CCP side deck hatch

[GoneFission]

I'm always looking for storage opportunities on the CCP - so I thought - what's on the outside of the stringers?  I know the center is open, but the coffin is over that area, and there is that handy locker in front.  I did some measurements and found it's 13" from the edge of the liner to the stringer, so I looked around for a 12" wide but as long a possible hatch.  I found a nice Jim Black 13x30 deck hatch with a o-ring seal and waterproof latches at Great Lakes Skipper for $59:

https://greatlakesskipper.com/product/2 ... hatch.html  

Cut the hole and - you guessed it - that whole area is foamed, and after 30 years, the foam is damp.  So out comes the shovel   and ~100 lbs of damp foam later, I've got a nice hole!  I went about 2 feet forward and about 1 foot aft with foam removal, so I can store rods in there if needed.  Epoxy sealed the cut edges of the deck, a nice bead of 5200 around the sides, a slew of 3/4" stainless screws, and we're good to go!  

Here's how it looks:

 

 

I did one on both sides - it's got to be good to get 100-200 lbs of damp foam out - and gain some nice starge to boot!  

T-top is next project - wish me luck!

[RickK]

Looks good GF  
How could you know where the outside of the stringer was?  Could you measure stringer width from inside the front locker?

[GoneFission]

How could you know where the outside of the stringer was? Could you measure stringer width from inside the front locker?  

I can get to the inside of the space under the coffin from the deck hatch under the coffin.  I used the pics from a top-off 200CCP rebuild on eBay to be able to know how wide the stringers are:  

 

From this, I could determine how much space was there.  I figured I had about 13" - the hatch selected required a 11" opening, so I had a couple inches to play with.  

[RickK]

Smart  

[gran398]

Nice job, Cap'n John!

[jdupree]

Nice work :!:   Looking forward to seeing that T-Top

[bondobill]

Found this old thread thanks to Curious.
Great idea.
 Just wondering Cap'n John after 2 years how are the hatches holding up, ever have problems with water getting in there. Thinking about adding one to my 79 22 FF, should be the same hull I would guess. Also how far forward of the stern did you install them, looks like according to the photo it would be somewhere in the area of my helm which is where my beam is the widest.  

Thanks
Bill

[GoneFission]

Found this old thread thanks to Curious.
Great idea.
 Just wondering Cap'n John after 2 years how are the hatches holding up, ever have problems with water getting in there. Thinking about adding one to my 79 22 FF, should be the same hull I would guess. Also how far forward of the stern did you install them, looks like according to the photo it would be somewhere in the area of my helm which is where my beam is the widest.  
Thanks
Bill

Bill - I wound up putting 4 in - 2 toward the front and 2 toward the back.  Got all the foam out of there and have great stowage.  I have rod holders mounted under the deck and have 10 rods under there - all out of sight.  I used the hatches with O-ring seals and have not had problems with water getting in, but I do store the boat on a lift with the plug out, so I would not know if a little water got in - besides, it will drain to the stern, down into the bilge, and be pumped out...  You could not do the front hatches on a FF, but you could do the back - it's works out great.  Getting a couple hundred pounds of wet foam out ain't bad either...

[DOCREED]

No LED lights in those new storage bins?????

[GoneFission]

No LED lights in those new storage bins?????

I was thinking disco mirror ball.    

 

Play some Saturday Night Fever on the stereo, put my white suit on, and good to go!  

[chishol7]

GoneFission, after owning these things for a few years what is your opinion as to how sturdy they are?  Can you stand on them without worrying about it?  I have been considering the same project but I have not been able to get an answer as to how much weight these hatch covers will hold.  I have called Great Lakes Skipper and Innovative Product Solutions; GLS said call Innovative and Innovative said maybe 175# but it was clearly a guess by the lady who answered the phone... Anyway, 175 pounds is not going to cut it with the guys that I fish with so I am hoping that you might have a better idea.  Thanks.

[GoneFission]

I have not had a problem, and I'm not a light weight.    :pig:  You don't spend all day standing on them - you step on them from time to time - but mine have held up pretty well.  You could look around and get one made from 3/4" starboard if you really want to go beefy - but that will cost ya some major dinero.   :rambo:

[gran398]

chishol7,

Has been a pleasure mating on Cap'n John's 222 CCP "Gone Fission."

The walkthru area, as he advises, really not a "stand on" area at all.

Terrific use of formerly unusable space.

The hatches shown are well engineered, top quality, and beefy.

For your ride, go with more rear storage.

You'll be pleased.

[bondobill]

Found this old thread thanks to Curious.
Great idea.
 Just wondering Cap'n John after 2 years how are the hatches holding up, ever have problems with water getting in there. Thinking about adding one to my 79 22 FF, should be the same hull I would guess. Also how far forward of the stern did you install them, looks like according to the photo it would be somewhere in the area of my helm which is where my beam is the widest.  
Thanks
Bill

Bill - I wound up putting 4 in - 2 toward the front and 2 toward the back.  Got all the foam out of there and have great stowage.  I have rod holders mounted under the deck and have 10 rods under there - all out of sight.  I used the hatches with O-ring seals and have not had problems with water getting in, but I do store the boat on a lift with the plug out, so I would not know if a little water got in - besides, it will drain to the stern, down into the bilge, and be pumped out...  You could not do the front hatches on a FF, but you could do the back - it's works out great.  Getting a couple hundred pounds of wet foam out ain't bad either...

Thanks Cap'n John
Now if I can just get my fishing buds to not wear hard healed soled boots when we go out fishing in the winter...... the hatch covers might last for more than a year.  

Bill

[chishol7]

Thanks guys.  My primary reason for considering this project is to check (remove as much as possible if wet) the foam mid boat and back outside of the stringers.... so it will be in an area that gets some traffic.  Storage would just be ancillary benefit.  I think I will give it a shot, worst case I rip the deck and do it right.