How are hatch covers attached?

[robertsapp]

We have a few spare yards of Sunbrella, am I'm interested in taking a crack at trying to make some hatch covers. I have no idea though how they attach to the hatches so that they don't blow away in a thunderstorm. Do they use button snaps? Elastic? If it's snaps, does this mean you have to drill the hatch frame to mount them?

 

[stephen Penny]

Use bungee cord around Sunbrella to hold them down. I cover all my hatch covers this way.

 

[Ken13559]

I use elastic band. Small diameter bungy cord is good too. Make sure the cover doesn't get sandwich between hatch and deck/rim else it'll let in water through capillary effect.

 

[Steve Dion]

Robert:

I assume that you have frameless/flush hatches on this boat?

If that is the case, you may want consider snaps on the corners to hold down the covers. Be sure to use some vinyl/reinforcement material around the edge to reinforce the edges so the snaps do not pull out.

 

[jmce1587]

Just replaced ours using sunbrella with 1/8" bungy cord and hog clamps for cord.

 

[robertsapp]

Robert:

I assume that you have frameless/flush hatches on this boat?

If that is the case, you may want consider snaps on the corners to hold down the covers. Be sure to use some vinyl/reinforcement material around the edge to reinforce the edges so the snaps do not pull out.

The boat's a '95 H336, and it came with the Lewmar Ocean Series hatches. I'd call them low profile rather than flush. The top has an aluminum frame. I'd hate to drill holes in it for button snaps, but I'm not sure there's enough "lip" for a bungie to grab. Here's a picture of another 336 that I grabbed online because I was interested in their windlass install. We have the same hatches.

 

[Steve Dion]

Robert:

Our 1994 Hunter Vision 36 has frameless hatches. That is why I thought yours may be the same.

You may want to try some of that very small elastic (bungy cord, like Jerry mentioned). Sow that into the pocket so the fit snuggly. I don't know what would happen in a good blow, but you will not have fortune invested if one blows away.

http://www.blueperformance.com/pages/product_details.html?../images/products/hatch-covers.jpg

 

[jmce1587]

I received an email from sailrite today which has an instructional video on how to make hatch covers. here is the link - if it doesn't work, send me an email and i will forward dirtecly to you. you may have to copy and paste. also on our hatch covers we inserted(sandwiched) insulation material (also available from sail rite) to keep the heat down in southeast Texas. works great

http://www.sailrite.com/How-to-Make-a-Hatch-Cover-Video

 

[egodsey]

Here's the URL for a YouTube video from Sailrite. It includes step-by-step instructions on how to measure for and then sew up a Sunbrella hatch cover. http://www.sailrite.com/How-to-Make-a-Hatch-Cover-Video

 

[robertsapp]

Thanks so much for both these links! Duhh, why didn't I think to do a quick Google search!