Inside Locking Companionway Hatch

[John Stone]

One of the things I do not like about my boat is I have had no way to lock the companionway from the inside. This is important when you are sleeping on the boat. I heard about more than just a few boats getting boarded at night when I was sailing in the W’Indies. What to do?

I could attach a barrel boat to the top drop board oriented vertically but then I couldn’t easily stack the drop boards. I have actually been thinking about this for a long time. While in the W’ Indies I just slept with the boat unlocked and kept my loaded M14 under the pillow. Just kidding...no guns on the Far Reach.

My buddy that welded the bronze bulwark bracket for me is currently welding a drop board security cage out of 3/8” SS 316 rod. It will take the place of the bottom two drop boards. The top board will remain in its normal installed position keeping the cage in place. That’s part of the solution. . But I still needed a latch to lock the companionway slide in place. And it needed to be out of reach of anyone on the bridge-deck.

I have a very nice brass barrel lock with a 3/8” diameter barrel. Very stout. But I didn’t just want to screw it into the companionway frame...it would look like I just screwed it in there. So I made a ice teak frame and cover for it. It’s completly recessed and held in place with (4) 1.5” #10 bronze slotted flathead woods screws. Very strong. At some point I may varnish it, but for now I left it bare. The barrel plunges into a round receiver I milled from scrap Ipé and counter sunk it into the underside of the sliding hatch with epoxy. I think it turned out very nice. It’s out of the way. Blends in pretty well. Would work on all/most Cape Dories I think.

[John Stone]

Here is the link to the details on the inside hatch lock.

https://farreachvoyages.wordpress.com