Update--hatch frame built...

[kayakrguy]

Hello folks,

We got the hatch frame built today. I have pics below--I took them in the garage...with hatch set in the hatch opening for rough test of fit....pretty good...I will probably have to sand a little of each side rib for a little more 'wiggle room' but other than that the frame fits pretty well. I assume that latches/hinge will make it snugger. So, sometime over the weekend I hope to get to the skinning--will use Bendy birch for that.

Sorry about the perspective, but I was too lazy to pull the trailer outside for a photo op so I was taking pics at the rear of the garage--not a lotta room there right now <g>

We lost a couple of days last weekend on family business in New York State but hope to get a good stretch of build in this week....here are the pics...

[Miriam C.]

Hey Jim, that has all the makings of a great hatch. And the weekends coming. Yea!!!!

The rest are asleep or camping so -----------------

[NightCap]

I'm jealous! I am dreaming of getting to that point. Good job.

[Ira]

That's nice!!!

I'll try to do mine just as good when I rebuild it.

It's currently a disaster.

[kayakrguy]

Well, thanks for the nice words, gang. Encouragement helps...you will note, however that the hatch still is pretty leaky:lol:

I did a double check on the fit...one reason it was a little tight is that for some reason I cut the roof hatch spar 1/2" TOO SHORT and therefore the walls are pulled in a half inch by that spar....I found this out when I decided to add another spar between the roof hatch spar and the previous spar on the roof.

When I went to add the new spar, it was ummm TOOOO LONNNGGGG.
I measured it--60" exactly Went to the T and measured the Roof Hatch Spar and it came out 59 1/2" The good news is that I can make a new roof hatch spar in 5 minutes and with the correct width I don't have to sand the hatch frame down

I think what I did was cut the roof hatch spar to be a hatch spar and put it on the wall by mistake.... Well my first mistake had to happen sometime

Jim

[Tripmaker]

Looks like you made great cuts on the side frames, nice smooth curves. I've made mine with verticle spars as called for in the Generic Benroy Plans. It was difficult, no it was impossible for me, to get them all perfect with a jigsaw. I'm hoping the small differences will not be seen when I skin the hatch. Anyone out there with any comforting words or should I remake the hatch frame?

[kayakrguy]

Tripper,

This is a combination of confession and encouragement...our ribs didn't look totally great after we cut them out with the jig saw. But, judiciously applied belt sander did a great job of evening them up, rounding them off...did that to the ribs before I attached the spars...no reason you can't do that...

good luck,

Jim

[Tripmaker]

Tripper,

This is a combination of confession and encouragement...our ribs didn't look totally great after we cut them out with the jig saw. But, judiciously applied belt sander did a great job of evening them up, rounding them off...did that to the ribs before I attached the spars...no reason you can't do that...

good luck,

Jim

I did that as much as I could. Clamped six spars together and got them as close as possible without compromising the 1 1/2" thickness. I think it will be OK after I put the plywood skin on. Right now I have much bigger problems. See my "major setback" post under Construction Tech.