]

Thanks.. Hows the Gemini? You, getting much sailing in?

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by neelie

Thanks.. Hows the Gemini? You, getting much sailing in?

Not enough.
Still working for a living.
Taking every other weekend off now so will only work 310 days this year.
Projects eat into that too.

[neelie]

Working 310 days?? - I'll send the Gunboat salesman directly to you

[fareweather]

I am considering defecting.

The more for the rest of us Actually I need more Gunboat owners to start defecting so that the price comes down into the lower stratosphere (like that's going to happen)

please folks, don't make this into a mono -v- multi debate

Ya, lets talk about how much sailing we're all getting in, ok?

I think this thread is an obvious case of a poorly maintained boat and a something less than ideal design though new gaskets and adjustment of the latches will solve 99% of the issue.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by neelie

Working 310 days?? - I'll send the Gunboat salesman directly to you

Been doing it for 4.5 years. First year was 354 days, then I began to tire slightly
How else did you think a regular worker could come up with a Gemini?

[svcattales]

I lost lots of sleep about my escape hatches being about 3 inches above the waterline. With any kind of sea, they were underwater and both leaked a little. The weak link in my hatches were the locking handles and the catches they latched onto. The catches were attached to the hatch frame with rivets.

My modification replaced the lexan with 1/4" aluminum plate. I used the lexan as a template to cut the aluminum and mounted the aluminum in existing frame with 5200. I put four 3/8" bolts through the aluminum and used aluminum angle iron as a strong back to hold the hatches closed.

No leaks and I sleep better. See pics:

PS. We have friends on a Lagoon 37 with same problem. They had serious leaks on a rough passage so they hauled the boat, removed the hatches, and glassed over the holes. Very nice repair also.