Strengthing Typhoon hatch

[StanC]

I'm interested in reinforcing/strengthening the sliding hatch on my Typhoon. Ocassionally I step on the hatch with my big feet and it flexes. Looking for ideas on how to reinforce the hatch.

StanC

[Dick Villamil]

I too have been toying with this idea. I am thinking of adding strips of mahogany or teak similar to the one at the aft edge. I had to replace it with the tropical wood generally used on decks - greasy and hard to cut but very strong. I was thinking of adding strips every 3 or 4 inches. Backing up underneath the hatch will be difficult due to the clearance with the forward hatch coaming but it can be done. Unfortunately once the holes are drilled you are committed! Therefore it is worth getting a few ideas and making a design ahead of time. Meanwhile I will keep my 240 lbs off the hatch!

[Steve Laume]

This is a job for modern composite material. Anything you add to the top to strengthen the hatch will be limited by the strength of the fasteners.

I would grind down the under side of the hatch and add a layer of carbon fiber or a few strips across the hatch. This stuff is incredibly rigid and will not build up much thickness while providing the strength you are looking for. No new bright work to maintain and it could be made as strong as you want, Steve.

[Stan W.]

Get some foam core material, cut it into strips, and epoxy/glass them to the bottom of the hatch. Some boatbuilding supply places also sell premade foam stringers. Jamestown Distributors and Bateau.com are good sources.

[Markst95]

Just a question but why do you guys step on the hatch? I've never felt the need to step on it, everythings a pretty easy reach.

[grajmahal]

I added four layers of cloth to the underside of mine, and then a 1/4" veneer of African ribbon stripe mahogany to the top. It weighs substantially more now, but it is bulletproof. Photos are under "projects", and the heading is "way overdue photos..." The mahogany is all bedded in thickened West epoxy.

jB

[Skeep]

Grajmahal, that sounds curiously interesting. Could you post a photo of that baby when you get the time?

I don't usually step on the hatch myself, however, I can see that it has some surface cracks (mine) and by and by I will begin to get a wild hair to do something about it. Yet not now....

I was thinking of going entirely teak however, with slides made of some sort of aluminum. The expert craftsman who made my taff-rail would be up for such an adventure in woodwork I'm sure!

[svreleaseme]

Last year I strengthened my companionway hatch and the two cockpit locker lids. After preparing the surface by sanding and solvent washing. I epoxied 3/8 inch plywood to the undersides of all pieces. Sense the sliding hatch is curved I routed a dozen or so groves in this piece of ply so as to facilitate the curve. After all was epoxied in I sealed all wood with epoxy, sanded and painted. I also had to do a lot of gel coat repair on the top of these hatches but all came out well.