Speaking of hatches

captd

New member
The hatches on the overhead, above the helm or any of the five hatches can be rotated to scoop air from any direction. On the Mis Dee I changed the openings to the bow which allows for a lot more air movement when underway. I left the port and starboard hatches to scoop air from the sides. All you need to do is unscrew the screws all the way round , pull out the whole hatch, turn it the way you like and screw it down again.
Captd
 
After reading the recent post on Solar cells on the tugs and seeing all the hatches on the tugs it seems as if some creative type would make some solar panels that would replace the plexi glass in the hatches. That would eliminate the real estate taken up by other type mounting.
 
The clear plastic (some are poly carbonate) is to allow light to enter. If you were to not want the light, then the idea of solar cells would certainly be a great idea. Of course, you also don't want solar cells to be in a place where they are stepped on. I do keep a shade on the inside of my foreward deck hatches. However, if I am in the bunk, I do like to have the light streaming thru.

In my cruising pilot house motor sailors, I put one small hatch facing foreward and one facing aft (about 12" opening). This gave much better ventillation than the Dorade vents which I also had, and in moderate weather allowed the aft facing hatch to remain open. The side opening, would not protect from spray, unless there were a baffle. But I am sure that there are instances where you would want ventillation from the sdies.
 
Some clever hatch maker someday will make combination solar and light transmitting hatches . Perhaps utilizing the frame for the photovoltaic potion and a partial translucent panel for light transmission . Somebody needs to put that on their list.......
Marc
 
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