Bow Hatch

[Lubberdink]

I'm a newbie to cabin sailboats (wife and I have a 16' Skipper Snipe but too much work for us old folks) and while we love our 77 O'Day 20, It lacks ventilation in the cabin. It has windows on the side but they don't open. I was wondering about the 1) possibility and 2)wisdom of adding a bow hatch over the V berth. Are there types that can be cut in that could withstand foot traffic and still not damage the structural integrity of the cabin?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[Shoaldrafter]

ventilation

I'm a newbie to cabin sailboats (wife and I have a 16' Skipper Snipe but too much work for us old folks) and while we love our 77 O'Day 20, It lacks ventilation in the cabin. It has windows on the side but they don't open. I was wondering about the 1) possibility and 2)wisdom of adding a bow hatch over the V berth. Are there types that can be cut in that could withstand foot traffic and still not damage the structural integrity of the cabin?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

I do not know the answer to your question, but have an alternative for your consideration that I know works.

A solar/battery nicro vent. Available in 3" and 4" models and easy to install. Try one on cabin and on on V berth.

You might also consider rotatable cowl type vents.

Ed K
26

 

[Joe11688]

I'm a newbie to cabin sailboats (wife and I have a 16' Skipper Snipe but too much work for us old folks) and while we love our 77 O'Day 20, It lacks ventilation in the cabin. It has windows on the side but they don't open. I was wondering about the 1) possibility and 2)wisdom of adding a bow hatch over the V berth. Are there types that can be cut in that could withstand foot traffic and still not damage the structural integrity of the cabin?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Even if you were able to cut an opening and install a hatch in the bow, it may interfere with your jib sheets when you tack. Most hatches sit in a pre molded indentation on the bow of sailboats that are designed for a forward hatch and I think that they are designed for this reason. You may be able to install some small opening ports on this boat but I don't think that you're going to get the ventilation needed for cool sleeping at night. What I would do is buy a small polytarp that will fit over your boom and tie it off somehow to act as a shelter and a wind scoop. If you anchor in a protected cove on the lake, put out enough anchor line from the bow, cleat it off, and then bring back enough of the anchor line to tie off to your stern cleat. This way, the wind will be coming directly from your stern and the boom tarp will act as a wind scoop. If the wind get too strong for this, you should let the line off the stern cleat and let the boat swing at anchor again from the bow. These are the only suggestions that I can come up with. I use tarps a lot in the hot summer. It's the only thing that makes hanging out on the hook bearable. Tie your tarps with quick hitches so that you can douse them in a hurry. I use clove slip hitches and round turn type hitches with slipped half hitches.
Joe

 

[Lubberdink]

Thank you all! Good info and pictures to boot!

 

[LordNelson]

my oday 20 has a hatch on the cabin roof in front of the mast. i don't know if it was factory installed or if someone along the way installed it. i don't think i would install anything on the bow especially over the bunks as it will eventually leak from failed chaulk or a wave comeing over the bow.

i would follow joe's advice first and only install the hatch as a last resort. i would just as soon not have the cabin roof hatch as it does get in the way when raising the sails at the mast as on occasion catches the jib sheet.