H28 Just say no to crack.

[Jay Greer]

Ever since we bought "Bright Star", there has been an annoying crack down the center of the main companion way hatch. No amount of filling it with colored seam compound proved to be effective. Each season we were faced with trying to hide the ugly crack. Finally, I decided to do something about it. Even though it was built exactly as it was designed by Herreshoff, I chose to do a trick borrowed from Knute Reimers and add a covering batten down the center. Using the existing reinforcing ribs, I managed to secure the batten without any fastenings what so ever. One end was shaped into a tapered tennon that ends on a 45 Deg bevel. This, combined with a full mortice and tennon on the other end mortices in and under the ribs and allows it to float independantly of the surface it covers. After sealing the faying surfaces with shellac, the batten was set in mahogany colored bedding compound. Jay
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec6765ffbb47300000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec6777a60551e00000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec676ee99f4d100000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec676442cf43100000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec676fe27f46700000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Thorne]

Looks great!

[Jay Greer]

Sorry for the quality of the photo. But it is the only one I have at present.
Jay
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec6765619f40d00000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[paladin]

Jay, is the front piece of the hatch hinged. When I built mine, I rounded the tops of the side frames going below, and made the front hatch double with one piece, the front, hinged at the top so that when you slide the hatch closed, the piec comes aft just enough to close down over the entrance doors or slats making it very difficult for blowing rain to enter, when you push the hatch back it rides up and over the rounded rails and slides along the hatch guides.

[Jay Greer]

Jay, is the front piece of the hatch hinged. When I built mine, I rounded the tops of the side frames going below, and made the front hatch double with one piece, the front, hinged at the top so that when you slide the hatch closed, the piec comes aft just enough to close down over the entrance doors or slats making it very difficult for blowing rain to enter, when you push the hatch back it rides up and over the rounded rails and slides along the hatch guides.
No, it is not hinged. Your idea sounds effective. My hatch is built with a drip groove on the underside of the overhanging end cap. It seems to be adequite in keeping water out.
Jay
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec676cd2135d000000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Thorne]

Wrong title, Jay.

"This is your hatch on crack":
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec6777a60551e00000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

"This is your hatch on mahogany":
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec676fe27f46700000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Woxbox]

Smart solution. And I'm admiring the mirror-like varnish, too.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df36b3127ccec676cd2135d000000040O00QYsmrNy5bsQ e3nwg/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Yeadon]

Looks like a nice fix to the hatch. Feels right.

And the finish is nice. What type of varnish did you use?

[banjoman]

And the finish is nice. What type of varnish did you use?

Bet you a million bucks it starts with a "B".
:D

Nice job Jay!

[Yeadon]

Okay, I was just having a bit of fun there. The hatch does look nice, though.

[banjoman]

Okay, I was just having a bit of fun there. The hatch does look nice, though.


Figured as much.:D

What would be really funny is if Jay comes back and says he used Interlux because he can't get Beher in CA.

[Jay Greer]

Looks like a nice fix to the hatch. Feels right.

And the finish is nice. What type of varnish did you use?
When I heard that there were going to be restrictions on conventional marine varnish in California and other states, I invested in enough Beher Varnish to last me a very long time.
Jay

[BBSebens]

Beautiful work Jay. very nice piece.