A minor little mod the Admiral really likes...me, too

[Herschel]

Hi Herschel!

Important things first!!! No need for understatement at my age!

And, of course, it was easy to open when needed.

Leastaways in my book!

I can safely say that our head door is easier to open than getting a child proof medicine bottle cap off at 77 y/o! So, that works for us!

[RFig85]

That looks great. Now if I could find something simple like that for the front hatch.

[Herschel]

That looks great. Now if I could find something simple like that for the front hatch.

Hmmmmm....you have me thinking!

[Russ]

That looks great. Now if I could find something simple like that for the front hatch.

Hmmmmm....you have me thinking!

Has me thinking as well. That front hatch thingy has caused more grief for the admiral than anything on the boat. I've never seen such a cheap piece of hardware.
I wonder if this mod would work on the hatch.....

[OverEasy]

Tried something like the stretch rubber hasp for a truck hood. Got it set to the max stretch when latched too!

The problem was that the fwd hatch seal didn’t get fully compressed. Could see seal gaps when shining a light at night that weren’t there with the old screw knob hasp that MacGregor originally installed. Light leaks ==> Water leaks ==> Air leaks ==> Unhappy Admiral

As much as a PITA as it is that old fiddling screw knob hasp did make a rather good compression of the fwd hatch seal so I put it back.

I think an adjustable over-center leverage type latch (like on an industrial steamer trunk or foot locker) might work but haven’t found such a thing as yet in stainless steel.

[Russ]

I get it that Roger wanted to keep costs down, but that forward hatch latch makes the admiral so angry. After being frustrated she emerges "You have to do it!"

I know everything has the "boat tax", but this might save some admiral frustration.

[Highlander]

I get it that Roger wanted to keep costs down, but that forward hatch latch makes the admiral so angry. After being frustrated she emerges "You have to do it!"

I know everything has the "boat tax", but this might save some admiral frustration.

Yes russ
I bought two of these or similar I,ll take a pic about 7yrs ago & never got around to installin them lol sadly I bought 2 so as I could pull down both corners tight & not just the center as it is slightly curved opening across the front , so if u have installed urs lets see some pics
J

[OverEasy]

That looks like a great move in the right direction!

Where did you find it?

[Herschel]

That looks like a great move in the right direction!

Where did you find it?

Yes, I want to know where you got it, too, or at least what the latch is called so we can search for it.

[NiceAft]

[Russ]

That looks like a great move in the right direction!

Where did you find it?

Yes, I want to know where you got it, too, or at least what the latch is called so we can search for it.

[Highlander]

I bought these about 10yrs ago on sale for about $34 or $39 for the pair u think I should git around to installing them !






I see they have double in price since I bought mine so I guess u could say that was a good investment
I,m installing one at each corner so as to get the hatch down really tight as the center location does not pull the hatch all the way down evenly so has anyone installed theirs yet ?, I,m thinkin mine should b worth more since they come in the original Antique Packaging

J

[Herschel]

Follow up after spending six nights aboard. The latch was very handy. At the risk of a little TMI...those nighttime trips to the head were, first, much more silent than dealing with barrel latch, and, second much easier to open and secure when half asleep and hoping you don't wake up more than you have to for those nocturnal "walk abouts". There were no accidental openings of the head door while transiting 40 miles of river that included some significant wakes from motor boating yahoos! We think this mod is a keeper. We are glad we "latched on" to the idea!