Closing up Catamaran Escape Hatches

[nfbr]

Without glassing them over, what are your thoughts on options to seal them up?

I'm thinking as they have a reinforced recess in the hull, something to seal on the outside of the hull, but also fit into the recess would give a stronger structure.

G10 plate on the outside?
G10 plate + PVC board inside + G10 inside (make a laminate)
Polycarbonate?
Plexi + a G10 frame.

My thinking is to mechanically bolt it to the hull as well as attach with structural sealant.

[chris mac]

Ours were in need of replacement, so last year I removed them. I replaced with 3/4" acrylic and matched up the screw pattern from the hatches
5200, plus new screws equivalent to what held the hatches on.
So far they look great and no leaks. We can still see everything under the boat at anchor.
Obviously they won't open anymore but the boat is 30 years old, and has circumnavigated twice with previous owners. So far she hasn't flipped so I feel the odds are good it will stay upright.
Cost was around $300
Pics are of,
Old hatch, new acrylic installed, and new acrylic before install
I had the acrylic made by Gustafsson plastics in Saint Augustine Florida.

[tkeithlu]

Why do you need to seal them up? Are they leaking?

[s/v Jedi]

After flipping over, what do you do?

[Ballsnall]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

After flipping over, what do you do?

Use them as a skylight.

[aqfishing]

Originally Posted by Ballsnall

Use them as a skylight.

[aqfishing]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

After flipping over, what do you do?

Was on a new Leopard 42 recently, no escape hatch (unless I missed it!). Do the major yacht builders still even fit them?

[Anders]

Originally Posted by aqfishing

Was on a new Leopard 42 recently, no escape hatch (unless I missed it!). Do the major yacht builders still even fit them?

I believe that Lepard cats are EU RCD approved in which case it will have escape hatches if it's a sailing cat.

[aqfishing]

Originally Posted by Anders

I believe that Lepard cats are EU RCD approved in which case it will have escape hatches if it's a sailing cat.

Hi, just checked with R&C, they do not have. None of their new yachts do.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

After flipping over, what do you do?

Probably better to just keep a snorkel set in the hull. Much more practical.

I don’t have these installed either. I didn’t think they would be useful.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by aqfishing

Hi, just checked with R&C, they do not have. None of their new yachts do.

I think, but can’t be bothered to check via Google, that if a boat has certain design parameters that basically mean it’s too heavy with too little sail area to flip then the design doesn’t require hatches. But they are still required for lighter and larger sail area cats. Some builders use marked cut areas with attached tools as an alternative. Home builds don’t not need them. All racing events and some rally events require them. Some registration authorities require them.

If your cat flips and you’re inside, regardless of in the salon or one of the hulls, getting out is an issue. Think about what your aft cockpit would look like upside down and how you could swim out with screens, covers, seats, lifelines, etc., and everything surging up and down in the conditions that would be present to flip your cat in the first place. We’ve disabled all of our automated inflatable PFDs - just like in an airplane, you don’t want to inflate your PFD until you’re outside (cats generally don’t have a boom strike issue like most monohulls). And you would want to access the hulls after a flip for supplies and shelter.

Just like considering the effects of a fire on board, or losing a keel if you’re on a monohull, it is worth considering what would happen if your cat flips - if you have a cat that could flip. Power cats and charter-oriented cats probably can ignore the issue, just as full keel monohull owners don’t bother worrying about losing a keel.