Hello all,
I am considering replacing the forward hatch (V-Berth fiberglass hatch) assembly with a lexan smoked/clear one. My existing hatch and hinges are torqued and not in great shape.
I understand there can be some installment challenges, particularly in terms of the hinges lining up with the hatch, and the difference in height between the factory hatch and the replacements (from Cruising Concepts).
I thought I would reach out to see if anyone has attacked this before.
Thanks!
al
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Al
Last Resort
Catalina 36, Hull 667
1987, Tall Rig
Universal M25
Westpoint Marina, SF Bay,CA
Adventure lies not within the calm embrace of harbor! Look beyond the blue horizon. There she awaits!
Hi Al,
I'm thinking about doing this as well. The Cruising Concepts hatch looks good, but my concerns are the same as yours. Hope someone responds that has installed it!
Dale
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Olivus II
1986 Catalina 36
Pier 39, San Francisco
Dale Wolford
Catalina 36 MkI - Olivus II
I have deliberately NOT done this. In reading about folks with newer Mark Is and Mark IIs, one of the first things they report that they do is to find a cover, inside or outside, for the hatch so they can sleep after the sun rises.
Something for you to consider before you do so.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
yeah you do want to have it darker in the boat in the morning during the summer, but a hatch tent can help accomplish this too. My concern with a plexi forward hatch is that it can get smashed and it is in a pretty vulnerable spot. The Santana 35 I sailed on for years had a plexi forehatch, it got broken a couple of times, and the boat took a lot of water in when sailing in rough weather with a broken forehatch.
From an installation point of view it would be simpler to put a small square of clear material into the existing hatch I think?
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada