Long or Short Hatch?

[eieio1]

Which would you choose and why?

[toolbox]

I would go for the short one.
Easier to make since it is shorter - Less chance of warping. Also, less weight to lift.


Dave

[asianflava]

The long hatch makes the top skin (at least on mine) 10 ft. I used 2 sheets sideways and cut the third in half. On the second layer I already had my half sheet. I also like the extra counter space on top

[Gage]

I made my hatch four feet. Made it easy to skin. That gave me a 12' roof, only used one piece of alum to cover the roof (the sht was 5'x12'). And I probably have more counter space than any other teardrop.

Have a good day.

[Guest]

eieio1,
If you're skinning it with aluminum, sheet size would be an important consideration... But I tell yaa, I like the looks of your long hatch better and it gives you access to that small triangular space up top there.
That's a very nice drawing you have there.

[mikeschn]

I like the long hatch. It looks better, plus it gives me access to the top of the cabinet.

Mike...

[Nitetimes]

The long hatch makes the top skin (at least on mine) 10 ft. I used 2 sheets sideways and cut the third in half. On the second layer I already had my half sheet. I also like the extra counter space on top

eieio1,
If you're skinning it with aluminum, sheet size would be an important consideration... But I tell yaa, I like the looks of your long hatch better and it gives you access to that small triangular space up top there.
That's a very nice drawing you have there.

I like the long hatch. It looks better, plus it gives me access to the top of the cabinet.

Mike...

Whay they said ^^^^^

That was pretty much my reasoning.. then again, it might have just been the way it turned out when I layed it out.

[Arne]

make the hatch only as long as necessary. a longer hatch means a less rigid body.

[Gerdo]

I would go with the short hatch. Because it covers the upper cabinet, less hatch weight. Even though my hatch is big it isn't too heavy (5'w X5' L) the hinged weight is 35lbs. As in your drawing the rear edge ends up in the same place so there isn't an advantage or disadvantage there. The short hatch does have to hinge up at greater angle but it is still around 90 degrees, not a problem for a huracane hinge. I don't see any advantage to the long hatch.

[Denny Unfried]

Gage has the right idea.

If going for the four foot hatch don't make the same mistake as I did with the first tear. I made the frame 48" over the radius and had to buy one extra sheet of 4' X 12' aluminum. After applying the hard board it needed a 49" piece of aluminum. But if the hatch frame would have been an inch shorter I could have used one of the cut off pieces of aluminum from the sides. At lea$t I have lot$ of extra material for future $tuff.

One more lesson learned the hard way.

Denny