Hinging un-hinged hatches?

R

Rick

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Joined
Nov 13, 2009
RO Number
31784
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21
Has anyone tried installing hinges on the aft hatches on boats like the Carver Santego 3467? These beasts are heavy and awkward to handle, much less stow, when you need to work below decks. I never quite know what to do with them, and pulling up all three is a real nightmare. Any suggestions?
 
I thought Carver hinged them later in production. Either that, or alot of people in my area have hinged them. Be sure to use heavy duty hinges as you know they are really heavy hatches
 
This is a 1989 model, and there are no hinges. Yes, I thought two heavy-duty stainless hinges along the edge might do the trick, although I don't see any practical way to install hinges on the middle hatch, which sits above the generator. Anyway, two out of three would be really great.
 
I looked at a '96 380 Santego and none of the hatches were hinged. I did discover that the hatch handles tend to leak and if you have the hatches in the normal position with the handles near the sliding door, you end up having rain/salt water dripping down onto the engines. The owner of the boat I looked at swapped the hatches so the handles are nearer the transom-leaks won't cause a problem there. In looking at a lot of 380 Santegos on Yachtworld and Boattrader, it appears a common problem as most of the engines show a fair amount of rust on the intake manifold right where the hatch handles would drip.
 
I have a 1987 Voayger which has the three hatches and I HATE THEM!! They are hard to tkae up and put back and they leak rain water into the engine room like crazy.

I have in my hands a quote from a local boat yard to replace all three with a single, very light weight hatch that will be hinged and have a gas lift on each side for assist and support.

Pricey but I can't wait to get it done, probably early next year.

Bob
 
Thanks for the input. Yes, I get leaks onto the engine manifolds as well, but I did not attribute it to the lift handle, just the hatch design. Did flipping the hatches around resolve the leak issue?

Bob, define "pricey," please.

Rick
 
I can't say for sure if flipping the hatches stopped the problem, but the Owner of the Santego said it did and from what I saw, the hatch handles behind aft of the engines would solve the problem of dripping onto the engines directly but rather just into the bilge.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Rick

Thanks for the input. Yes, I get leaks onto the engine manifolds as well, but I did not attribute it to the lift handle, just the hatch design. Did flipping the hatches around resolve the leak issue?

Bob, define "pricey," please.

Rick

Click to expand...


$4500 if just with gas struts, $6500 with a power hydraulic lift.

Bob
 
Well, I flipped 'em around this morning, so let's see if the engine manifolds still get wet when it rains. Thanks, all, for your suggestions and observations.

Bob, one word: Oy!
 
Because of the way mine are curved and contoured I can't change them around. :(

I sealed around the lift handles as good as I can but it leaks around the supports and edges when it rains.

New one next year.

Bob
 
After I flipped them around, they leaked on the aft side (over the rudder arms), not over the engine, when I washed down the deck this past weekend. This was a elegant solution to the leak issue (and water on the engine manifolds), but not to the ease-of-handling issue <g>.

Rick
 
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