Bow Hatch

Jon - CLou · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:00 pm Post subject: Bow Hatch

I'm trying to convince myself that a bow hatch is necessary, but I'm having a hard time deciding. Our 1986 angler never had a hatch installed, so I kinda forgot what I was missing without one.

My three concerns are, fragile lid, leakage, and exposing electronics, wiring and connections with salt air. So far, the exposed wiring in the V-berth area looks real good, and it's been almost 20 years.

Are these concerns an issue or should I go for it? Twenty x twenty is a really big hole.
Jon

TyBoo · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:21 pm Post subject:

Adeline · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:25 pm Post subject:

Hi Jon , I did'nt realize that any C-Dorys came w/o hatches. There are several things that make it indispensible for me. Access to the foredeck when it's really rough. Ventilation. If it's not raining, I can keep it open and if it is I "dog it" and turn on my Nicro 24 hour(solar) powervent(mounted in lens). It provides some light when closed. And when I'm anchored I can gaze up @ the stars as I doze off to sleep. There is nothing better than watching the constellations change as I rotate on the "hook". As far as flimsiness goes, the cored area there is about 1 inch thick. I know this because I had to remove it when a leak appeared while anchored in Quartermaster Harbor(Vashon Island) in a squall. Water found its way into a screw hole and rained on me all night. Once home I removed the hatch and filled all the holes with West System epoxy. Then I simply re-installed it with 5200. It'll never leak now. I would advise that you forego the screws too. Be sure to coat the exposed balsa core with West System before drop it in. I did crack the acrylic lens in '95 and got a replacement from Bomar. It was spendy. If it happened again I would go to Tap Plastics and have them make one for me. Pete

Jon - CLou · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 6:08 pm Post subject:

Yeah Pete, no hatch or bow rail. I think it's the only boat in the fleet without it.

Good point Mike. A little velcro, some thick canvas and a squirt gun will take care of all the invaders.

Hey, something else a hatch would be good for is to scare folks. I know this first hand because last year Cynthia and I was walking around the marina at dusk and some hairy faced guy lifted up his hatch and barked at us. Smile

Holy smacks, if I would of jumped 2 more inches to the left, I would of been in the drink.

Chivita · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 11:32 pm Post subject:

Jon,

One other thing to think about with the hatch, could be good or not. Your Grandkids will quickly discover how much fun it is to ride up in the v-berth with their heads out the hatch. If they can't be in the Captain's chair, then they'll want the hatch view. I can't blame them as I enjoy it as well.

Chivita Dave

Jon - CLou · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 12:20 am Post subject:

Now that's the reason I was looking for. Thanks Chivita Dave, sometimes I forget the obvious things. C-Lou is going to get a bow hatch!

DaveS · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:06 am Post subject:

Lynn Marie · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

As a building inspector I'm always dealing with Egress. Seems to go with the job and it just sort of gets to be a thing with us wether it's out of a big assembly room or an egress window from a sleeping room.

With fire always being a concern on boats and a possible point of ignition being a catastrophic failure in a Wallas, I've got a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector mounted on the bottom side of the overhead shelf; but to me one of the best things on a C-Dory is the Bomar hatch that you can actually get out of which was already there. I can't think of many small boat manufactures that do this and it's something I point out to people when I'm telling them all the neat things these little vessels have. If the GPS is the jewelry, then the hatch is that warm fuzzy blanket.
I couldn't sleep well without it.

Tim