Dodge Swing...centre hatch mod Mk2.... and end of the job

[Dodge]

In October 2008 I did some cutting to address a decent centre hatch on the Swing....part 1 viewtopic.php?f=12&t=20207 ...part 2 viewtopic.php?f=12&t=20209

Proved to very effective but on climbing out of the yak the lid flexed with my weight on it, and also when I pushed down with my right hand to exit, after 8 months use and thinking decided to make a straight line cut and add a heavier lid. Thought aluminium sheet but in the GC climate finally opted for marine ply, which is easier to work, strong, and a mate had an offcut to suit my needs [thanks Peter soon another yakker].

First step was to mark a new cutting line while the original plastic lid was in place, and decided on a cut to give 100<160mm width x 295mm long and measured are after it was all done

The cut lines are marked...click to enlarge

because cutting from above with the jigsaw would leave a knife edge on the vertical long side of the hatch I initially cut about 5mm inside the line and then used a rasp horizontally shaving down to the line and leaving a flat top for the hatch seal rubber to press onto later...this took about 30 minutes to cut and rasp.

Plastic console is sawn and rasped to the line and the marine ply has been rough cut to shape...click to enlarge

the hull has been sawn and the rasped and the marine ply has been cut and placed in position to check it will seal everything up OK

A lip was screwed under the D section of the new hatch and then drilled for screwing, and edges were sanded to a bevelled edge...the hatch was also bevelled along the edges and on the underside near the centre a piece of timber was glued and nailed in place to prevent any side play, and another block was but at the front end to prevent is sliding when I sat on top when leaving the boat.

Finally a cut a square of neoprene sheet to make a hinge, it was tacked under the front edge of the lid and later held in place on the front of the centre console with a piece of cutting board plastic, coming from under the lid no rain can enter the boat.

Final step was to apply about 5 wet coats of Epiglass Evidure 2 pot epoxy to seal the timber on all sides and then leave it all overnight to harden before the final assembly

Finished hatch in place...click to enlarge

the end result shows the hatch and hinge in place and under the hatch edge all around is a 3/8" hatch seal tape to seal the interior

View from the cockpit...click to enlarge

the view when on the water with easy access, and having now sat on it, it is as solid as a rock when leaving the boat or sitting side saddle in the middle

The opened hatch...click to view

a 2 litre milk bottle fits easily through the open hatch and is sitting in a couple of ice cream containers, also the hatch seal tape is visible in the shot under the lid...a couple of 4 litre tubs fit in easily or would be easy to fit one of sunshiner's mesh trays

This about completes the Swing with only a mast step to go in place through the drink holder when I get enthused again

[YakAtak]

Looks pretty good Richo, now you just need to catch some fish worthy of sliding down such a gaping hole! :p Having seen Spooled1's hatch on the scupper, I'm considering a similar mod on the console for mine.

[bazzoo]

Richo , good job mate well done , i'm sure it will make the swing a lot more user friendly , not that they arnt already , great kayaks dunno why they changed them ,Karl , i can see Richo coming over your place with his tools and some beer being consumed and one Scupper pro being "Dodgised", you better take him out for a fish Karl , i'm starting to worry about the old fart.

[DougOut]

nice work on the Mk2 Richo
looks to be quite a versatile "Swing Addition"
..... ice cream, all manner of fishy captures, meshy net thingies,
the list is endless (as I well imagine it will be, by threads-end )

[blaggon]

nice job Richo, but what's with all the "Rasping" ? surely an ale or 2 would keep the throat lubed while u work

[Occy]

a versatile "Swing Addition" meshy net thingies

You haven't turned have ya mate? Nice job by the way.

[ArWeTherYet]

That's better Dodge. I reckon you have nailed it with Mk 3.

Cutting out the curvy bit so its flat is the way to go. Wouldn't be too hard to make it reasonably water tight. Maybe a bit of alloy angle or some strips of timber around the perimeter of the hole, would give the lid something to seal to......if you know what I mean.

[Dodge]

Wouldn't be too hard to make it reasonably water tight.

Paul should have gone and cut out the hump in the plastic from the outset but wasn't game the first time around....seal from water is very good and being flat surface all around the hole the rim has about 1mm indentation in the rubber hatch seal from the bungee loop....on the water test today proved the outcome and can sit all over it with no concerns, as its very rigid and no flexing unlike the plastic lid I had before and the hull access is a marked improvement on previous effort.

[mehi]

Nice job there Dodge, maybe you should be making cupboards for Winebago Campervans

Cheers Dave

[Biggera Yakker]

Great job Richo!
No wet milk bottles in that hatch!

[Hagar]

Is it just me or does that look like a coffin between your legs ? no good job ,oh to be retired and actually have some time for all those projects Cheers Gary

[Brock200]

Looks like a nice mod for the yak richo! Oneday ill have to buy you a carton of beer and get you to show me how to do it! sick of that little hatch! need something decent sized to fit a good tackle box in.

cheers

brock