[Rhodes22-list] Need to replace Hatch

[John Lock]

On Feb 24, 2009, at 21:46, Baywind wrote:
> My plan is to use the original hatch as
> a template. I am going to buy BC plywood at Lowes and use Polyester  
> Resin
> tinted with white to completely seal it.
> Questions:
> 1. Do I have to have a hinge in it?
> 3. Can I make it 2 piece instead of the hinge so I can have it just  
> top
> open?

There are two things to consider if you want a 2-piece hatch -

1) On most of our boats there is nothing to secure the top half in  
place if it's not attached to the bottom half.  It just sits in the  
recessed area, so you'd have to figure out some way to keep it in  
place when closed up.

2) The hinge also serves as a water barrier.  When the hatch is closed  
up, water will run down the top half and can leak under the joint into  
the cabin if it's not sealed in some way.

In other variations, I believe owners have placed a piece of weather  
stripping between the two halves or added a vinyl "drip strip" to the  
bottom edge of the top half so that it sheds water away from the  
joint.  This also gives you more options for hinging instead of the  
long piano-style hinge with a gasket.  With a little extra thought,  
you may be able to install hinges with a removable pin (a la door  
hinges).  Then you could leave the hinges in place to close up the  
hatch or use it as a table.  Or remove the pin and take the top half  
off altogether.  In any case, if security is a factor, hinges must be  
mounted on the inside.

Cheers!
John Lock
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s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
Lake Sinclair, GA
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