V-berth hatch

[ssobol]

I already have the hatches in the tops of the V-berth compartments. Since I replaced the lazerette hatches with the improved ones, I have a couple extra hatches lying around.

Since I have put stuff in the forward V-berth compartment I was thinking of using one of the spare hatches to provide additional access to the front compartment. To do this I would put the hatch in the vertical bulkhead at the front end of the porta-potti storage location. There is room there for one of the lazerette sized hatches.

However, I have noticed that the crossbeam bulkhead that goes across the hull at this point is more than 1" thick. It is this thick for a reason, but whether it is just to hold up the V-berth or whether it is structural for the hull, I don't know.

So I'm wondering if cutting a ~10x12" hole in this bulkhead for a hatch is a good idea. It would make getting stuff in and out of the forward V-berth compartment easier though.

Any thoughts?

 

[thataway]

Does your boat have a cored bulkhead which goes all of the way across the boat and tie into the bottom and platform? Or is it just the top of the forward bulkhead in the "prortipotty" platform area?

In the 25's there is extra glass at the top of this bulkhead, but the center part is all that is there. There is no bulkhead across the boat. I have a cut out on the top of the platform and have put some ventilation holes (plates over them) on the vertical porting and there is nothing structural--and no problem cutting thru the bulkhead. You should. be able to cut the hole for access.

 

[ssobol]

Does your boat have a cored bulkhead which goes all of the way across the boat and tie into the bottom and platform? Or is it just the top of the forward bulkhead in the "prortipotty" platform area?

In the 25's there is extra glass at the top of this bulkhead, but the center part is all that is there. There is no bulkhead across the boat. I have a cut out on the top of the platform and have put some ventilation holes (plates over them) on the vertical porting and there is nothing structural--and no problem cutting thru the bulkhead. You should. be able to cut the hole for access.

The bulkhead goes all the way across and divides the under the v-berth area into three areas (separates the full width bow compartment from the two sides). I only checked at the top of the bulkhead, I'll have to look more closely at the rest of it.

 

[ssobol]

Does your boat have a cored bulkhead which goes all of the way across the boat and tie into the bottom and platform? Or is it just the top of the forward bulkhead in the "prortipotty" platform area?

In the 25's there is extra glass at the top of this bulkhead, but the center part is all that is there. There is no bulkhead across the boat. I have a cut out on the top of the platform and have put some ventilation holes (plates over them) on the vertical porting and there is nothing structural--and no problem cutting thru the bulkhead. You should. be able to cut the hole for access.

The bulkhead goes all the way across and divides the under the v-berth area into three areas (separates the full width bow compartment from the two sides). I only checked at the top of the bulkhead, I'll have to look more closely at the rest of it.

The bulkhead goes all the way across the boat. The bulkhead is of pretty uniform thickness (>1"). These pictures show what I am considering doing and the bulkhead itself.

The purple outline is the location and approximate size of the hatch.



inside compartment front face of bulkhead. The hatch would actually be higher up and closer to the width of the thicker part of the bulkhead shown in the center of the image.



Views of the bulkhead fitting to hull.

Center, looking straight down into compartment:



Port side


Starboard side

 

[thataway]

I don't see any problem with putting a hatch thru this bulkhead. You have plenty of support for the v Berth, as well as any hull stiffing effect intact.