Inner wall template cutting

[tony.latham]

BTW, what are the dimensions of your hatch spars? Looks like they are a bit thicker than the rest based on the square you have cut.

I glue them up out of oak and they are close to 2"x2". Probably overkill.

T

[kokomoto]

BTW, what are the dimensions of your hatch spars? Looks like they are a bit thicker than the rest based on the square you have cut.

I glue them up out of oak and they are close to 2"x2". Probably overkill.

T

Sounds perfect. I'm no engineer, so I rely on overkill.

[noseoil]

I used red oak (some hard wood) for the galley spars which will have screws in them. Have to pre-drill for all fasteners, but it's stronger & will hold up to the threads better.





The larger piece has the "conduit" (springs) drilled through the face to feed the hatch for wiring (speakers, 3rd brake light, back-up lights, running light, etc).

[kokomoto]

That spar looks plenty stout. I used white oak on the door frame for the same reason. That stuff if like iron. A bit pricey though.

[noseoil]

Oak is still a better choice when it comes to strength, durability & holding fasteners over extended time periods. A soft wood just won't hold as well. Poplar is considered a "hard" wood, what I used for most spars due to good strength & lightness, but it doesn't have the strength of oak for screws & general toughness. Our solar panel mounts & the hatch spars are both red oak.

White oak is even better, but I had access to red oak, so easier to use for me. With red oak, the pores are open & it's like a drinking straw with water, with white oak the pores are plugged, so it won't wick water as easily. Both are pretty good for higher strength in a spar.