Hatch Cover

[stevebr...@comcast.net]

Anyone know where to get another hatch cover for a 16' Mistral?

Someone apparently needed my hatch cover more than I did over the winter.

If you have a lead on one, I'd appreciate knowing.

Thanks,

Steve Brillhart
stevebr...@comcast.net

[Bill]

I "lost" my covers too and I ended up at West Marine buying new Hatches with the "frame" and cover.

Unfortunately the new covers didn't fit the old frames in the boat so I drilled the rivets out securing them and installed the new ones with silicone sealer and pop rivets.

Bill
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Lebo...@aol.com]

If you are referring to the hatch cover that goes over the storage area at the stern of the boat (sport model) then I don't think it would be too tough to make.  Mine did not come with one but I have thought about fabricating one out of marine plywood and would probably put a light skin of glass over it although it could just be sealed well and painted.

 

Leroy

[stevebr...@comcast.net]

Making one was the part I was trying to avoid... But yes, the rear cover over the storage tub. It's critical on my boat because the previous owner cut a big hole into the hull to drain water (from a later-fixed hull leak). Without a cover, it just dumps the rain right into the hull.

But, at this point, it looks like I'll be breaking out the fiberglass... It'll be a long spring.

Thanks,

Steve

[Lebo...@aol.com]

I've survived without a cover (and without a big hole) just by keeping it plugged and bailing / sponging out when it rains. Why not just repair his hole and bail it? If you don't want to build the cover.  I would not want the "big hole" either way because water can move into the inner hull fast if you swamp her and still have the hole. May be less trouble than building the cover at this time and closes the hole (now)

 

Leroy

[Paul Mundy]

Definitely fix, repair or replace the rear hatch cover. Some light plywood, a fibreglas kit, a bit of gelcoat and an lazy afternoon should do the job once you've worked out the measurements and know what you want in the end.

 

I acquired my Mistral 16 simply because the previous owner didn't have adequate flotation in the stern or a solid hatch cover locking system. When he capsized the stern filled with water and the boat went stern down. The only thing saving it from sinking completely was the foreward flotation. His mast got dragged and broke and he got very discouraged. I now own a nice little sailboat  for a very low price and I got the pleasure of learning the boat from the ground up  so to speak because I did all the repairs myself. So, definitley fix the hatch cover problem.

 

I also got a large inner tube, located it inside the stern hold cavity and pumped it up tight. Then I locked down the hatch lugs and always check to ensure everything is tight before I go sailing. I'd hate to get swamped by a following sea and find there wasn't enough flotation to at least allow me to maintain some leeway. Being blown ashore is hazardous to ones heallth and dignity.

 

Paul

[William Smith]

Paul makes a good point. There is basically no floatation in the Mistral 16 and if you don't have the back hatch sealed (and all the other hatches sealed) you only have so much time before enough water leaks in to give you a real problem and if you have a gaping hole inside the rear storage compartment you are just looking for trouble.

 

Paul's suggestion of putting an inner tube inside and blowing it up is a good one. It probably wouldn't hurt to do the same thing up inside the bow area.

 

my 2 cents,

Bill

---

From: Paul Mundy <paul...@execulink.com>
To: Lebo...@aol.com; stevebr...@comcast.net
Cc: wesm...@yahoo.com; sailing...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Mon, March 21, 2011 4:14:19 PM
Subject: Re: Hatch Cover

[mikeyo...@myfairpoint.net]

I like the inner tube idea.  Does it interfere with the ability to drain the hull with the aft drain  plug?

-M

[William Grant]

Hear hear! The flotation is an important part of the boat's design and important for safety.

Bill

[jburke313]

I have often wondered about using canves, snapped around stoarge arean to replace hatch if ever lost. It would be accessible while sailing as well, which the stock one really is not. Just a thought.

Love inner tube idea.

Jon

---

From: William Grant <wgr...@hfx.eastlink.ca>

Sender: sailing...@googlegroups.com

Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:50:16 -0300

To: Paul Mundy<paul...@execulink.com>; <Lebo...@aol.com>; <stevebr...@comcast.net>

Cc: <wesm...@yahoo.com>; <sailing...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Hatch Cover

[mikeyo...@myfairpoint.net]

OK, I see, inner-tube is in back hatch, not hull.  Where do you put your beer?  :-)

-M

[Paul Mundy]

Since I have a habit of "sailing-on-my-ear", as my wife calls it. There is little time for liquid refreshments while sailing and, she likes to remind me, it's against the law to consume alcoholic beverages while in care and control of a vessel.  The other drawback to beer is the rule that you never really buy beer so much as rent it for a short time and the Mistral does not provide a suitable head for disposal. I've upset enough people over the years without subjecting my neighbours on the lake to that kind of exposure. We try to wait until the end of the day so we have adequate time and leisure for family and neighbourhood feuds to fully develop over beer and lawn darts.

 

Does anyone have flotation in their side cavities. My Mistral has a removable "box" that is held under the side gunnels, between the hull and the benches, with a couple of screws. There is ample room in each of them for a long thick piece of styrofoam or other material that could hold the boat afloat if needed. I just haven't hit upon the right material to put in there. I'm thinking of buying some blue styrofoam sheets and cutting strips to fit in layers inside the cavity. Does this make sense?

[Paul Mundy]

Mike;

 

I don't worry about the drain plugs anymore since I replace the ones that were there and put in easily removeable ones that I put in and out from the outside the transom. I am getting too old for reaching into dark hard to reach places and over extending my shoulder muscles on a frequent basis.

 

Paul

----- Original Message -----

From: mikeyo...@myfairpoint.net

To: =?utf-8?b??= ; =?utf-8?b??= ; Paul Mundy

Cc: =?utf-8?b??= ; =?utf-8?b??=