Building a race hatch

[PORT]

http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...CRACEHATCH.jpg

I will be attempting to build this over the winter. I built a mold out of wood, going to cover wood with some smooth formica and wipe with wax. Then shoot with gelcoat and add fiberglass cloth (new mold strong), then pop from wood mold. Then wax inside of new smooth gelcoat/fiberglass mold and shoot with gelcoat, add foam board and glass for strength. I will mount back with hinges, but have not figured how to mount front from falling. Will worry about that in the spring. Any tips

[Cobra1racer]

need to see a close up of the front. A little brain storming.

[Liqui-Fly]

You'll have to run a strip along your coaming to support the sides or bring the front of the hatch to the floor with a nice arch or something.

[Matt Gent]

Why bother with a mold? Just build it in foam (1/2 or 3/8 divynicell) to shape, then glass over for strength & stiffness, and paint to finish. You can scrim the foam to get a gentle arc if that is what is needed over the width.

[Cobra1racer]

hey Matt, he's in snow country. He has all winter to dick with it. Unlike you and I who want it done now so we can test it out the next day.

[OntarioStreamin]

If your going to the trouble of building a mold why not mold around the seat backs and all you need is some nice ss race brackets with the pins mounted to the gunnels to align and secure the two sides when down! You don't necessarily have to brace to the floor. As long as its just a race hatch and not a tan hatch! Or build a section of the mold to go between the seats.

Another Suggestion is to do something with it being so flat! You need some conture for added strength and rigidity. That would do wonders for the life of your gel!


Good Luck
And nice boat man!

[PORT]

Thanks for the replies. I do have all winter so I may take some of your suggestions and build some more into my mold