“Nereida” Njord: Adding a Day Hatch

Mar 18th, 2008 | By Dan (CSFW) | Category: 07.09 "Nereida" Njord (SPAIN)

Finished day hatch

Work through 3/11/2008

Deck cutout and modified deck plateGluing the deck plate base to the underside of the deckGonzalo requested a day hatch be added to the “Nereida.” A day hatch is a small hatch located in the vicinity of the cockpit that is easy to open and close when on the water. Their handy for storing things you want to use on the water but not have to carry them on your PDF or on the deck. Their great for cameras, snacks, water bottles, etc. I add a third bulkhead to compartmentalize the rear hold. In other words the day hatch has it’s own hold that’s not open to the main, rear hatch. I usually make the hatch itself like the other hatches by using either Beckson deck plates or using a magnetic hold down system. For the Nereida I did some thing a little different: I used a plastic Beckson deck plate but instead of bolting it to the top of the deck I epoxied it to the underside of the deck. I took the deck cutout (curly maple in this case), made some finger cutouts the same size and shape as on the Beckson lid and then epoxied the wooden cutout to the lid. Screw the new wood-coated lid on and viola! A wooden hatch lid that’s water tight.

3 Comments to ““Nereida” Njord: Adding a Day Hatch”

  1. Steinar says:
    April 12, 2008 at 9:46 am

    Hi,

    This is really a fantastic boat you are building!

    I have a question regarding the Beckson day hatch; Have you used any kind of primer etc. before gluing with epoxy? The Beckson deck plates are made of polyethylene which is very hard to glue. I’m planning to do pretty much the same as you have done on the Njord I’m currently building, but as far as I have found, some special glue is required to bond polyethylene to other materials? What is your experience with this?

  2. Steinar says:
    April 12, 2008 at 9:54 am

    HI again,

    seems like I mistyped the plastic type, I believe it should be Polypropylene, not Polyethylene…

  3. Dan (CSFW) says:
    April 12, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    Hi Steinar,

    I’m glad you’re enjoying the build.

    The deck plates I used were cast in good-olde, black ABS plastic. Most of them are ABS. Beckson does make poly (that keeps it simple ;) )ones which are difficult to bond. With ABS you just rough up the surface and epoxy it on. It sticks just fine…

    I’ll be building a second Njord this Spring which will be using rubber VCP or KayakSport hatches. THAT’ll be a bit different…

    Dan