Joyeux Security

For the remainder of our Caribbean adventure, we decided to have security grates built for our hatches. Our decision was made after a lot of thought and Internet research into crime where we would be traveling. It would need only one encounter to ruin our trip.

We wanted to be able to secure all the large openings. The v-berth hatch had to open for sail changes and emergency exits. The main cabin hatch could remain fixed. The sliding main companionway hatch needed to lock closed from the inside. The aft/cockpit companionway hatch should be locked closed with either the lexan hatch boards or the grate, or a combination of the two. The grates needed to fit into the space of the aluminum trim rings around the hatches as we already have screens that fit under the trim. These grates are strong, and would take a determined thief with some big tools to open them, but it could be done. There is no practical way to make the boat theft-proof and still live on board.

We are fortunate here in the Rio Dulce to have an excellent machinist/welder named Cesar, who speaks good English and works with Dennis, an expat tool and die maker who brought his entire machine shop from the US to the little hamlet of San Felipe where Abel's yard is located and the boat is having a new bottom. Over half the expense was getting the 316 SS stock from Guatemala City. I installed the hatch grates by backing the overhead flanges with composite and then drilling and tapping the trim rings and the flanges for allen head machine screws which are put in with a dab of 3M 4200. The receivers for the pins in the cockpit companionway and the main hatch are machined out of aluminum, and everything has been polished.

I rebuilt our main companionway in 2004 with new lexan and the sliding track from a Malo 47. I didn't need to make any major modifications to the hatch frame but now the hatch is watertight and it allowed me to make the inside lock. The cockpit companionway was installed in 2001 at the Philbrook boatyard on Vancouver Island, BC after doing a Seattle – Mexico – Hawaii – Seattle trip. No longer would we have to climb over the winches and around the dodger to get into the boat.

Here are the photos – they're pretty self-explanatory, but if you have questions, feel free to email us or leave a post on the blog.

Cockpit Companionway with Grate

Port Pin Lock

Main Companionway Lock

Another View

Hatch and Track

V-Berth Grate Open

V-Berth Grate

Main Hatch with Screen