Cockpit Lazarette Hatch Reinforcing

[Mike H.]

In my 94 Vision 36, there is a lazarette on the starboard side of the cockpit. It's part of the cockpit seating. It's L shaped in section and hinged at the top of the coaming of the cockpit with three 4" hinges. The top is about 4' long.

Over the years with people getting on and off the boat it has become weakend and begining to crack near the top corners.

I have quite a bit of fiberglassing experience, (I built a boat a boat about 20 years ago), but no experience with the new epoxies and carbor fiber, etc.

Questions:

What system should I use to reinfoce this hatch?
Should I glue some wood in there?
Anyone dealt with this fix before?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Steve Dion]

Mike: Are you referring to the seat that allows access to the locker where the hatch boards are stored?

If that is the case, there should be some bumpers that help support the seat. Those may be worn out and allowing the seat to sag. I would suggest that you replace the bumpers. If the hinges are still weak, you may be able to use regular screws to secure the hinges. Otherwise I would apply some fiberglass to the back side of the area to get a more secure hold.

You may want to check out the bumpers on all of your lazarettes, they will probably need replacing too.

 

[Mike H.]

Mike: Are you referring to the seat that allows access to the locker where the hatch boards are stored?

If that is the case, there should be some bumpers that help support the seat. Those may be worn out and allowing the seat to sag. I would suggest that you replace the bumpers. If the hinges are still weak, you may be able to use regular screws to secure the hinges. Otherwise I would apply some fiberglass to the back side of the area to get a more secure hold.

You may want to check out the bumpers on all of your lazarettes, they will probably need replacing too.

Thanks Steve.

The lack of bumpers probably created the problem. The cracking is occuring along the outside edges at the top corners. Fiberglass reinforcing is definetly the fix as well as installing bumpers. I guess I'll use epoxy and some woven roving.