We are storing our 49 this year in a yard which doesn’t have electric gates or full time security. While I am concerned about the potential for break-in, it’s not keeping me up at night. Still, you have to appreciate that the companionway doors on the 49, (and other Hunters), would easily be compromised with one swift kick. Frankly, not too many companionways are secure, in that you can either snap off a padlock, or easily jimmy them open.
Having seen several other boat owners who posted security enhancements, I didn’t like any of them. They either entailed making custom metal work, drilling holes in the boat, or having something that looked like a prison gate.
What I wanted was something that was :
Very cheap
Sturdy
Gave the message immediately that this wasn’t going to be easy, and to “pick another boat”
Could be taken cruising with us, (using no space), in case we ended up leaving the boat in a dodgy marina.
The implementation (below) would take about an hour, (tops) to make, and can be modified for different Hunter models which also have swinging companionway doors, and sliding hatch.
The simplicity of the pictures speak for themselves. The 2x4 is trimmed to have a very close fit between the hatch teak strip, and the forward fiberglass hutch. The lock is a simply bicycle lock. The only critical thing is lining up the lock holes with the grab rail handle. As well, you need to cut the bottom corner of the wood so it doesn’t interfere with the side of the hatch slide rail.
The forward aluminum right angle bracket can be just about anything. Don't go with steel as it will rust. It just needs to hook under the handrail, and keep the wood from being pried sideways.
The aft teak strip is screwed to the hatch lid from underneath, so that when the hatch is closed, you can’t remove this strip.
The 2x4 covers the screws which hold the handle on. No way to remove it, short of saws & drills, and lots of noise.
It takes 10 seconds to put this board in place and lock it. You’d bust your leg before you were able to boot in the companionway door open with this setup.
I guess I could have sprung for a coat of white paint on the board, but that would have doubled the cost.
In short, this is a fabulous deterrent, which is exactly what I wanted.
Having seen several other boat owners who posted security enhancements, I didn’t like any of them. They either entailed making custom metal work, drilling holes in the boat, or having something that looked like a prison gate.
What I wanted was something that was :
Very cheap
Sturdy
Gave the message immediately that this wasn’t going to be easy, and to “pick another boat”
Could be taken cruising with us, (using no space), in case we ended up leaving the boat in a dodgy marina.
The implementation (below) would take about an hour, (tops) to make, and can be modified for different Hunter models which also have swinging companionway doors, and sliding hatch.
The simplicity of the pictures speak for themselves. The 2x4 is trimmed to have a very close fit between the hatch teak strip, and the forward fiberglass hutch. The lock is a simply bicycle lock. The only critical thing is lining up the lock holes with the grab rail handle. As well, you need to cut the bottom corner of the wood so it doesn’t interfere with the side of the hatch slide rail.
The forward aluminum right angle bracket can be just about anything. Don't go with steel as it will rust. It just needs to hook under the handrail, and keep the wood from being pried sideways.
The aft teak strip is screwed to the hatch lid from underneath, so that when the hatch is closed, you can’t remove this strip.
The 2x4 covers the screws which hold the handle on. No way to remove it, short of saws & drills, and lots of noise.
It takes 10 seconds to put this board in place and lock it. You’d bust your leg before you were able to boot in the companionway door open with this setup.
I guess I could have sprung for a coat of white paint on the board, but that would have doubled the cost.
In short, this is a fabulous deterrent, which is exactly what I wanted.
