chesapeake 16lt & 17lt aft hatch radius

Builder's Forum
1

Building a 16lt & a 17lt from plans and am ready to cut the hatch stiffeners. The manual instructed me to use a 60" radius on the 16lt when planing the sheer clamps for the aft deck, and a 49" radius for the aft deck of the 17lt. The plans are showing a 24" radius for the aft hatch stiffener.  My inclination is to disregard the 24" instruction on the plans and cut the hatch stiffener to the same radius I used for planing the sheer clamps on each boat, is that correct?

 

Thanks,

Dave 

 

2

   Correct in theory, but the deck will be much flatter than your template a little ways aft of the rear bulkhead. I made flush hatches, and to get the curvature to match as well as possible I cut stiffeners with a crown that matches the actual deck. The forward one is s tighter curve than the aft. Lots of ways to check: lay your template across the deck in front of and behind the opening, and note the different gaps; or scribe the two deck curves directly onto your stiffener stock, etc. 

3

   Thanks

Dave

4

   I'd suggest you match the actual deck radius on the front hatch. It is smaller but needs to be just as good a seal. 

5

   Thanks for the suggestion, I will be sure to scribe all hatch stiffeners at the appropriate sections of the deck.

Dave