Cockpit Sole Hatch

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
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I’m interested in knowing if the cockpit sole hatch just forward of the pedestal was ever an original feature or added later – possibly when the original Westerbeke was replaced by the current Yanmar 3GM30F.

Anyway, this one has seen better days and should be replaced. Doesn’t really leak but the hinge is gone and it’s pretty beat up. I cannot find any identifying information on it beside some patent numbers. I was very much hoping for a drop-in replacement but in my search thus far, that may not happen! It’s pretty much a necessity though for access to the sail drive and rear of the Yanmar.

It needs to be robust enough to handle traffic as it’s right smack dab in the middle of the cockpit. Searched our forum but found very little on the subject.

Any helpful info appreciated!

Eric Larsen
Nonsuch 30C 1981
Felix
Olympia, WA USA

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Hi Eric -

On my previous boat, an NS 22, I removed the wheel steering pedestal in the middle of the cockpit and went back to my preference on a smaller boat, a tiller. This left a big round hole in the cockpit floor. I enlarged the hole to a rectangle and dropped in a Beckson hatch, roughly 8" x 12". I, then, for the next nine years, walked all over that hatch and never had an issue. No leaks, no cracks, etc. It was, like the one in your photo, opaque white plastic. Perhaps Beckson has one that’ll work for you ?? I do believe that they are built to be walked on.

It was a flush hatch with a single easy-grip latch. Check them out:

https://www.beckson.com/hatches.html

Good luck.

Ernie A. in Toronto

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I’ve never seen on on a 30 myself. If there is not a deep groove in the floor where it sits, it’s probably an add-on.

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA


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Good point. I found what looks like this hatch at WM and will go look at one today. Trying very hard not to turn this into a larger project. But how many times have we heard, “I just wanted to change the light bulb and somehow ended up rebuilding the engine?”

And…Thank you, Ernie!

Eric Larsen
Nonsuch 30C 1981
Felix
Olympia, WA USA

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Couldn’t quite believe it but that same hatch was indeed available at WM. Now just need to find heat insulation to attach to the bottom of the lid as it sits right over the engine. Unfortunately, the very effective insulation I already had was just re-glued onto the old one prior to finding the new one – oops!

Good news is that the new hatch is a direct drop-in replacement.

Eric Larsen
Nonsuch 30C 1981
Felix
Olympia, WA USA