Simple Sole Hatch Hinge and Support

[James S]

My engine is in the bilge under the sole of my raised salon.
I wanted a way to open the hatch and secure it up.
Conventional hinges require that the diameter of half the hinge pin is raised above the top of the sole.
There are some other alternatives that are totally flush but then I still have to figure a way to hold it open....and its heavy.

I came up with this simple hing/holder sort of afair.
When I open the hatch the under side of it on the back end (the side the hinge would be normally mounted to) slides along the support "beams" until the hatch is at 90degs...then I screew the locking pins into a hole in the SS plate.
Once its up and locked it can still be moved in the direction of closing, but it requires the entire weight being lifted.
It was important in the design to be able to raise the entire hatch out of the opening since the hatches forward and aft of it need to slide a little bit towards the opening to release their underneath concealed support clips.

[anjou]

More boat porn > drool.

Nice job James.

[MarkJ]

"Simple Sole Hatch Hinge and Support"


Say that 10 times. OK, just once

[anjou]

Mark, I think that manky old home brewed grog you got stashed in the lararette isnt helping. Toss it overboard and stock up on some nice wine.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by anjou

Mark, I think that manky old home brewed grog you got stashed in the lararette isnt helping. Toss it overboard and stock up on some nice wine.

Yes. Granted. But could you say it?

[anjou]

I said it slowly 10 times before I posted.

Im sober and find that is a massive advantage

[James S]

Thanks guys.

I said it Mark

[Bash]

James, The bow roller was amazing, and those davits you built were absolutely spectacular, but this last bit of boat jewelry really isn't doing it for me. Perhaps it's just that we've come to expect a bit more from your boat porn.

Is that upper hinge mounting, the aft one, crooked, by the way?

[Blue Stocking]

Hi James,

I worked on a Holman & Pye sailing cutter whose salon floor engine hatches hinged up on automobile trunk-type hinges. Lifted and provided swing-away clearance,with nothing showing as h/ware.

[James S]

Originally Posted by Bash

James, The bow roller was amazing, and those davits you built were absolutely spectacular, but this last bit of boat jewelry really isn't doing it for me. Perhaps it's just that we've come to expect a bit more from your boat porn.

Yeah...I know...I peaked early.

Originally Posted by Bash

Is that upper hinge mounting, the aft one, crooked, by the way?

It must be the result of subliminal influence I was subject while designing them....I was sailing on SF Bay................

Hey Blue...the hinges you speak of are excelent...but unfortunately they require an "undercut" type place under the adjoining sole for the hinge to be secured and in fact live, when closed.

[Blue Stocking]

OK, I see what you meen. There appears to be a vertical panel back there that doesn't allow room for the hinge mechanism.
Do you provide sun glasses for looking into those glaringly clean white bilges?

[James S]

There is plenty of down sides to doing a major refit....ending up with clean white builges is definatly and "upside"!