Camp-Inn style rear hatch support?

[tony.latham]

Man, I REALLY like those. Simplicity.

On my next build –after me re-incarnation– I'm gonna do it JUST LIKE THAT.

TL

[GerryS]

And strength. I own a CI and love everything about it. There is a sound reason they use a prop instead of hydraulics...with normal use the seals don't get lubricates adequately, so over a relatively short period of time they will leak and weaken. Just like the ones on the loft hatch of my jeep, I've banged my head on that glass a dozen times.

And the jeep ones get cycled a couple times a week.

Keep your galley hatch light, but this solution works great!

[Corwin C]

And my interpretation!

I wanted a wooden prop rather than gas struts and the hatch is not so heavy that I need assistance to lift it. I found that a single prop worked ok but puts a twisting force on the sliding section so that it did not move freely in the slot. The solution was to make the support symmetrical by having tandem props. The two parts are separated by an aluminium spacer tube, which forms the running surface, through which the bolt goes.

You may wish to consider using PVC or another material to avoid the dark marks that the aluminum is leaving on the wood.

... The shape of the track is not critical so I simply followed the form of the TD sides.

I think it is important that the slot continues beyond the highest point of hatch opening and the allows the hatch to drop a little so that the weight needs to be lifted while pushing the prop forward to release.

This is an essential point. To avoid falling hatches, please make sure that the weight of the hatch is forcing the prop against the end of the slot AND that wind catching and rattling the hatch will not allow the prop to move away from the end of the slot on its own. I'm planning this type of prop and I'm including a small wedge that drops into place and "locks" the prop into the end of the slot.

Very nicely done BTW.

[drewh1]

Nice one! Great minds think alike - funny - i have the same Galley light that you have, or at least very similar.

I too found that I had the slot drop at the bottom so the bolt dropped into it. Makes the hatch support feel more secure and you can't bump the support and cause it to accidently close. Also like the way you used two supports.

[michaelrsydney]

Nice one! Great minds think alike - funny - i have the same Galley light that you have, or at least very similar.

I too found that I had the slot drop at the bottom so the bolt dropped into it. Makes the hatch support feel more secure and you can't bump the support and cause it to occidentally close. Also like the way you used two supports.

Thanks Drew, I like the way you fitted the prop before you skinned the hatch! So much easier to work out the geometry of the device I would think.

I look forward to seeing more pics of Heart of Gold.