Counter Top Hatch

Anyone who has read through our posts here on the blog will have noticed that we found numerous things we really like about the Islander Freeport, along with some we really don't! Some of the things we don't like are such that we can't realistically change them, so we are learning to live with them. But some things can be changed and while some changes are big, time consuming and expensive others are fairly simple and inexpensive. This post describes a quick easy fix to a pet peeve that we have, regarding one of the galley access hatches. 

Circe's galley has several hatches in the counter-tops to access storage areas below. The aft counter-top originally had four hatches to access the ice-box (there will be two less when our new fridge/freezer conversion is finished) and the forward counter-top has one, to access a food storage area. All five hatches were loose fitting and unsealed. To access the storage areas the hatch cover must be lifted out of its recess and set aside somewhere while items are added to or removed from the storage. Finally the cover is replaced.

The loose hatch covers and the need to lift them in and out is a pain and if there are already items on the counter-top when access is needed then the process becomes even more inconvenient. In the event of a knockdown or roll-over things can become downright dangerous! 

Here is the original loose hatch cover for the food storage area under the counter next to the sink.

We decided a hinged cover with a prop or stay would be a big improvement. Here we are marking screw hole positions for a short piece of piano hinge going onto the edge of the counter-top.

We had to cut a small recess in the hatch cover support cleat to allow the hinge to work. Dremels rule!

Close up of the hinge clearance notch.

We had to trim the edge of the hatch cover by an amount equal to the thickness of the hinge, about 1/8 inch. We used the Ryobi trimmer/router that we recently bought to speed up the finish work on the new Formica laminate for the fridge/freezer counter. Another great little tool!

Hinge going onto the modified hatch cover. 

(Note the  salon windows temporarily duct taped in place after removal to make templates for Bomon Marine, who are building us a new set of custom safety glass replacements.....a post on that project will be coming later in the year)

The finished job with the spring lid stay in place. Much better, convenient and more user friendly. One more item crossed off 'The List'.