Spindrift seats

[Scott Dunsworth]

Trying to decide if I want to put round hatchs in each of the four compartments. They would not be much good for anything other than very limited storage access and could be left open for ventilation when stored. What have most of you done that have built a spindrift?

Scott

[Hirilonde]

I put the round plastic screw in inspection port in my bow compartment.  I have been threatening to do the same to the 2 stern compartments, but haven't succeeded yet.  I don't see how they could leak, but something tells me that a means to air them out is a good idea.  I'm not even thinking about storage so much.  For safety sake not a lot should be placed in them any way.

[Garry]

If I di it over, I would stick with the o-ring sealed round access ports, either screw-in or snap-in.

I installed four of the rectangular hatch covers but have rarely used them for storage of anything that couldn't be handled by the six inch ports. The extra hatch area does come in handy when I'm scooping out all the rain that leaks in because of the d*mned things.

[Scott Dunsworth]

Garry I used the same type of hatchs on my Belhaven because I was to lazy to build the ones in the plans. I have been paying for it ever sense. Mine leak just enough to mess things up. I will never use that type again unless its used on a vertical bulkhead or in the interior.

What I was thinking of using was the screw in and putting them on the sides of the seats on all inclosed compartments like Hirilonde.

One concern I have is I am selling these boats and if one of the owners is not real bright and leaves them open there goes the floatation.

Scott

[Axel]

When buildung my Spindrift 11N, I did not bother with access ports in my three flotation compartments. I did seal the inside of them carefully with two coats of epoxy. However, this is a garage boat, and condensation is not assumed to play a major part. I will add some 4" round access ports with o-rings in the next few years for air exchange during storage, and they will be added on the vertical sides, not on the deck.

My Spindrift has a decked center section, in the way Garry built it. My big access ports are round, o-ringed, screwed and bedded onto the decks with Sikaflex or similar. One of that section is perfectly dry (the second one has holes for the centerbord retaining elastic rope), and I am very pleased with them. Dry luggage storage makes the difference between contentment and misery when camp-cruising. However, all this adds some weight, and I remember that Garry told me that the same can be achieved with watertight bags.

Axel (Switzerland)

[Steve Day]

I used the "screw-in" handholes with the "O" ring seal in my Spindrift and they have worked very well. I placed them so that I could reach all of the floatation area with my hands to get stuff out of the compartment easily. I store spare connecting bolts, registration, flares, etc and have had no problem with leaks since I put the boat into commission in 2004.

Here are a couple of photos of the "hatch" placement.

These are the best I could have put into this boat. I have used them before in other applications and will use them again in future applications.

Steve

[PinoyPiper]

here's how the seats and hatches are laid out on mine, 5" and 6" screw in round hatches with O-rings.

[Scott Dunsworth]

Beautiful boats guys!!!!!