adding a hatch up front on a 22

[gdanza]

I think the bow of my 22 needs more of a vent than that cute little pipe, and think a hatch would look nice. The deck is pretty solid, however a soft spot has emerged this spring on the starboard side, just about 2 feet back from the bow. Looks llike I willl need some repair there, and would problably add the hatch at the same time. What do I need to pay attention to in locating a forward hatch? Where is the best location? I see the hatch on later models are on the slope to the upper deck, and that looks cool. Not sure what to do to ensure structural integrity, and I only want to do it once, which is always my philosopy, but not always my practice. I know it can't be as easy as tracing a template and cutting it out, dropping in a hatch, unless you do this all the time, then, well, it might be. Want it to function well, for ventilation, and possible egress, and look like it should be there.
You guys have helped me tons, so far!
Greg

 

[Ray Bowles]

Gdanza, I noticed nobody has jumped in yet so here goes. I had a C22 up untill a couple of years ago so this is based on memory.
The soft spot right now is your worst problem and should be stopped before anything else. This is caused by water getting in between the upper deck plate and the cabin inside liner. There is a real possibility that this area could be an area that had end grain balsa wood installed as a stiffiner. Left untreated it will destroy the value of the boat, its safety and deck strength. Are your bow pulpit stanchions tightly mounted to the deck or is there wiggle room. If loose this will cause water entry.There are volumns of info in the archives about treating this problem.
Next, the hatch. The reason Catalina put the hatch on the sloping portion of the cabin was to help keep it out of major water areas on deck and to keep it away from human beings sticking their feet through it.
Any hatch needs to be placed totally out of any forseen traffic areas and not to compromise structural strength. I would not mount a hatch there on my boat. Placed on the sloping structure is best. A deck/hatch wind scoop really forces air through the cabin at anchor and might suit your needs better and with great savings.
Hope this helps. Now onward to your deck repairs.
Ray

 

[gdanza]

Thanks. I have learned that of all the things I don't know anything about, is vast and continues to enlarge every day. I appreciate the advise, and will fix that soft spot. The life line stanchions are very tight, but there is what looks like surface cracks in the fiberglass on the soft spot.
I didn't think about the hatch on the flat deck as a place for people (me) to fall through, but, I am sure I would have realized that issue about the 3rd time to the bow... Thanks again!
Greg

 

[CaptDon01]

On the original C-22 version, the hatch was on the foredeck, where it is flat. The 2nd version and the MK-II versions have the forward hatch on the front of the cabin. The first versions are not able to be retrofitted to this without extensive modifications. Ditto on first fixing the soft decking. Look on WEST Epoxies web site. They have some good information on how to repair this situation.

Don

 

[gdanza]

I appreciate the further info, as I am always thinking of how to best utilize some of my wifes' power tools... maybe I will wait for a hatch with a newer, bigger boat attached... in a couple years... or maybe with just a bigger boat attached. I kind of like vintage stuff. But, first, I will fix the deck, and think it would be nice to add some life lines, as I fell off last week... unfortunately for me, the boat was in my drive way at the time. Fortunately, my ladder was right there to slow my progress toward the concrete... with my shins. The lake would have been softer, but wouldn't have as funny, to my kids, at least. They were expecting a bigger bounce. Brats. Owelllll.

 

[Barry B.]

Forward hatch

gdanza,

The original C22 hatch was heavy enough to stand on and was located on the foredeck a couple inches in front of the cabin slope. Catalina Direct sells the complete hatch retrofit kit:

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=739&ParentCat=373

or just the Hatch and flange.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=675


As far as the soft spot in the deck, that would have to be repaired before installing the hatch. If the soft spot is in the area where the hatch should be installed you could cut the hole for the hatch and drill holes into the side of the soft plywood, dry it out using a fan or hair dryer, than inject an epoxy product like Get Rot to stiffen the area. If the damage is wide spread, you may have to do a full or partial deck recore like I am working on. I started this project in 2008 and got sidetrack a few times but hope to finish it in time for September and October sailing on the Chesapeake.

Here is a link to my project:

http://www.c22region10.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=303

I hope that this info helps, if you need more info, click on my name and E-mail me.

 

[gdanza]

Big Project! I was glad to see the video didn't show up on a "Don't let this happen to you" site... Thanks for the link to CD. You rock!

 

[Barry B.]

You'r Welcome!

That's what we are here for, I learned a lot about my C22 from this group, they are a great source of information.

 

[Barry B.]

gdanza,

Another Regular member on this site put a hatch on his older C22, and posted pictures, but i can't remember who it was or where he posted it. It could have been posted on a personal web site about the boat, on this site, or on the C22 Region 10 Site. I will try to find it and post the link.

The C22 Region 10 Site is where my recore is posted, I also posted it on this site but did not include not as much detail.

 

[Barry B.]

Found It

gdanza,

Here is the link to Chip Ford's website about his C22, Chip Ahoy. Chip has done more upgrades to his boat than anyone I know of, and he documents them in great detail. The link will take you directly to the Hatch Installation page.

http://www.chipford.com/forward_hatch.htm

 

[gdanza]

That is great! Thanks! I am wondering the time/expense of your recore... I am not sure if my boat will need that extensive of a job, but I am a probation officer, a pretty good mechanic, but not a carpenter, and have never worked with fiberglass or gel coat. Did you remove the top deck on your recore, or just the headliner, plywood? Is ther another series of photos or video showing the done project?

 

[Barry B.]

Greg,

I only removed the headliner and since the boat is upside down I am gluing the plywood down to the inside of the deck and weighting it down with sand bags made from quart, gallon, and and two gallon ziplock bags. I have a ton of newer pictures that I have not had time to convert to web size and post. I am recoring the entire forerdeck from the bow all the way back behind the cabin bulkhesd to the raised combing where the jib sheet winches are mounted I started out with one layer of 1/4" Marine Plywood, which is what was there before, but was not happy with the 1/8" of fiberous filler on the top sides of the headliner. it was crumbling in places, and other areas ther were large voids, so I scraped it off with heave putty knifes, and wood chisels and a Fein Tool clone from Harbor Freight Tools. I still have one section to finish that runs under the windows from the center of the forward window back to the winch. I am also adding a second layer of Marine Plywood, that is 1/8" thickover the entire first layer. I am than going to laminate at least 2 layers od fiberglass cloth over thad and tie it into the existing fiberglass that protrudes out from the plywood to seal it up. than I will laminate the headliner sections in place and glass in the joints.