Should I hinge my aft hatch?

[Billybob]

I've got a 23' with the notched transom/livewell original setup.I have that aft hatch that has the 2 pie plate inspection hatches in it.I am thinking of glassing it over and hinging it since It would make it easier to access my batts, transducer,pumps.
What do you think, any downside to this?

[Ed]

Billybob-

Are your two pieshaped inspection hatches mounted on a larger removable hatch that needs to be recaulked everytime you put it back on? My Mako 231 is set up that way and I think the design sucks. Even if you added the piano hinge...I still think you would need to caulk it everytime you put it back on, right?

My suggestion is to replace the two pie shaped hatches with a one larger (rectangular shaped) Bomar style hatch that is similar in size to the larger hatch opening that the round hatches are mounted on. It will allow you more access to work in the bilge and will provide a nice, watertight seal.

Just a thought.

Ed Mancini

[Briguy]

I would recommend moving your batteries under your console. Then there would be no need to access that hatch. Seal it with marine silicone and forget it. Thats what I did.

[JohnS]

I second the moving of the batteries....

John

[Reel Smoker]

Billybob, I would'nt put hinges on that deck. You really should have that hatch caulked and sealed if not water will get in there and into the bilge.I, like Briguy put my batteries under the console by doing this you dont need to get in their anymore.I took those round hatch covers out and reglassed the holes matching the non-skid deck. One less thing to worry about.What year is your boat? RS.

[Scott]

Hey RS how ya doin ??? Boat looks great !!!!

I'm pretty sure BB cant glass those pie plates shut as that is the only real access to the bilge and the pumps....I know I cant do that .... I dont like that hatch either but it is essential for bilge access i.e.thru-hulls, bilge pumps etc The pie plates really limit your ability to do anything down there but to seal that hatch you need them... and on my boat any water on the deck drips down on the aft end of the fuel tank..Like Ed said if anything to improve it might be the larger Bomar hatch.....and the batteries...I like them under the console

[Billybob]

Thanks for all the suggestions.I've thought of putting the batts in the console, but I hate to use up my limited space because I have the small console (RS, I have a 73 - Bill Sirotnak's in the photo section).Plus, I have a shoot thru transducer down there, the pumps and float switches, and I plan on putting a seacock down there.I would plan on gasketing the hatch as best I could and figure very little water would get down there (perhaps easier said than done).It's a small hatch as it is so putting in a Bomar type wouldn't allow me to pull the batts anyway - but it would give me access to the rest of the stuff.Think I'll try hinging it and see how good the seal works.

[Reel Smoker]

BB,yeap thats probably what I would do them it will be easier to get in there.Scott was it you that wanted a poster from this bar in Key West?RS.

[Scott]

Billybob....let us know how it works out. At one point thats what I was thinking .... making that lip that the hatch sits in as "Fair" as possible then gasketing it and putting in two compression latches to aid in "sealing" it. I'm sure not water tight but alot better than it is now. I forgot that you had that console.

RS ..... Ummm depends on the poster [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ...But seriously I dont think I asked you for a poster.