I put a pane of 3/8's Lexan in my forward hatch cover. I decided that I wanted all the room that the stack hatch has, so I can continue to climb out of it. I have over 60 SS screws holding the pane down on the hatch. I cut the hole leaving enough material to form a 2 inch wide seal and to leave a shell all around the original plywood core. The idea is to have a hatch that will support my weight. By the way, Macgregor did use marine grade plywood in the hatch cover. Now I have to figure a way to dog down the forward corners of the hatch.
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John S
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mrbill
Photo - can you zoom in ?
Another nice mod John!!! can you zoom in on the out and insides to show the detail? you used wood screws, not nuts and bolts? what did you use for sealer? how thick was the lexan? this looks like a pretty simple mod, something others will copy. no doubt! thanks for posting.
Another nice mod John!!! can you zoom in on the out and insides to show the detail? you used wood screws, not nuts and bolts? what did you use for sealer? how thick was the lexan? this looks like a pretty simple mod, something others will copy. no doubt! thanks for posting.
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John S
Details
Wow, I am really still on vacation. The lexan is 3/8 with a bevel all around to be easier on the toes. You can't se it very well, but those are #12 SS countersunk machine screws with flat washer and nyloc nuts. I used a silicone sealant/glue from Home Depot. I noticed when I replaced my side windows that the sealant from 87 is still just fine, so I used it here. I wanted this mod done before I left on vaca, but I had to wait till I got back. I put down a layer of tape on the screw holes, thinking it would last. One night last week, a thundershower revealed that the tape had lost all adhesion and was just sitting there. Woke my kids up as the rain poured down on them. Luckily, they can still fit in the queen bed with us. I am really happy about my ice chest, though. As I said in a previous post, I lined a compartment under the vee berth with 2 in rigid insulation board and covered it with aluminized tape. After 10 days, the block of ice I put in there has just melted! The block was made from one of those flexible water bottles that come stock with the Mac. 10 days! I am at work so I'll send a closer pic later. The hatch is installed with the best seal I could find at Home D but I need something to pull down the forward corners to really have a good seal, as the hatch cover is not really flat. John S
Wow, I am really still on vacation. The lexan is 3/8 with a bevel all around to be easier on the toes. You can't se it very well, but those are #12 SS countersunk machine screws with flat washer and nyloc nuts. I used a silicone sealant/glue from Home Depot. I noticed when I replaced my side windows that the sealant from 87 is still just fine, so I used it here. I wanted this mod done before I left on vaca, but I had to wait till I got back. I put down a layer of tape on the screw holes, thinking it would last. One night last week, a thundershower revealed that the tape had lost all adhesion and was just sitting there. Woke my kids up as the rain poured down on them. Luckily, they can still fit in the queen bed with us. I am really happy about my ice chest, though. As I said in a previous post, I lined a compartment under the vee berth with 2 in rigid insulation board and covered it with aluminized tape. After 10 days, the block of ice I put in there has just melted! The block was made from one of those flexible water bottles that come stock with the Mac. 10 days! I am at work so I'll send a closer pic later. The hatch is installed with the best seal I could find at Home D but I need something to pull down the forward corners to really have a good seal, as the hatch cover is not really flat. John S
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mrbill2
close the hatch
Someone posted their hatch latch.... maybe a link on macgregor-boats.com ? the handle was mounted on the hatch, shimmed by about 3" wood block, and turned into a catch mounted on the underside of the inner liner. latch was similar style to a double hung window latch. with a larger handle. -just looked thru 8 pages on westmarine, the latch its not there! - Cabinet & Deck Hardware >> Cabinet Hardware & Locks >> Catches & Latches the double hung window type of latch tightens about 1/2 inch as it closes. clear as mud? I think they use them for PU Truck bed covers... think automotive.
Someone posted their hatch latch.... maybe a link on macgregor-boats.com ? the handle was mounted on the hatch, shimmed by about 3" wood block, and turned into a catch mounted on the underside of the inner liner. latch was similar style to a double hung window latch. with a larger handle. -just looked thru 8 pages on westmarine, the latch its not there! - Cabinet & Deck Hardware >> Cabinet Hardware & Locks >> Catches & Latches the double hung window type of latch tightens about 1/2 inch as it closes. clear as mud? I think they use them for PU Truck bed covers... think automotive.
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John S
Hatch Hardware
Thank You for the ideas. I just bought a sliding trombone kind of bracket to hold the hatch open off of ebay. I had the block of wood and the cheap latch and I pulled it off. I will probably fabricate the latches I want. I don't want anything external except the head of a pivoting bolt, which has a handle down below that pivots and catches the formed fibreglas ring below that runs around the hatch opening. Something that won't hurt too badly when I hit it with my head. John S
Thank You for the ideas. I just bought a sliding trombone kind of bracket to hold the hatch open off of ebay. I had the block of wood and the cheap latch and I pulled it off. I will probably fabricate the latches I want. I don't want anything external except the head of a pivoting bolt, which has a handle down below that pivots and catches the formed fibreglas ring below that runs around the hatch opening. Something that won't hurt too badly when I hit it with my head. John S
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John S
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John S
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