splashwell hatch

[Sean]

Currently my access/hatch on my 79 for my Battery and Oil and so on is located in my splash well. Most times when I would go out I seemed to be getting access amount of water in my hull which I assume is from waves coming over the transom and seeping in threw the hatch. With only a 20i transom my engine sits real low to the water so this could go bad fast. :o
Has any one ever moved the hatch to the other side of the splash well?
I would like to put a hatch were the wood is on the splash well in the picture.
I’m stuck @ work and probably could answer my own question when I get home, if it is possible. But just wondering if any one has ever done it, or had the same concerns.
As always, Thanks!!


http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/sreilly_2006/boat3.jpg

[macojoe]

I don't think you could get a battery thur there?? There's not to much room there.

Why not relocate the battery in the cuddy or console? That will keep her dry and safe!

As far as the oil, just make sure that cap is on tight and you should be fine.

Is there a way to seal that hatch better? Sorry I don't have the same as you so I can't see what is there?

Maybe remove the hatch all toghter and add a new water tight hatch?

[Mulv80]

On my 79 the hatch is where that piece of wood is. I don't have any hatches in my splashwell. I'm thinking if you remove that piece of wood, there is probably a hole where you can access the bilge. It was probably relocated because its hard to fit a battery in through the original access hatch.

You can see mine here:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c374/rtmulv/wellcraftrunning.jpg

[Sean]

I am going to try and relocate the battry to the cutty, and also add another one to try and lft some of the weight away from the transom. Idealy I want to seal/close the hatch all together because if something happens to the hatch and water can flow in, it will fill my intire inner hull in seconds as the cut in my transom only sits inches from the water line, and the hatch is only inches up on the splash well.

[Sean]

Mulv, nice that is exactly what I was hoping for. I can seel up the hatch in the well and hopefully utilize the one like yours for bilge/oil needs/maintance.
Thanks!!

[Mulv80]

The only problem with my hatch arrangement is that the slope of the spashwell makes taking the battery out a pain. I often wonder why they made the cut out so large on our boats. the older V-20's had a narrower cut out which I'm sure keeps alot more water out.

[TheTinMan]

Any pics of that hatch in the splashwell....sounds like a poor design :o

[Sean]

Its hard to see from this pic. but you can see one of the hinges and it takes up about 90% of the well.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/sreilly_2006/9c51db01.jpg
I'll try and take some pics. later.
did they come like this? it does not look custom, and if it is the work is ggod.

[TheTinMan]

I see it. I don't like that, I see why you want to change it...seal that puppy up! ;)


How does it stay closed, a latch? Can you add some gasket material to make it water tight?

[Skools Out]

no gasket on mine i hate that hatch too. i think im going to buy a premade hatch that seals to install in mine.

here's a better pic and mine without the door currently

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/Skools_Out/WellCraft/MVC-039S.jpg

[Sean]

Skools, do you think you could seel the hatch completely and enter the bilge from the other side? Probably have to relocate the battery for better access but what do you think?

[Skools Out]

no i went out and looked in my hatch there's only like 2 inches from the top room avail to the floor. better keep that hatch for battery use and bilge access. is you hatch raised too? mine is 3 inches higher than the well floor.

[phatdaddy]

I have both in mine.(84 cuddy) It came with one inside, but I had to add the one in the splashwell for the oil tank when I repowered. A battery will fit sideways in the one in front, but oil tank was too large. I installed a Tempress hatch woth the rubber gasket. It doesn't seem to leak to much, but I have a 25 " transom.


This is looking down on the splashwell
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e203/ffatdaddy/splashwell2.jpg


This is a shot of both hatches


http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e203/ffatdaddy/rrearhatch2.jpg

[Skools Out]

yeah i raised mine to 25" too but i want to do like yours and put a real hatch cover on mine.

[msbhammer]

Never seen a hatch access before in the splash well. Guess thats an after market thing ?
Why would you want one there to begin with ?

[phatdaddy]

Hammer, I added mine so I could put the oil tank below deck. The orignal motor was pre-mix and the new one(94) was oil injected. The tank was too large to fit in the orignal hatch cover. It sure makes working down there easier.

[MIKETTURBO]

why not just put a rubber seal under the hatch.it sure looke conveient.

[tnltracy]

Bumping this old thread to the top with a question for folks with 78-79 V's. I have same setup with the large hatch in the splash well. I'm trying to figure out best way to latch it down so it's sealed and isn't just sitting there waiting to fly off.

Can anyone who has dealt with this setup comment on how they latch this cover down? It's a good solid cover, I just can't seem to find hardware that looks like it will work.

Thanks!!

[tnltracy]

I was able to figure out a solution that worked to my satisfaction over the weekend. My biggest issue was that there were 4 separate hold downs, as seen in pics earlier in this thread, and there was some level of dependance between them on all for acutally working properly. Also, the lower ones were near all the motor hoses/wiring, creating a risk of chafing and related issues there.

I ultimatly put one clamp on each end of the hatch, so there's only 2 now, and it works great. Pix to follow for future reference.

[spareparts]

I relocated the batteries and other things to where the fish boxes are in my boat(79). I plan to seal the transom hatch with silicone and screw it in place(semi permanent). the only thing I have back there now is one of three bilge pumps and an auto switch. I figured I would never take a chance on opening that hatch while in the water, I liked teh idea of moving my batteries to a better location

[tnltracy]

I relocated the batteries and other things to where the fish boxes are in my boat(79). I plan to seal the transom hatch with silicone and screw it in place(semi permanent). the only thing I have back there now is one of three bilge pumps and an auto switch. I figured I would never take a chance on opening that hatch while in the water, I liked teh idea of moving my batteries to a better location

Mine is same setup. Batteries are in front of the gastank now, just behind seats in middle of bilge. So like yours, only thing in the rear bilge area is the pump and switch. I don't want to seal it as I figure as soon as I do I"ll have a reason to get in there, but happy with the latches as installed now and comfortable they aren't going anywhere unless I open them.