Gas struts for hatch

[Dragonryder]

Hello all, I was redesigning my hatch last night and was wondering what size/weight struts I will need to install for help in lifting the hatch and holding it up. I want to make it easy enough that my wife or grand daughter can do it. I can't see getting the scale from inside the house and weighing it, so short of doing this, what rule of thumb should I use?

Thanks for any input.

[Classic Finn]

Hello Signed Me in Oh high ohhh:lol: How about a photo of your hatch and or galley area and we can help you out a bit better.

Do you have the weight of your hatch possibly?

Classic Finn

[Dragonryder]

If it quits raining long enough for me to take the tarp off and get a picture of it, I will try and post a picture tonight. I'm guessing by the time I get the wiring, tail lights, the rest of the frame work and the paneling it could weigh as much as 35-40 lbs.

By the way, I noticed that I haven't posted my real name yet. I'm John if anyone wants to know. Better known as "me" or "him". I guess I've been called worst.

Thanks.

[Classic Finn]

If it quits raining long enough for me to take the tarp off and get a picture of it, I will try and post a picture tonight. I'm guessing by the time I get the wiring, tail lights, the rest of the frame work and the paneling it could weigh as much as 35-40 lbs.

By the way, I noticed that I haven't posted my real name yet. I'm John if anyone wants to know. Better known as "me" or "him". I guess I've been called worst.

Thanks.

Hi John What are the dimensions of your hatch?

Best regards

Classic Finn

[Dragonryder]

Good morning. Or at least it is here. The dimensions are 74" wide with the over hang and 63" tall. The frame is made from pine 2X2s with a oak 1X2 at the top to give the hinge something to grip. I have added pine 2X2 bracing across the middle and plan to add one toward the top and one toward the bottom. I've also added some small corner braces all the way around. The brake lights, license plate, handles and tie down brackets will be mounted on the outside and one pancake light will be added to the inside of the hatch. The hatch is skinned in 3/8" plywood and the inside will be skinned with 1/8" paneling. I also plan to add 1X2s to the outer edge to strengthen the plywood and to create a door jamb and hopefully help to make it more water proof. I really like the way it looks. I forgot to mention that the hatch is flat. No curve. Hope this is enough.

Sorry for being so long winded with this.

[emiller]

here's my hatch with 120# gas stuts

[Dragonryder]

I like your galley. Does the 120# struts make it easy to raise and lower? I'm thinking I may need to go a little bigger. I may try and weigh it some how just to be sure. I want this part to work well.

[Classic Finn]

I like your galley. Does the 120# struts make it easy to raise and lower? I'm thinking I may need to go a little bigger. I may try and weigh it some how just to be sure. I want this part to work well.

Afternoon John

I used the the 500 newtons = 112.404472 pounds force and it holds ours nicely. And its safe so when its windy it wont come down on its own on someones head.

Even though our galley is still under construction here is a photo of our hatch.



Classic Finn

[Dragonryder]

That's a good point to consider about the wind. The last thing I need is for the hatch to come down and knock me out. By the time all's said and done, I figure the hatch will weigh about 40#. I suppose it could surprise me and weigh more but I seem to be able to lift it off and on okay by myself. Given how big in diameter it is, it's a little awkward for one person to handle. If it weighed much more than that, I'm not sure I could lift it by myself.

What would you estimate your hatch weighs?

I have one more question. I was studying the pictures and I notice that you each have your struts mounted opposite of each other. Is this a preference thing?

Okay, I lied, I thought of another question. Could you each tell me what the length of your struts are? Thanks.

By the way, thank you for the pictures. This helps a lot in placement of the struts.

[emiller]

I like your galley. Does the 120# struts make it easy to raise and lower? I'm thinking I may need to go a little bigger. I may try and weigh it some how just to be sure. I want this part to work well.

There alittle too strong, could go with 110# struts maybe even 100# but wind is a factor some times so I wouldn't want to go too light. I also bought the metal ends from McMaster Carr because I've had Plastic ends on my first tear break when I was on vacation.

[emiller]

The struts opposite is easy to install because you have the sides to attach them to. I'm not sure what my hatch weighs but it's lighter than the first hatch, the first one was made of wood and this one is made of steel and I also have a star ceiling installed in it. I have 28" long struts socket to socket. I wouldn't recommend struts that long unles you have the room for the curvature of the hatch. I had to notch my counter top for the strut to rest when closed. I'd say 15" to 20" should work good, I did have 10" struts on my first tear but felt longer would put less strain on the hinge point.

[Dragonryder]

I was looking at 20" 135# struts but if you think that your 120#s are a little heavy, maybe I will go with a smaller size. I don't know why, but i just think that because my hatch is flat/straight that it would put a little more stress on the hinge and struts. All the weight would be below the struts. This would have to at least double the weight because of leverage. I'm not a physics person but this sounds reasonable. I think I will go with 110# at 20". That should work nicely. It's amazing how much thought goes into the building of a teardrop. Everything takes a lot of thought and planning to execute.

I really want to thank everyone for your input on any question that I post. The pictures and your thoughts really help me to get the creative thoughts going.

[emiller]

You know usaully Napa Auto parts will let you exchange your struts for lighter ones, if you buy your struts from Napa. McMaster Carr has a good formula for fiquring out which ones will work for you.

[Dragonryder]

I'll have to check and see if there are any Napa stores nearby. There used to be one here in Oxford but it went out of business a few years back. That would be nice. Do you know if the mounting hardware comes with the struts?

[emiller]

I think hardware always is extra.