Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: Noah on March 26, 2017, 02:11:45 PM

Title: Engine Hatch/Step Hinge Solution
Post by: Noah on March 26, 2017, 02:11:45 PM
I finally found the perfect marine grade bronze hinges to do the "Ron Hill" lift-up engine access step/hatch modification.  I have always shied away from doing this, not wanting to use piano hinge or hinges that I would have to unscrew or drive out the hinge pins on in order to remove the hatch if need.  These hinges have a spring loaded hinge pin so you just pull both pins and hinge "releases" and comes apart with hinge body with the pins still in place captured in the hinge body. Not cheap hardware but effective. Pease disregard my mismatched oval head and flat head screws, I used what I had from my stash.
Title: Re: Engine Hatch/Step Hinge Solution
Post by: britinusa on March 26, 2017, 02:36:38 PM
Would two of these work?

http://marinepartdepot.com/ststpuhileha.html (http://marinepartdepot.com/ststpuhileha.html)

Paul
Title: Re: Engine Hatch/Step Hinge Solution
Post by: Noah on March 26, 2017, 02:51:01 PM
Don't think so? How would you slide the hatch sideways to take apart?
Title: Re: Engine Hatch/Step Hinge Solution
Post by: KWKloeber on March 26, 2017, 03:00:24 PM
SWEET, Noah. Nice looking.

Suncor, Perco, and others also have take-apart hinges, some chrome, some stainless.
Sea Dog makes chrome and stainless short-arm and long-arm take aparts - $20 a pop. I have something similar on my fold-down T&H cockpit table so it's easy to take below out of the Wx.

(http://www.downwindmarine.com/images/P/711616.jpg)
(http://www.downwindmarine.com/images/P/711664.jpg)


kk
Title: Re: Engine Hatch/Step Hinge Solution
Post by: KWKloeber on March 26, 2017, 03:24:00 PM
Quote from: Noah on March 26, 2017, 02:51:01 PM
Don't think so? How would you slide the hatch sideways to take apart?

Yeah if there's no sideways leeway, the slide-aways won't work.

Other ideas - a poor-(wo)man's take-apart hinge, is to remove the pin from any utility hinge, overdrill the two leaves 1/64", and insert a clevis, spring-loaded, or ball-lock pin, or (very poor(wo)man's) - a machine screw/acorn nut.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/11hBuJb1lCL.jpg)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31pCq7x0kyL._AC_US218_.jpg)
(https://newcontent.westmarine.com/content/images/catalog/full/102665.jpg)

If what's being supported isn't very heavy, a barrel bolt will also work as a take-apart hinge.

k