fastening hatch covers

[jluke]

I just cut and sewed some covers for the hatches on my 1979 hunter 30 and am not sure how I should attach them. If the hatches were wood framed, I would install snaps on the covers and frames, but they are aluminum. I hesitate to drill holes in the deck for snaps until I could find out what others do. I also considered sewing some strips of velcro on the edges of the covers and applying the opposing strips on the boat with epoxy. any suggestions?

 

[srhummer]

My answer was shock cord sewn into the edge of the cover all the way around and slightly shorter than the edge so it catches on the lip.

 

[Steve Dion]

have you seen these?

http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?52147

 

[Dave Groshong]

Those rigid covers are simple and strong, a really innovative design.

http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?52147

 

[onecoolair]

My answer was shock cord sewn into the edge of the cover all the way around and slightly shorter than the edge so it catches on the lip.

This is the smart way to do it for sure...It allows you to open and close hatch from below with out having to run up on deck to remove or replace cover. If properly made they should stay on even in hurricane conditions. Mine stayed in place during "Ike"

 

[jluke]

snaps

This is the smart way to do it for sure...It allows you to open and close hatch from below with out having to run up on deck to remove or replace cover. If properly made they should stay on even in hurricane conditions. Mine stayed in place during "Ike"

Thanks to all for your input, I installed snaps for the covers today. Inexpensive and I already had the covers. The hard covers are a great idea, but with a new (to me) sailboat, the project list is too long for such luxuries!