Ceirwan
regular
Reged: 26/07/2007
Posts: 117
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In my bid to make my yacht more seaworthy i am now paying attention to the hatch situation.
Currently i have a standard sliding hatch, housed in a garage, or sea hood, this is great when the hatch is pulled over, no water down below or anything, even if a wave sweeps the deck. (Or at least only drips)
The problem comes when its bad weather, and you need to go on deck for whatever reason, sail change, gear failure, etc, how does one solve the issue of, slide the hatch back in order to lift one of the boards out, and then a wave goes straight down it!
While a bubble hatch helps you see around, it doesn't fix this problem!
A sprayhood would work in lesser conditions, but in severe weather, i'd imagine that it wouldn't stand up to any sizeable waves. Has anyone come up with a solution to this?
(And no, i don't want to convert to junk rig and run all lines below deck!  )
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Damo
regular
Reged: 22/02/2005
Posts: 3432
Loc: k keeper,Portishead
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If you can't have a blister doorway (a la Contessa, Van de Stadt, Warrior 35), and don't want a sprayhood, how about a board hinged at its top edge on the aft edge of your sliding hatch. It would replace the upper washboard (or no washboards at all?), and give some protection from water while you move in or out.
Just a thought...
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Never be at a loose end with the Yosemite bowline 
New!...Warrior/Challenger/Voyager owner's website at longkeel35.org.uk
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CPD
regular
Reged: 20/09/2006
Posts: 1870
Loc: Essex
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If the weather is so bad that you cant get out the hatch for fear of getting swamped, then you should have already been out to do what you should have done before it got that bad, if you see what I mean. I used 2 elastic hoops to secure the washboards in place and jumped out the hatch and shut it again as soon as I was out.
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Life is just far too short.
I shortened my name from CentaurPipedream so you could spend your time reading something more useful.
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Damo
regular
Reged: 22/02/2005
Posts: 3432
Loc: k keeper,Portishead
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Some more blue sky thinking....fit a fabric sleeve like on polar pyramid tents. It should keep out everything but solid water while going in and out
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Never be at a loose end with the Yosemite bowline
New!...Warrior/Challenger/Voyager owner's website at longkeel35.org.uk
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Nicki_Crutchfield
regular
Reged: 07/03/2005
Posts: 602
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Nice thinking Damo. I like your line of thought.
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Damo
regular
Reged: 22/02/2005
Posts: 3432
Loc: k keeper,Portishead
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I just realised that I said "solid water" - which is what tube entrances on pyramid tents are designed for of course 
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Never be at a loose end with the Yosemite bowline
New!...Warrior/Challenger/Voyager owner's website at longkeel35.org.uk
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Ceirwan
regular
Reged: 26/07/2007
Posts: 117
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I'm not talking about being swamped, i'm talking about waves coming over the deck, which happens on a good slog to windward, and i imagine will happen if hove to, or generally out in very bad weather, theres always a chance you'll need to go on deck for something or other.
Good ideas guys, keep em coming!
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Elektron
Unregistered
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Have you considered a hard equivalent of the spray hood ? I'm thinking of something along the lines of an old British Railways engine driver's cab. That should keep the wet stuff out, except from directly behind. Sort of an open wheel-house.
Whether such a structure ought to built as strong as the proverbial brick out-house, or designed to be carried away by a green one presents an interesting dilemma ...
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Ceirwan
regular
Reged: 26/07/2007
Posts: 117
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Its something i've thought about, but i certainly wouldn't want it to be a permanent fixture!
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michael_w
regular
Reged: 08/10/2005
Posts: 2581
Loc: South London
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On two boats I've had a canvas flap. It fixes to the sliding part of the hatch and hangs down instead of washboards to stop water heading below. Battens and lead weights stop it falling into the companionway.
Sure it won't be much use if your being pooped. But it stops the spray and drips but allows easy egress. Also has the advantage of the below decks crew can use white light at night without blinding those in the cockpit.
The next one I have made will be fixed by turn buttons. The popper one went swimming in the Atlantic during a rather rough passage from Bermuda to the Azores. Its loss was sorely missed.
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"Procrastinate now! Don't put it off"
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