Hatch @ cabin

[cs]

If this is a sliding hatch, what do you do to keep it from scratching your cabin top?

Chad

[Dave R1]

Chad, I never could understand just what was going on with the design in the plans. I varied from that as have a number of folks.

It doesn't show up real well in this photo but I made an H-shapped sort of thing of mahogany to support the hatch. The cross piece of the H runs across the front of the opening. There are a couple of oak runners on the top to serve as rails for the hatch to slide on and the hatch is designed to come down over the sides and front to keep water out.

If you want some detail pictures from during construction I'll look for them tomorrow.

[Stump]

I built the hatch top as per the plans, then added those round chair leg bottoms (ya' know those non-scratch, plastic thingies that you just put on the bottom of the legs to make them slide easier? I seem to be having a mental cramp and can't remember the name of um" :oops: :roll: ) It leaves a small gap between the hatch and the cabin top but I've never had a problem with water coming in. I think the arc of the roof keeps the water flowing to the outside. I suppose it you were worried about that you could add some weather stripping or something to fill in the gap and still get the advantage of those...eeerrr...things.

[Barry Pyeatt]

I think Stump is trying to say "Plastic chair glides" with nails in them.

Here is how I did mine. There is a slat set under/into the sides of the top. They slide in a slot cut into two runners that attach to the top. The gap is miniscule at front and back when it is closed, a bit wider when open. There is a piece of quarter round attached to the top just ahead of the hatch opening and running side to side. A piece of neoprene shower door drip strip is attached to the inside front edge of the hatch and slips against the top and it diverts the water to the sides and keeps it from splashing back to the hatch. The quarterround keeps any from running back and into the hatch. The back edge of the hatch covers the companionway hatch boards so any water dripping off of the closed hatch just runs down the boards rather than into the cabin.

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=727&papass=&sort=1&size=medium&thecat=

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=257&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=256&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

http://www.messing-about.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=726&papass=&sort=1&size=medium&thecat=

The hatch was made as per the plans but with half lap joints on each corner and then a piece of 1/4" ply laid over that and then I laminated 1/4" cedar on top of that and wrapped the framework with cedar. I laid a strip of maple into the bottom edge of eace side to act as the guide for the top to slide back and forth in the slot in each rail. The gap is only about 1/8" between the top and the hatch.

It is very strong and low profile. Necessary as my cabin top is almost 4 inches higher than design for better interior clearance.

My grab rails are separate from the hatch rails.[/img]

[Stump]

Barry,

Very nice, what kind of bird is that? And yes, that was exactly what I was talking about. Thank you, it has been driving me InSaNe :twisted: all day. :wink:

[ChrisObee]

All I get is a "You do not have permission to view this image." message from the links above.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Chris,

All you need to do is "log in" and you can view anything in the gallery. It is a free service.

I would post the photos from there directly into the posting but I haven't been able to get that to work for me.

Stump,

I got the idea of my Hatch Buddy bird from a woodworkers newsletter using a roadrunner as the idea. No legs and no wings but he's one quick and agile ground covering mover.

[ChrisObee]

Thanks! I see the pictures.

[capt jake]

Don't feel alone Chris; I just figured that out myself. :roll: