[DavidF]

First post people, be gentle with me....

I [like many] have a OK Prowler 13, which I'm pretty happy with, but since I'm always looking for something to fiddle with, a hatch at the rear of the boat would be nice. Something circular I guess, maybe 6-8 inchs/150-200mm in diameter, just big enough for me to get my skinny arm in to the rear of the hull for a few ideas I have in mind [wiring for lights, live bait pickup tube, reposition transducer and a few others.

So, where can I buy one? I've tried place like Whitworths, no luck, or should I just try approaching a manufacturer and see if I can score something. And has anyone done this to a Prowler???

Thanks in advance

 

[DGax65]

Where do you want to put the hatch? The rear deck surface is curved and the tank well isn't completely flat either. I toyed with the idea for a while, but decided that it would be a bad idea. I know that you can force a flat hatch onto a slightly curved surface, but I like having a waterproof yak. Forcing the deck material to mate up with the hatch would probably not provide the best watertight seal. You could use some thick gasket material, but it still might not do the trick. I've used Bomar deckplates on my Prowler 15 and Drifter. With the limited depth at the hatch opening, I have found that an 8 inch hatch was the minimum size that allowed me to get my arm inside the yak. I don't think a 6 inch hatch would work unless you had a space as long as your arm underneath.
http://www.pompanette.com/pompweb.n...e50944406d8be2e3852567bc00053e45?OpenDocument
Whitworth's has some deckplates made by Nairn that might do the trick.
http://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=156&item=66399&intAbsolutePage=1
Just be careful. Installing a hatch in the cockpit or tankwell of almost any Ocean Kayak can be tricky. They all ride low in the water and you would have to get a good seal on the hatch to prevent taking on water.

 

[Jay]

they have them on mo tackle i thing there 150mm hopew this issome help.

Jay :lol: :lol:

 

[Dodge]

Jay

It would be surprising if Whitworths or or any other chandler didn't have a 6" sealed opening as they are a fairly standard fitting, and the deckplate mentioned by Doug earlier has an O-ring to seal.

I can also remember one of the WA blokes posting about obtaining a hatch from an agricultural supplier, used in spray tanks from memory

 

[DavidF]

Thanks for the reply guys, I'd thought I'd try to put it at the rear of the well, there's a raised circular area[ about 150mm ] on the upward slope that looks like it's designed for a hatch, maybe the prowler15 has a different well, I cant remember.

The ag supply tip was right, I rang today and they said they had several types. Thanks again.

 

[DGax65]

David

The Prowler 15 has that same upward slope on the aft end of the tankwell. The only problem with that section is that it is slightly concave. I thought long and hard about installing the 6" hatch there, but I was worried about getting a good seal. If the P13 has a flat area on that sloped section it would be a definite improvement. I really wanted to put a hatch near the stern of my Prowler, as it would have made the rudder installation much easier. Good luck with the install. Show us some pics when your done.