How many ribs in a hatch?

[aggie79]

Yeah, I think I just need to get over my FOJ (Fear of Jigsaw) Syndrome. I ordered a rebuilt Bosch 1587 off of Amazon. The Skil one I have just didn't seem to be very stable and wandered all over.

OK, it looks like I'm back to 6 hatch ribs - 4 of them 1.5" deep and 2 of them 1.5" to 2.5" to 1.5" deep. And here I thought I could get off easy. But I'll have a good, strong hatch.

I have the barrel grip version of the Bosch jigsaw. It will be night and day difference between the Bosch and the Skil in speed and accuracy of cut.

As Bob Henry said, get some good blades. If you buy the Bosch blades, one will cut all six ribs. For a smoother cut on the Bosch, turn off the oscillating motion.

I cut one rib to fit, but rough cut the others. Using the first rib as a template, I used a router and pattern bit to final cut the others.

[mcspin50]

Lil,

Ya got good taste in rum....

When my Dad retired from Manitoba Co-operatives, he and Wife No. 3 moved to Barbados where he worked for CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) setting up farmers' co-operatives. This is how I learned about Mount Gay Rum and Brandy. It's almost a shame to mix it with anything it's so smooth.

[mcspin50]

I have the barrel grip version of the Bosch jigsaw. It will be night and day difference between the Bosch and the Skil in speed and accuracy of cut.

As Bob Henry said, get some good blades. If you buy the Bosch blades, one will cut all six ribs. For a smoother cut on the Bosch, turn off the oscillating motion.

Great tips to know. Thanks so much, Tom!

I cut one rib to fit, but rough cut the others. Using the first rib as a template, I used a router and pattern bit to final cut the others.

We do have a router. Not sure of its working condition tho. Did you make multiple passes with the router to trim the others? What size pattern bit? Would it be easier to cut a rib template out of, say 1/4" masonite, and then use it as a pattern? I DO have all winter to get this done.

[Rock]

Leave it to me to do it oddball. 5 ribs on a 4 wide running fore-aft with cross pieces screwed in.



As this is an ultralight I used 1/2" Baltic birch plywood and no inner skin. If you have access to both a jigsaw and a router I suggest making a template out of 1/4" masonite and using a template router bit (with a bearing) to cut all your ribs the same. This way you can spend a lot of time sanding the template right to the line, and you can be a little sloppy (fast) with the jigsaw, and remove the last 1/16"-1/8" from the ribs using the router with a template bit and your Masonite template. I think I used a bit with a top mounted bearing, used double stick tape to hold the template to the spar blank. Use clamps to clamp the template/blank sandwich to the bench, trim about half the spar to the template, flip the blank around, re-clamp and finish.

Eric

[b.bodemer]

I went vertical:





Barb

[Larwyn]

I used 5 ribs, no hint of spring back.


For rum I prefer the Capn's Private Stock.



But a bit of "grog" is always welcome, no matter the maker....

[Toytaco2]

Just remember, you'll have to lift however much wood you have in the hatch every time you open it unless you have some "lift assistance" such as some of the gas filled hatch lift struts some here have used. I wish mine were not so heavy with its 6 uprights and cross braces. On the other hand, spring back is a non issue.

Good luck,
Mike

[mcspin50]

Well, it looks like vertical ribs are in the lead.

And slowcowboy, you must eat Wheaties for breakfast and toss hay bales all day! How much does your hatch weigh?!? Where are your gas struts?!?
I'm a delicate ALMOST 60-year-old flower from the North. I've been lifting weights two times week for the last year, but I doubt I could manage to lift the hatch on your teardrop for my three squares a day...plus espresso breaks!!.
But then again, you only had 4 ribs(oops, can't count...there's 5 ribs) to cut ...Maybe I'll just UP my weights.
Thank you all so much for your input and wisdom.

[sagebrush]

I made ours WAAAAYYYY too heavy. 4 3/4 x 1 1/2 ribs 2 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 on edges with 1 1/2 square cross ribs. covered with 1/4 plywood then .040 alum. and 1/8 masonite on inside
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Thinking about building another that isn't soooo heavy.

[cuyeda]

I hope you don't mind me asking this question in your thread. After seeing all the hatch builds. I didn't see any insulation addition in any of the pictures. Is the insulation not needed in the galley areas?

[madjack]

I hope you don't mind me asking this question in your thread. After seeing all the hatch builds. I didn't see any insulation addition in any of the pictures. Is the insulation not needed in the galley areas?

...for me, I don't sleep back there so, no insulation...don't have much in the way of freezing weather either...as far as the hatch ribs go, I used 5 vertical ribs on my 5'wide...they are 2.5"s wide cut out of 3/4 ply...the top and bottom pieces are made of 3/4 oak...no insulation, no inner skin...outside is skinned with 1/8th luan and covered with .040 AL...weighs about 30-35 pounds...another consideration...in general, vertical ribs are less prone to the dreaded "springback" than horizontal ribs are........................
madjack

[absolutsnwbrdr]

just courios as I have heard of it a lot. I don't have the problme with my vertical ribs. but was just couros. what is the dreaded spring back they all talk about on horizantal rib hatches. Does the hatch spring back and become a flat table like surface hatch from a curved one? SLowcowboy

You have the right idea, but its not usually as severe. Spring back is when the hatch wants to flatten out again, so the curve of your hatch ends of being slightly less that what you had designed for.

Having more curved vertical ribs is the solution. Theres more wood to resist the spring back.

[mcspin50]

I hope you don't mind me asking this question in your thread. After seeing all the hatch builds. I didn't see any insulation addition in any of the pictures. Is the insulation not needed in the galley areas?

I had thought about that too. I was going to insulate the bulkhead wall, but I think it's going to end up being just 3/4" plywood, so no place there for insulation. I was also thinking about having a pass-through so I could access the galley from inside the tear. Then I think I'd probably insulate the hatch, thus extending my camping season here in the Northern Plains.

slowcowboy, you've done a great job of using what you have where you have it to build your teardrop.

sagebrush, Toy Taco, Barb, thank you too for your input. The more pics everyone posts, the more I can see the different ways that the hatch ribs are assembled, including the top and bottom braces. Thanks everyone.

[Toytaco2]

Well, yes, I did insulate my hatch and finally found a pic to prove it. Seems to me if the rest of the build is insulated, then the hatch ought to be insulated also.

[stupido]

Well, do not have a tear drop yet and I have not even used my bed tent camper for my truck yet. But I do like rum. Here is my favorite:



If I mix it, it is mixed with ice. Unfortunately it is hard to find and my supply has dried up