[C38] Hatches

[Steve Smolinske]

Very cool idea Tom 

Steve Smolinske

Sent from my iPhone

On May 10, 2011, at 4:51 PM, "tdtron at earthlink.net" <tdtron at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Speaking of a forward view, I took a totally different approach to achieving a forward view.
>  
> I mounted a closed circuit color camera at the top of my masthead facing forward.  I bought the camera at Harbour Freight Tools on sale for about $30.
>  
> The camera has its own LED infra red lighting for night time use.  In low light conditions, the camera changes to black and white but it is still very usable even in total darkness.
>  
> I connected the camera via an extended cord to a small TV mounted on the shelf next to the electrical panel.
>  
> I had the camera adjusted so it would show from the horizon to the fore deck.  When underway, I could see traffic forward from the nav station but the real treat was at anchor.  For instance, when we anchored on the leeward side of Egmont Key island at the entrance of Tampa Bay, we could see over the island to watch traffic in the Gulf of Mexico.
>  
> When boats were tooling about the anchorages we could watch them from the inside of our boat.  It was a neat toy and very entertaining.  I could sometimes see stingrays gliding under the surface in front of our bow when people on deck missed the show.  The height of the camera made seeing things under the water in front of us very easy.
>  
> I'm speaking in past tense because we sold our 38 but I'm sure our next boat will also have a spy in the sky camera.  It's just too cheap and easy to install to not have one.  The camera was very small and hardly noticeable from below.
>  
> Tom Troncalli
>  
>  
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Marci Brown
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve
> Sent: 5/10/2011 3:10:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [C38] Hatches
> 
> One day ?Checksy? will have a forward hatch that I can see out of without opening while in the v-berth! Steve, is there any chance you could post some photos of your boat with this retrofitted hatch installed?
> 
>  
> 
> Marci J. Brown
> 
> Winthrop, Massachusetts
> 
> C38 Check?s In The Mail
> 
>  
> 
> From: Steve Smolinske [mailto:SSmolinske at rainierrubber.com] 
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 1:30 PM
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve
> Subject: [C38] Hatches
> 
>  
> 
> Max,
> 
>  
> 
> Here are the photos of the forward hatch modifications.  What we did was weld a cross support to keep the lens from flexing when stepped on by the foredeck crew.  I also had a skirt added around the lid that extends to deck level so that we no longer catch sheets under the lid when tacking.    The aluminum did not weld up that great as the impurities in the casting caused bubbles and voids that are visible, but I wasn?t overly concerned as long as it worked.  And The powder coater also had a problem with the hatches outgassing and leaving a gritty type of look,  All in all im happy with them, especially since two problems have been solved.     
> 
>  
> 
> Steve Smolinske
> 
> President
> 
>  
> 
> 425-227-4500
> 
> www.RainierRubber.com
> 
>  
> 
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> 
>  
> 
> P Before printing, think about ENVIRONMENTAL responsibility
> 
>  
> 
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