Extra large side hatch

[Martin Kedian]

Quite an interesting side hatch 50 inches long 3 double glazed units two openings  tested my patience 

[Stilllearning]

Some serious bracing of the steelwork involved, at a guess.

[Martin Kedian]

Yes all steel outside oak inside but all folded sections to add strength 

[IanD]

Opening or closing those in a narrow lock will be interesting -- I'd say they were really wide side-hinged windows not a side hatch/doors... 😉

 

Even if they're not a fire escape (opening them), anyone who's been in a boat with wide-open windows/side doors in a leaky lock with water spurting from the brickwork walls will know why being able to close them is a good idea... 😉

Edited July 11, 2023 by IanD

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Martin Kedian said:

Yes all steel outside oak inside but all folded sections to add strength 

 

They look great Martin.

[Martin Kedian]

Why leave them open in a compromising situation no different in size from a side hatch 21 inches heigh x 20 inches wide each door 

Just now, M_JG said:

 

They look great Martin.

Thank you 

[IanD]

8 minutes ago, Martin Kedian said:

Why leave them open in a compromising situation no different in size from a side hatch 21 inches heigh x 20 inches wide each door 

Because you don't know the lock walls are going to spurt water into the boat until the lock has started to empty and the boat goes down. DAMHIK... 😞

 

Side hatch/doors are rarely as wide as that, which is why they're usually a pair not single opening -- I asked for mine to be as wide as sensible, IIRC the opening cut for a pair was 750mm, so the doors are a bit less than 375mm each -- and I was warned that even that was a bit wide...

 

Edited July 11, 2023 by IanD

[Guest]

1 minute ago, IanD said:

Because you don't know the lock walls are going to spurt water into the boat until the lock has started to empty and the boat goes down. DAMHIK... 😞

 

Side hatch/doors are rarely as wide as that, which is why they're usually a pair -- I asked for mine to be as wide as sensible, IIRC the opening cut for a pair was 750mm (30"), so the doors are a bit less than 375mm each -- and I was warned that even that was a bit wide...

 

 

Then you shut them before you go in the lock. I only got caught once in that manner but having a brain I remembered the following times.

 

It really aint rocket science.

[IanD]

11 minutes ago, Martin Kedian said:

Why leave them open in a compromising situation no different in size from a side hatch 21 inches heigh x 20 inches wide each door 

Thank you 

They do indeed look good, very well made 🙂

Edited July 11, 2023 by IanD

[Martin Kedian]

1 minute ago, IanD said:

They do indeed look good, very well made 🙂

Thank you Ian 

[Stilllearning]

On the basis that almost all lock walls leak, I never, ever, left the side doors open in a lock.

[Martin Kedian]

Your still learning but you have learnt this

[Stilllearning]

1 minute ago, Martin Kedian said:

Your still learning but you have learnt this

Yes, my first two boats didn't have side doors but I did hundreds of locks in them and watched a lot of those mini showers spouting water onto the tumble homes.

 

[blackrose]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

...anyone who's been in a boat with wide-open windows/side doors in a leaky lock with water spurting from the brickwork walls will know why being able to close them is a good idea... 

 

I'd say that anyone who's spent any time moving canal boats will know why closing side doors and side hatches before moving the boat is a good idea... 

1 hour ago, Stilllearning said:

On the basis that almost all lock walls leak, I never, ever, left the side doors open in a lock.

 

The other reason not to leave them open as I once found out is that if you're not careful centre lines can get caught behind the doors and you really don't want the force of the momentum of a boat on the hinges.

Edited July 11, 2023 by blackrose

[ditchcrawler]

56 minutes ago, IanD said:

Because you don't know the lock walls are going to spurt water into the boat until the lock has started to empty and the boat goes down. DAMHIK... 😞

 

Side hatch/doors are rarely as wide as that, which is why they're usually a pair not single opening -- I asked for mine to be as wide as sensible, IIRC the opening cut for a pair was 750mm, so the doors are a bit less than 375mm each -- and I was warned that even that was a bit wide...

 

How do you think everyone else with side hatches manage, You use your head and think about whats happening

[jonesthenuke]

1 hour ago, Stilllearning said:

Some serious bracing of the steelwork involved, at a guess.

Might be interesting if the boat is ever craned out of the water.

 

[Martin Kedian]

It has been for blacking no problem 

[blackrose]

6 minutes ago, jonesthenuke said:

Might be interesting if the boat is ever craned out of the water.

 

 

I know a bloke who fitted big side doors on both sides plus a big door sized skylight in the roof in the same area. He cut away so much steel it must have weakened the boat.

 

By the way aren't they called side doors rather than side hatches unless there's an opening top hopper?

Edited July 11, 2023 by blackrose

[Martin Kedian]

Yes it could cause a problem if some knowledge of boat construction is lacking  as far as these Side hatches are concerned they are exact replacements of solid non opening glass windows that were there in the first place 

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, Martin Kedian said:

It has been for blacking no problem 

 

What?

 

You mean it didnt fold in half like a wet carboard box?

 

Some will find that dissapointing.

[Martin Kedian]

Yep for sure 

[Jon57]

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

How do you think everyone else with side hatches manage, You use your head and think about whats happening

Just shout to the crew. Shut the bloody doors 😁

[Stilllearning]

23 minutes ago, Jon57 said:

Just shout to the crew. Shut the bloody doors 😁

Crew?

[BoatinglifeupNorth]

Why would you move with the side hatch’s open? I wouldn’t because I’m on the back of the boat and when I have guests they are on the back or sat on the front?

[Martin Kedian]

5 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

Crew?

Wife