# chesapeake 16lt & 17lt aft hatch radius

**URL:** <https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290>\
**Category:** Builder's Forum\
**Created:** [August 11, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290 "2015-08-11T19:38:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![David\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@David\_Finch](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Finch)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290/1 "2015-08-11T19:38:33Z")

</div>

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. &nbsp;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?

&nbsp;

Thanks,

Dave&nbsp;

&nbsp;

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chad\_Mcneely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Chad\_Mcneely](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Chad_Mcneely)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290/2 "2015-08-11T22:45:14Z")

</div>

&nbsp; &nbsp;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.&nbsp;

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![David\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@David\_Finch](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Finch)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290/3 "2015-08-12T07:18:04Z")

</div>

&nbsp; &nbsp;Thanks

Dave

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![David\_Poole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@David\_Poole](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Poole)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290/4 "2015-08-12T16:00:20Z")

</div>

&nbsp; &nbsp;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.&nbsp;

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![David\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@David\_Finch](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Finch)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/chesapeake-16lt-17lt-aft-hatch-radius/43290/5 "2015-08-12T21:03:55Z")

</div>

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

Dave