You really can't do that because they're different shapes. Many people like to do that because they like the light from the newer hatches. We like the dark so we can sleep in past dawn (unless you sleep back in the garage!). Many folks get the new hatches and the first thing they do is put a cover on them!

The hatches can, however, be replaced with new clear hatches of the same shape. If you are a C36IA member, you get Mainsheet magazine. They usually have advertisements for a vendor who makes them. Maybe Cruising Concepts, I forget.

In theory anything is possible. You could glass in the existing hatch and mount a Lewmar style unit through it, or just add a Lewmar one in the foredeck where the deck prisms are. This would be more waterproof than the existing unit. However the plexi replacement hatch that is mentioned above is probalby a much simpler solution.

I haven't done it to my '85 yet, but Cruising Concepts has a replacement. It's not the Lewmar style, but a translucent molded acrylic in the shape of the existing hatch. I'd be curious to hear your experience should you do it.

[url]http://www.cruisingconcepts.com/v%20berth%20h.htm[/url]