Fridge hatch spring - oceanis 351

[jpeac2]

All -

Happy Boating season from Lake Michigan. Kind of. Sailed across the lake on Wednesday and waded through some really cool fog with sun most of the day. Water temperature? 39 degrees!

Anyone know how to find / fit the right spring for the fridge hatch/ top that opens up? Ours has a kink in it that doesnt keep it open.

The spring part appears to be 11" long and about 3/4" in diameter.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Go to the WM website or Defender, "Hatch Holder."

Like this

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|6880|2290149|2290157&id=48691

They make three or four different sizes.

 

[joker460]

That's a lot cheaper than what I got from Beneteau, NC. They wanted $30.

Don't know if it's the same length.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Exact length match doesn't matter, it's at an angle which you adjust when you screw the ends in. Just get a close match.

 

[Tim R.]

Toss the springs and replace them with pneumatic struts. No more lid falling on your head/arm/hand. Best galley upgrade I ever did.

 

[Gunni]

This is a standard off-the-shelf "Seadog hatch spring". Still in production.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Toss the springs and replace them with pneumatic struts. No more lid falling on your head/arm/hand. Best galley upgrade I ever did.

Tim, I understand your point. What I also considered is that the springs can easily be closed "one handed" by just pushing on them, if they are located on the side that doesn't get "whacked" accidentally. I have three: engine hatch cover, fridge top (I added hinges to a box cover), and our nav station.

 

[jpeac2]

All -

Thanks for the input.

The Gas Strut... What is the negative to moving to that?

It unfortunately is on the side of the fridge where it frequently gets whacked and then of course drops the lid.

Thanks!