Question about forward hatch on O'day 22

[davidmhull]

Good morning. I have an O'day 22 that does not have the forward hatch option. I called Rudy and he said to get a hatch off some junked sailboat and make it fit. My question is if anyone has the basic dimensions of the hatch that will fit the 22? I think it is about 20" by 20" but not sure. I just need something close since the installation will be a custom job of building the gutter to match the contour of the cabin top etc. If anyone has a 22 that they could give me the dimensions I would really appreciate. Thanks very much.

 

[kpgraci]

If Rudy doesn't know you may need to take his advice. Unless you're interested in doing a faithful restore you just need to see what you can find (that will limit you) and what you need (are you a big guy?). I do not have a forward hatch and I don't miss it...one less thing to leak or break, plus on an O'day, as you know, it's hard to get into the forward cabin between the small size and any gear you may have on board...my point is I don't know how much a forward hatch would be used, IMHO. Not trying to talk you out of it, just saying.

 

[davidmhull]

Thanks for the reply kpgraci. First of all ...yes I am a big guy. 6'5" and pushing 300 lbs. One of the first things I did to my boat was cut out the right hand bulkhead leaving enough to support the chain plates. The other thing was to remove the silly sink just forward of that bulkhead. This made getting forward safer and easier. The other thing was I dumped the Crosby rig and bought a new mainsheet system from Rudy since I got tired of always having ropes in my face. I guess I may have mislead you with my first post. This hatch is not to get in and out of. I have no desire to crawl through a forward hatch. What I need is ventilation. It might be nice to be able to hand an anchor or a jib up through the hatch but that would be secondary. It gets really stuffy down in the cabin in the summer and I really would like to get something to increase the flow of air. I just need a rough idea of what the original hatch size is. In the original brochure it looks like about 20 X 20. Not sure however. Thanks.

 

[kpgraci]

Ah. Yeah, 20x20 sounds about right.I like to way the O'Day 222 changed the bulkhead going to the forward bunk area, it really opens it up, been wanting to do something like that. Good luck on your hatch project.

 

[SchwarckT]

The hatch on my 1980 model is 22" wide by 23" front to back.

 

[davidmhull]

Thanks so much for the dimensions. I will start scouting junk yards.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Not sure if these will help any, but here are a few generic pictures of the optional hatch (1974 vintage)

 

[davidmhull]

Yes Sunbird that is indeed helpful. That looks like quite a big hatch. I guess it's all relative. Unless I try to get one that is too big I can cut a hole and build up a coaming. It looks like it is just a fiberglass "shell" . It almost makes me want to lay it up in woven roving and build it over a styrofoam form. I don't particularly need to be able to see through it and I don't want to create more of a greenhouse affect. Thanks very much for your input.

 

[LordNelson]

I have an oday 20 with a fiberglass forward hatch and wish it wasn't there. It gets in the way of standing on the cabin roof to put on the main sail cover as it feels too weak to stand on. The hatch often snags the jib sheet when coming about forcing me to go forward. It is also one more place for water to enter and rot the balsa wood. If it was me, I wouldn't add the hatch.

 

[davidmhull]

Lord Nelson...do you feel like it would be better if it was on the flat area forward of the cabin? I have roller reefing so I don't go up there much. I do understand how the one on the cabin could get in the way when putting on the main sail cover. Actually mounting it forward of the cabin would be a lot easier because it is nearly flat. Thanks.

 

[foreste2002]

I have a 1973 O'day 22 without a forward hatch. I am getting ready to sail in AZ. I really want to add this hatch as well. Please let us know sizes and how you accomplish this task.
Thank you!
Eric

 

[davidmhull]

I sure will

 

[LordNelson]

If I used the cabin to sleep in I may feel different, but I don't. My hatch is just forward of the mast and since I never open it I find it a pain. The 22 is larger so it may not be a problem for you. I have problems with the balsa core so I hate the thought of putting in anything that may allow water in, and they all do eventually unless uninstalled and redone every few years.

 

[davidmhull]

I understand what you are saying Lord Nelson. I talked to a boat builder down at Lewisetta this week and he said there is definitely a right way and wrong way to make any holes in a boat. Yes, there is balsa in there and no it can't leak a drop. He said to undercut the balsa with one of those vibrating tools used to cut flush under cabinets and things. I don't know what they are called but perhaps you do. Anyway the blade is a partial circle and it just vibrates back and forth something like what is used to cut a cast off. He said to undercut it at least an inch and fill that with fiberglass resin of the proper viscosity (which probably contains some kind of filler). He said that if you do that properly there is no way water is going to creep up into the balsa core. Nothing is perfect and there is a possibility of an occasional drip from the gaskets on the hatch but that is not my main concern, I just got back from sailing for two days and spent some time looking at things since I changed my mind about putting the hatch on the cabin roof. There is a lovely flat spot just forward of the cabin but far enough aft to not interfere when hanking on a jenny or something. Flat is good. There are some low profile hatches that I think will work fine. There is no way the jib sheets can get hung on it since it will be below the cabin roof. Now I just need to find a good deal on one. I'm sure you get what you pay for here but a new one is out of my price range, Still looking for a GOOD used one. Thanks.