Maybe these exist and I simply haven’t seen or read about them.
Do they exist? If so, why are they not in wide use? Seems like a solution that could be leakproof, lightweight, and easy to use. Could even make the covers from two materials: stiff material for the rim contact area and softer centers to allow for air expansion and contraction. OR make the entire cover out of the stiff material but insert a one-way purge valve, like what Pelican uses for their gear boxes.
Cobra offers one
It’s not very large but it has a clear lid.
Bestie Bay uses 'em…
They are made by Beckson and can easily be incorporated into any wood kayak:
Beckson deck plates
http://www.beckson.com/screwout.html
The down-side is their size: 8" max.
Mariner uses Becksons as well.
I don’t know about the large diameter deck plates but the 4" on my boat holds up pretty good.
I have them…
incorporated into the bulkheads of my wooden boats…
Reason is that I didn’t know if I would put hatches on the decks or not.
they get stuck with grit
Better to get a Beckson popout hatch and configure locking levers on the side. Screw out hatches are designed for racing dinghies and sailboats where frequent openings in sandy environments is less likely.
In very cold weather a stuck screw in hatch can be a bother,if NEED to open it.
OT Dirigo
I’ve often wondered myself why hatches like those on the OT Dirigo’s aren’t more popular? They are nicely made, sturdy, waterproof, and very easy to open from inside the cockpit while on the water. I suppose it is possible that their gaskets would dry rot or wear out over years of use, but I’d imagine they can be replaced. And I’m sure the rubber hatch covers on my Tsunami are just as susceptible to wear and rot. I love my Tsunami, but hatch covers like the Dirigo has would make it even better :).
Prijon Capri Tour
This 12-foot boat uses a screw on rear hatch, but no inner cover. If all the threads are engaged it works pretty good.
barrel lid style hatches?
When canoeing I use Harcostar blow molded barrels with lids that have a clamp down metal ring. Some companies sell barrels with a plastic ring instead of a metal one. I’m surprised no one uses this style on kayaks.
in saltwater
these would probably not last too long.
Bomar
Makes a nice lever lock or twist handle hatch. Which ever you want to call it. No threads to get sand in. I have one kayak with 4 screw in hatches. One with a twist handle and a screw in, and one with 3 twist handle hatches. The twist handle hatches are easier to access.
Redesign Hatch Covers…
This thread has me thinking…we all spend a lot of time building carts, modifying racks, building trailers etc; why don’t we pitch in and design a hatch cover of a size, shape and seal to satisfy us and pitch it to the builders?
Suggestions?
Ice?
just how do recessed hatch latches handle ice?..sure would stink to reach shore to camp and find the hatch latches filled with ice…
They lock up
You need a tool to get them open. Maybe because of the heat of the sun and cold water, they always seem to lock up pretty tight. It requires a tool to open them. Many home builders have tried them and abondened the idea because of that. No matter how much lubricant you use, they’re still a tough if not impossible chore to get open.
I’ve used them for years…
I have installed 3 Beckson screw-in hatches in 2 boats, all with the optional ditty bag kits. I have never had a problem with leaking or getting them open. They make great day hatches, and the drawstring ditty bags are perfect for keys, cell phone, wallet, etc.
cold windy day at the beach
I had a Mariner Express with 4" screw-in Beckson hatch that I had moved to the aft deck as a 'day hatch" after making bulkheads and regular hatches.
I could not for the life of me open it. Once the sand got in the threads it was locked in position. After a couple years I stopped trying.
Flat
For you paddlers with stuck screw ins, they have to be flat. If you put any uneven pressure on them, they wont want to open. If there is any curve in the deck, you have to float them in with the sealant. I have installed several of them and re-installed several more that had pressure on them. There are some curved deck screw ins available.
Although removing hatches on the …
…water is uncommon, a screw on hatch cover is impossible for one paddler to uncover when paddling (e.g. the Prijon Capri Tour noted above requires either a second paddler to raft up and unhatch for you, or a shore break for you to get into the hatch). Of course, in an emergency situation when one absolutely must get into the hatch on water (running a risk, for sure, of getting water in the hatch itself), there is no way to get into a screw on back deck or foredeck hatch, whereas with most hatches like a Valley, one could pop off the hatch.
@
not impossible, but would have to be practiced. And still not that easy.