fastyacht
Super Anarchist
- 12,928
- 2,602
If you are building to a standard, you need to choose hatches that meet or exceed the standard. For instance, a yacht built to European standards would meet an appropriate design category and be approved and documented under ISO 12216. Category A is ocean. An example is here (for Vetus):
http://www.vetus.com/media/magentominds/sasdocument/20130828113146_0.pdf
The "Lewmar type" are appropriate where they meet the standards you are building to, as well as design criteria independent of any standard. Even within approved products with identical paperwork, you will find differences in quality or details. If the light breaks, is the hatch useless? Can you fit a blanking plate? What are the dogs made of? What is the test pressure? Etc. Some products exceed standards by large margins, others don't.
Ocean sailing really requires prudence in these matters and merely meeting minimum standards is not enough, in my opinion. Deck openings on small boats are *especially* important because we rarely have true subdivision belowdecks. But because the majority of sailing is done near shore or in summer conditions offshore, the expectations are simply not the same as they are on a commercial vessel, where this is more likely what you have, more or less:
http://www.pompanette.com/pompwebOLD.nsf/731d6514ff5a8481852567be000745b2/dd8e2809947d89a7852567d800725acd/Top_Body/0.1CE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif
or
I'll add that on big boats, I've done custom made hatches with glued-in laminated safety glass lights. Each has a blanking plate carried onboard.
Last edited by a moderator:
