Prototype Hatch

Several versions of am easy-to-remove hatch have been developed and tested.  This is the 3rd version of a prototype hatch for a version 6 DragonForce 65.

Three STLs are included for this latest version of the hatch design.

DF65 v6 Hatch v34 is the hatch

deck support Hatch v30 is the piece that holds the threaded inserts and fits under the hull 

footprint v28 is a template that is used to locate the mounting holes

Notes:

1. The seal is a Thera-Band tubing, extra thin (https://www.theraband.com/products/resistance-tubing).  This is tubing typically used for exercise and strength building. 

2. The screws and threaded inserts are 4-40 stainless steel.  The design supports a captive panel screw so that it wouldn't fall out easily when removing the hatch.  These are more pricey than simple 4-40 screws which may be just as good provided you keep a backup supply of the screws when they get dropped.  Here are the details for the hardware - I purchased these from McMaster-Carr:

   • Socket Head Captive Panel Screw, 4-40 Thread Size, 5/16" Long

   • 18-8 Stainless Steel Screw-to-Expand Insert for Plastic, 4-40 Thread Size

3. The deck supports are glued in place after the inserts are installed and clearance holes drilled in the hull.  Use the footprint template to locate the holes and then use these holes to align the support.  

4. I originally used epoxy to adhere the supports, but it didn't work well - probably lousy epoxy.  I recently re-adhered these with high temp hot melt glue

5. Glue the thread inserts into the supports -- I didn't do this initially and the supports walked out as the PLC relaxed.  I carefully used gap filling CA to glue in the inserts.  How well this works is still to be determined.

6. You will see that there are slots in the bottom of the hatch for additional stiffening.  I haven't seen the need for this since the hatch is pretty stiff, and I remove it when I am not sailing, reducing the stress on the hatch.