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Improving hatch covers
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2022 9:02 pm
by Idiotfool
On my new to me 26M, I've noticed where previous owners scratched the hatch areas and floor areas with the long stainless machine screws used to align the hatch covers. I also poured myself a few times and was generally annoyed with the setup.
I decided to replace them with stubby machine screws and acorn nuts. Where the alignment holes were too small, I used a chamfer bit to open things up a bit.
Prime-Line 9001227 Machine...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D5X2YV8?re ... b_ap_share
#10-24 (50 PCS) Acorn Hex Cap...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JJ26M6M?re ... b_ap_share
I'm very happy with how this turned out.
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:50 am
by NiceAft
There's nothing like success
It took me a moment to realize you were talking about the bilge covers, not hatches. Maybe they are considered hatches
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 4:37 am
by Idiotfool
NiceAft wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:50 am
There's nothing like success
It took me a moment to realize you were talking about the bilge covers, not hatches. Maybe they are considered hatches
Thanks! They're considered interior hatch covers.
https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/a205-1m3.htm
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:26 am
by Russ
This is a great idea.
My boat came with those also. They work great to align the covers but are a bit sharp.
I'm going to do this mod.
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:32 am
by kmclemore
Interesting. On the 26X they never used the screws - those covers are thin plywood and just lay in a recessed area of the fiberglass. They never seem to pop out of there - I wonder why they added the location screws?
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:43 am
by NiceAft
Idiotfool wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 4:37 am
NiceAft wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:50 am
There's nothing like success
It took me a moment to realize you were talking about the bilge covers, not hatches. Maybe they are considered hatches
Thanks! They're considered interior hatch covers.
https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/a205-1m3.htm
Live and learn
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:25 am
by Be Free
kmclemore wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:32 am
Interesting. On the 26X they never used the screws - those covers are thin plywood and just lay in a recessed area of the fiberglass. They never seem to pop out of there - I wonder why they added the location screws?
Same on my
. The only covers with screws are the ones that have foam in them.
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:52 am
by Highlander
kmclemore wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:32 am
Interesting. On the 26X they never used the screws - those covers are thin plywood and just lay in a recessed area of the fiberglass. They never seem to pop out of there - I wonder why they added the location screws?
Ken , the wooden ones stay put due to their weight , the light plastic one,s tend to slide around I added 3M dual lock tape to the larger one,s to keep them in place better
J
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 10:05 am
by Russ
My boat was outfitted by Blue Water Yachts. They made a bunch of mods that I didn't realize were dealer customs.
Like cutting the table and hinging it, grab rails, engine quick disconnect, battery combiner.
And....adding these bolts and holes was a BWY mod. The plastic covers slide around and this mod helps line them up so they stay put.
However, as I.F. pointed out, they are pointy and scratch. He greatly improved on the mod.
One of my covers broke and I replaced it with plywood. The plywood doesn't slide out of place as easily as those plastic covers. So probably not as important if you have wood covers.
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:07 pm
by Idiotfool
Russ wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 10:05 am
My boat was outfitted by Blue Water Yachts. They made a bunch of mods that I didn't realize were dealer customs.
Like cutting the table and hinging it, grab rails, engine quick disconnect, battery combiner.
And....adding these bolts and holes was a BWY mod. The plastic covers slide around and this mod helps line them up so they stay put.
However, as I.F. pointed out, they are pointy and scratch. He greatly improved on the mod.
One of my covers broke and I replaced it with plywood. The plywood doesn't slide out of place as easily as those plastic covers. So probably not as important if you have wood covers.
Interesting. I thought the obscenely long screws and locknuts were factory fresh.
I did try to just remove the screws because that's free, but the cushions would knock them out of alignment. Not fun to sit down when you might sink into those little cubbies! This was the best I could come up with to give me stable support without the pointy bits.
Re: Improving hatch covers
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2022 5:47 am
by Russ
Idiotfool wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:07 pm
Interesting. I thought the obscenely long screws and locknuts were factory fresh.
I've come to learn the factory shipped boats as bare and simple as possible. That's how they kept the list price so low.