Sailing with cabin top hatch open?

[Hydro Therapy]

Has anyone found a way to sail with the hatch open and keep the headsail sheets from getting stuck?

I know it’s not advisable to sail with it open but my boat doesn’t have the best ventilation. I sail on the St Johns River so waves aren’t usually a issue.

Ive thought of running a line from the mast base to the below the furler. I’m not sure if that will cure the problem.

 

[dlochner]

Bring in the lazy sheet first so it is up against the mast. Tack and bring in the new lazy sheet. Try to keep the sail flowing back so the sheets don't go forward. If there a lot of tacks to be done, close the hatch because no system is fool proof.

 

[Sailfanatic]

Bring in the lazy sheet first so it is up against the mast. Tack and bring in the new lazy sheet. Try to keep the sail flowing back so the sheets don't go forward. If there a lot of tacks to be done, close the hatch because no system is fool proof.

While this is good advice prior to a tack, on the next tack, while trimming the lazy sheet, unless you also keep pressure on the old sheet throughout the tack, the wind is likely to blow that sheet forward over the open hatch, and the only resolution is to go forward and free it from the hatch. You would need to manage both sheets through the tack, and maybe that will generally help

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Bring in the lazy sheet first so it is up against the mast. Tack and bring in the new lazy sheet. Try to keep the sail flowing back so the sheets don't go forward. If there a lot of tacks to be done, close the hatch because no system is fool proof.

Dave's description is how I do it. It generally works pretty good, but his key words are: ''no system is fool proof''. As Sailfanatic said, unless you keep tension on the lazy sheet, (not very practical as you literally get into a hove-to situation), every now & then it will get caught.

 

[Hydro Therapy]

Thanks for the responses. I generally use the tactic mentioned. I guess I will work on improving

 

[Sailfanatic]

Actually a possible solution would be to reset the hatch so it opens to the stern...

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Actually a possible solution would be to reset the hatch so it opens to the stern...

It might indeed reduce the area for the sheet to catch but there is still a possibility. And it would not be advantageous to the desired flow of air that the original post mentioned for optimized ventilation.

 

[Capt Robbie]

invest in few extra hatches here on this site lol

 

[Ron20324]

Re-do the hinges to quick-disconnect pins so you can remove the hatch lens when sailing.

 

[DougM]

Even if the hatch is only slightly cracked open it has a tendency to catch the lazy sheet. You have to practice tensioning that sheet so that the clew takes it above the open hatch during a tack. Best solution is just to leave it closed.

 

[thinwater]

I've always found closing it to be the best choice. In light winds careful tacking works well, and when the wind's up you don't need it.

In between, open it just 6 inches and rig a cargo net over it. No snags.

 

[Hydro Therapy]

That may work. Going to look into that and how to rig it. Thanks