Frustration is setting in.....

[bobhenry]

I simply waded in and started swimming. I had access to 11 7/8 by 1 1/4 thick engineered lumber ( "rim board" ) I cut a right and left and 2 center vertical ribs they were relieved at the top to accept a 2x4 and capped at the bottom with another 2x4. The lexan lays over the sidewall where a garage door bottom seal was installed. I never put serious thought into it it just happened and has worked from the moment it was installed. So some times these hatches are not as daunting as some of you make it sound!

Here is the top 2x4 attached to the curved vertical ribs. The little self leveling shelf was just a science experiment

This shot shows the bottom terminating 2x4 as you see it hangs below the floor so not much chance of a leak unless water can run up hill!

here is a shot almost finished


and here is the gasket on the sidewall , Note the lexan overhang that rests directly on the gasket.

[Rlowell]

Do not be afeared of it...it is only wood. I also had to re-build my hatch as the wind tore it up. May angles were sharp (weekender design) and I did alter the design and did some more reinforcement. Pictures in my gallery.

You are doing fine...you must be a perfectionist too... Your build is looking great.

Rod

[WildTexan]

Ok, after using my first galley lid as practice I finnaly tried again. This one is slightyl less horrible, but its gonna have to work. Its was all nice and straight till I put the 1/4 inch birch on it. Now its not as sqare as it was, and has a little spring back. My 1/4 in gap all the way around is now gone as well. Nothing a little sanding won't fix. I hope anyway.

[Miriam C.]

Looks good from here. Wood will change with the weather and time so let it be for a while!

[Rlowell]

Looking good there Wild Texan.

The seals and the edge molding will cover a multitude of gaps and "oops" as you go along.

When and where is your first outing? Have fun!
Rod

[dh]

Looking good

[Lgboro]

I think my neighbor has a lower frustration threshold than I do -- so far I just take my time and build the camper at my pace. He has the impression a tear can be built in a weekend or so. I chose to build a slide out drawer for my cook space but other areas of the build have gone slow enough between health and losing my income. Your tear looks to be well built and well on the way to completion .

[WildTexan]

Thanks guys. It's been a long time coming. My wife has already booked campsites for Labor Day. The catch....the campsites are in Colorado. I better get the doors hung quick. Wish me luck.

[Rlowell]

Can not wait to see the "final" product...you are doing a fine job!! Have a fun and safe trip.
Rod

Take a look at my hatch and see if I could make it any more difficult. LOL

[Deryk the Pirate]

Nice Galley Bob, Plenty of counter space which is real nice!

[Aaron Coffee]

Hnag inn there, hatch rebuild on my first td is on the list for when do a rebuild on it(sometime after I finiwsh #2). Thehatch on #2 shouldn't be to bad since it is not a very tight curve, I plan on blocking the wood skin so it will take on a curve before install and plan on taking the metalskin to work(if it fits into our home project friday)and run it through the slip roller to give it some curve.
As far as frustration, sometimes it pays to take a day or two of the build, or know when to call it a day. Lately I have been spending more time searching for tools (usually tapes measures, have 3 of them in the garage and am sometime licky to find one)than actually building. Last night was one of those nights, was about to call it a night when I decided to cut the hurricane hinge down, measured and preceded to cut tried it for fit then noticed that I didn't take into account the wood trim, so now it is about 1.5 inchs short. As Homer Simpson would say, "Doh!" I said something to that affect but can't print it here.
Aaron

[WildTexan]

Alright. I decided to build the galley lid yet again. I completely forgot about the trim when building the second one, and it turn out to be 1/4'' too wide. This is the last time.....promise. I gotta hang these doors this weekend too. It's gonna be a long night. I gotta go to work just to get some rest.

[WildTexan]

More pics.