spindrift 10n inspection port placement

[len swanson]

Hi everyone

This is my first post to the board but I have spent hours reading and learning from the posts picking up all kinds of info that has kept me from having to do things twice or more.  This boat building stuff is fun and I can see that it could become addictive. I am trying to decide where to place the inspection ports and hoped that someone could tell me what they liked and disliked about with were they put theirs.

Thanks

Len

[Ambler]

Well, I put hatches in the top of the seats/flotation on my spindrift 12 (not yet launched.) Intention was (still is?) to build collapsible oars that could be stowed there - probably among other things. That meant I had to position the hatches at one end of each compartment, otherwise I wouldn't be able to feed the oars or paddles into the space.

All well & good, but now I realise each access hatch is at one end of a six-foot space. Since I only have 3 foot arms I'm going to have to be crafty about what I store in there and how to retrieve it! Hadn't thought of that before. Maybe should have 

Alexander.

[Hirilonde]

I used small screw in inspection ports in the vertical sides of the compartments.  I don't really store anything, just thought access and the ability to inspect and dry them out was important.  I haven't heard much good of the hatches, they seem to leak too much.  If you go this route, put the forward one off-center so the mast doesn't block it.  I don't know that there is any wonderful route to go.  Totally water tight, large, light weight, flush fitting lids would be the answer, tell me if you ever find these.  ;D

[PinoyPiper]

here's how it is laid out on mine, note additional flotation in the forward half.

forward: hatch on forward bulkhead is closed, but you should be able to see where it is. hatches on the seats were placed on top for easier access to the bolts.

aft: ports were installed on the vertical, as I ddn't really want to sit on them.

[len swanson]

thanks guys

I plan on installing them in the middle of the vertical sides of the stern seats and off center for the forward bulkhead.  There isn't any forward seats in my plans so I don't have to worry about messing them up.  Dave, you forgot one attribute for the ports, STRONG.  .  if I find some I'll buy a couple for you too.  Now I've started thinking about what might be good to store on the dingy.  Which I suppose is a bad thing because they are called "flotation" chambers but I'm sure some stuff will accumulate over time.  Well I better get back to building before I start filling it up.

thanks again

Len

[Greg Luckett]

I have cut the access holes on the SD12 on the vertical, inboard sides of the seats, using the 1/4 turn screw in types.  It has two 4 inch on the forward bulkhead, then three 6 inch on the side seats.  The larger size is for storage access, but mostly I wanted to be able to air out the interiors.  I got them from Duckworks, where I often find excellent deals.  I posted some pics somewhere here in the forum a while back.  When the freezing and snowing stops I will dig her out to finish her up this spring.