Rear Hatches

[Mac_Attack]

On my 1990 V20 sport the rear hatch covering the live well is cracked. I contacted Wellcraft thru the local Wellcraft dealer and was told that these hatches are no longer available. Does any one know of where I might get a used hatch? It is repairable, which I will have done if no replacement is found. Thanks Bill Mc

[chumbucket]

Mac, short of finding a hull that's damaged and being able to salvage that off of it, I think you're gonna have a difficult time to replace that with an original. I would look into having it repaired. A hatch repair job shouldn't break the bank either.

[jay]

have you thought about using star board to replace it

[Mac_Attack]

They appear to be the same size. The tops are different but if the starboard would fit the difference would not matter. Do you have one? Bill Mc

[bigshrimpin]

Mac can you post a picture. Really . . . . It won't be hard to fix. That's the wonderful thing about fiberglass.

[Mac_Attack]

* I think I know how to do the fiber glass repair. *What I would like is the outsides of the hatch to all be uniform in color. *http://img42.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/hatch.jpgI have a photo how do I get it in my post? *Thanks Bill Mc

[jay]

sorry idont have a replacement for your hatch. :'(

[chumbucket]

Mac, I was just looking at the pics of the damaged hatch. I think that can be repaired. You may also want to consider recessed pop-up-cleats. That's how it suffered the crack. Someone probably leaned on it while it was open against that cleat and applied too much pressure. Mine has a recess in the fiberglass coaming so that the top of the cleat sits just about flush with the top of the gunwhale. But a pop-up-cleat would accomplish the same thing and would prevent any snags when your out fishing too.

[Mac_Attack]

Thanks CB I'm just leaving work I'll look into it more when I get home. Bill Mc

[labii]

Mac , A good glass man can fix that and you should never be able to tell that it was broken . A guy at my marina has an 18 ' and he had both hatches broken almost beyond repair . He had a cabnet shop make a new pair out of teak . They looked good , but yours should be an easy fix . Good luck

[bigshrimpin]

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/Mac-Attacks-1990-V20-Sport/hatch

Mac,
My guess is that it would cost the same to have someone fix it vs. buying the materials and fixing it yourself. Probably less than $100.

If you want an exact color match to your hull . . . check out Minicraft - www.minicraft.com. I believe the color is glacier grey. At least that was the color of my 1988 v20.

[macojoe]

I think that it will be easy to fix!! Or even better make one your self.
I agree with CB that the cleat is why it was broken and that you should do something to fix. Short of removing, relocating, or adding a pop up you could always add a small chain or something so that it will only open so far and not hit the cleat?

On another note that Force looks real clean!! Almost to clean!! Hope it works out for you at least a couple of seasons any way!!

[Mac_Attack]

Time will tell about the Force. I went to West Marine to look at the pop up cleats. They may work but they still are 1/2" above the surface. I then looked at the Bass Pro Shops Catalog. They have a hatch spring that when the hatch is opened it locks in place until it is pushed in I think I may go that route. Thanks for your input. ;D ;D Bill Mc

[Mac_Attack]

I took the rear hatches off and took them to a local glass shop, one that specializes in boat repairs. *He looked at them and said it does not look like fibergass. *He then tooka knife to the broken area and scraped it. *If it was glass blown or mat there would be fibers sticking out of the scrape. * His thoughts was that they were sprayed gel coat, no glass in them. He could not fix them. *Plan B - went to Laird plastics and bought two pieces of 3/4" starboard cut to size $25 each. *I'll 1/4" round the outside edges and rout a recess on the under side remount hinges *and install. *I'll post photos of my first V20 project. ;D

Bill Mc

[Seakindly]

That'll work. :)

[chumbucket]

;)Sounds like a good plan. That Starboard is tough stuff and will last a long time. 8)

[Seakindly]

Easy 1st project. :)

Mac, by this time next year, you'll be posting pics of your modified HPDI Force mounted on the bracket of your v23. ;D

[labii]

Mac Attack , how is your project going ? I have a friend who just lost one of his covers .

[Mac_Attack]

They are both done, thanks for asking. *Bought the white board at a local plastics dealer, cheaper than a marine store and less waste. *They cut them to exact size I sanded edges routed top edge and routed 3/8" out of the back size. *I am happy with them. Here are two photos. *I also added a transom hatch so I could mount a kicker bracket and ended up with more storage area. *Bill Mc ;D


http://img42.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/Port_hatch_with_spring.jpg



http://img42.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/Transom_Hatch.jpg

[labii]

That looks great !

[BotheDog]

I've got the same problem, can you e-mail me some closer up pictures.

I'm not that smart, so I have to copy other ideas rather than be creative on my own.

[email protected]

[Mac_Attack]

Go to Macattacks photo gallery. Click on third owner album page 2 and open projects photo. There are more photos there. If you need more I'll be going to the cottage next weekend and I gladly take the photos you want. Bill mc ;D

[labii]

F.Y.I. It seems that these hatches can be repaired . I had a hatch brake . My fiberglass guy says that they are not the same as glass used on the hull . It is the type used in producing wave runners . I just got my hatch back today and it looks like new .