[C38] Hatches

[Chuck Finn]

Anders and I came up with a different approach to the front hatch.  I 
bought a 1/2 inch piece of smoked plexiglass (acrylic) for about $60.  
We removed our forward hatch and cut out the middle blank leaving about 
2 1/2 inch frame.   I routed a 1/2 inch lip on the hatch frame.    We 
then heated the acrylic and formed it over the blank we cut out from the 
hatch. We rigged up a metal box with one end open to do this.  Heat was 
from a propane "stump burner" torch that is now available from Harbor 
Freight.  We then cut the acrylic to size (after it cooled to the shape) 
and put it in the frame using  machine screws and caulk.  This took 
about a day with all the fooling around required when you are inventing 
something the first time.
This was done about 5-6 years ago and the hatch as done quite well.  I 
put a bad scrape in it last year with the transom of my dinghy during a 
bad storm.
One thing to note is to watch the temperature of the Acrylic!  This can 
be easily done with one of those laser type thermometers (again 
available from Harbor Freight).  Without one, we got ours a little too 
hot and you can see some wave distortion in the plastic.  My wife hated 
sleeping the the vee birth as it felt too much like a cave... Now we can 
see the stars!
Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn  #114
Great Lakes

On 5/11/2011 4:30 AM, Steven Ribble wrote:
>
> I'm with Marci on the "one day..." attitude. In the meantime, I'm 
> still trying to value engineer a solution and I'm thinking about 
> installing a rectangular deck prism (running fore and aft) in the 
> center of the hatch.  Does anyone have any thoughts or see any issues 
> with this idea?
>
> Steve Ribble
>
> On May 10, 2011 3:10 PM, "Marci Brown" <mb at seafor.us 
> <mailto:mb at seafor.us>> wrote:
> > 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 
> <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 <http://www.RainierRubber.com> 
> <http://www.rainierrubber.com/>
> >
> > The information contained in this email may be confidential and/or
> > proprietary in nature and is intended for the recipient of the email 
> only.
> > Please treat all information contained in this and any communication 
> with
> > the 4M Company as such. Thank you.
> >
> > P Before printing, think about ENVIRONMENTAL responsibility
> >
>
>
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