MacGregorSailors.com

With the factory cutback of boats, we need to be thankful they are still making and selling them at the pricepoint they are at!

If Macgregor were serious about keeping costs down and producing more boats, Macgregor would leave California.

Jim

I got the coil-spring arm for Bossa Nova - West Marine P/N 4914792. This one is rated to hold up a hatch as heavy as 50 lbs. I got the small one from Moonlite Marine first, but it collapsed at a glance.

Mine is set up to hold the hatch open about 70 degrees, but it will pull farther open when I'm bringing up my asymmetrical spinnaker bag. The coil spring acts like a solid stanchion until you push it to one side, then it just bends over into a sort of teardrop shape. I find it easy and convenient.

We drilled a 1/8" hole on the lip of the hatch cover seat. Through this we ran a nylon cord then through a 6" 1/8" brass tube, then tied the cord end to the hatch hold down bolt. In use, open the hold down latch then slip the 6" tube above the hatch lip and onto the end of the hold down bolt in the hatch. Now pull the cord slack down and the tube holds the hatch open. To close, lift the hatch, dangle the tube on the cord, move the hatch latch across the hatch lip with the tube under the latch and tighten. This is simple and keeps the hatch in place open and the cord will keep the hatch from opening too far and the tube stays out of your way when the hatch is closed. Works for us!!

I have the coil spring hatch holder similar to Rick Westlake's. It is low-cost and not difficult to fit . It is also very quick and easy to operate. To open: simply undo the latch and push up. The coil spring contracts and the closed coils act like a strut. To close: lightly push the middle of the coil sideways. The coils separate and the hatch closes.

In Australia, Whitworths have a stainless steel adjustable arm that fits very well and allows opening from 0 to 90 degrees, $29. It means I can do everything that has been mentioned, but on the hard stand I can leave it open by an inch to allow the interior to breathe and yet not have the hatch blow open in the wind (so far)

dlymn wrote:In Australia, Whitworths have a stainless steel adjustable arm that fits very well and allows opening from 0 to 90 degrees, $29. It means I can do everything that has been mentioned, but on the hard stand I can leave it open by an inch to allow the interior to breathe and yet not have the hatch blow open in the wind (so far)

I have the coiled spring for the front hatch. If I could replace it with an ajustable arm, I would do so. I like that idea of opening just a bit. There are too many choices when you go shopping online, and they have to fit 'just right' in order to work. I will wait until someone recommends an EXACT model that fits my

Phil M

I bought a SS hatch opener at BWY's 2 weeks ago it has a wing nut to stop the hatch open at most any position and comes apart to lay the hatch all the way open if needed. The one I bought was made for the X but works great on our M also. I'm still installing our new chartplotter w/radar and have not installed the hatch opener yet but I checked and it will fit.

bubba wrote:I bought a SS hatch opener at BWY's 2 weeks ago it has a wing nut to stop the hatch open at most any position and comes apart to lay the hatch all the way open if needed. The one I bought was made for the X but works great on our M also. I'm still installing our new chartplotter w/radar and have not installed the hatch opener yet but I checked and it will fit.

I had viewed Blue Water Yacht's online catalogue before, and never saw the hatch opener, so went back just now to look, and it still wasn't there. Perhaps I will just phone and inquire.
Thanks for tip.

Phil M

I was in there shop 2 weeks ago and just saw one on the shef while getting a radar arch. Ask Gail she will know what you want.

I think I will try to install one of those hatch adjusters too. BTW, I found that the knob on the factory-provided screw to lock the hatch always came off, so I replace it with one of these. Works great!
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Like PH still using the original with a bit of conduit as a prop or as he said a line under it from the lifelines and a twitch around the knob to stop it laying right back.
The bit of conduit is also used to blow out the sink if it gets blocked etc, just have to remember which end was which next time
Putting a bit of string through it might help too as godardw does except can't have anything hanging there to foul the insect screens.

Boblee wrote:Like PH still using the original with a bit of conduit as a prop or as he said a line under it from the lifelines and a twitch around the knob to stop it laying right back.
The bit of conduit is also used to blow out the sink if it gets blocked etc, just have to remember which end was which next time
Putting a bit of string through it might help too as godardw does except can't have anything hanging there to foul the insect screens.

Oh crap! I forgot about the insect screen I have for the front hatch. Up here in Canada, they will eat you alive if you should fall asleep unexpectantly and exposed (from too much rum. ) Would a sliding hatch arm extend downwards and interfere with my velcro insect screen for the front hatch? My coiled spring hatch arm does not interfere, but only has completely open or completely closed positions.

Phil M

We have a screen we made that velcro's to the inside hatch rim and we just pull it back to adjust the hatch. I will be installing our new hatch closure hardwear tomorrow and take photos of that and our new radar arch and radar dome for our new Garmim 5208 3D chartplotter and Raymarine auopilot which I installed last week.

Bubba, would enjoy seeing that radar arch.

I made my own. A piece of hardwood lath, with six slots cut in it and a gatehouse safety latch. It adjusts from about a inch to eight inches, or you can open it all the way. The best thing about it is, I can close it with my foot when I go to sleep at night. jim