I am ready to install my hatch on my kaholo. The manual calls for a 4 inch hatch. Is a 6 inch hatch ok? Four seems small to me. Also, I've read other posts about no breather tubes....can you just vent your board by using your hatch??? Thanks!
Hey everyone. Thanks for the replies. Sorry for calling it a hatch. Should have said deck plate. Probably would have gotten more responses. I think I will go with the 6 inch plate and use that as the vent. I did like the reply about tall boys stored inside the boat! Will try that!
I will send some pics soon. Didn't know I had to have pics on a website to upload from....that sucks. Anyhow, thanks again!
I have a six inch hatch which works well. I also vent the board through the hatch which is tight but not so tight that the board does not breath through the hatch. If you get a bit of water in the board the 6 inch is more pracitical for sponging out any water. The 6 inch is also more practical for storing your beach shoes and a few 24 oz Tall Boys. I bedded my hatch in plumbers putty versus silicon which can be a mess. Plumbers putty seals great and allows for easy removal of the hatch ring when you refinish the board.
I used the 4 and find it to be just fine but nothing wrong with a 6. I skipped any breather option and just use the hatch for that. When not in use I leave the hatch cover screwed almost all the way open so it can breath in storage with shifting temps, etc. Haven't seen any problems with this plan thus far and I didn't like the idea of the breather tube on the front anway. Also heard of people drilling a hole in the hatch cover itself and securing a small peice of sponge under it or something to catch water - that way you can leave the hatch fulling tightened down all the time and the drill hole does the breathing. I have not drilled that whole yet however - don't think I will do so.
Where does one buy this hatch?
Hmmm. Thought I bought mine right on this site but I looked and don't see them just yet. they must be on here someplace. Otherwise any marine store in your area will have one - West Marine, Boaters World, etc.
Found them....in boat gear called deck plates.
http://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-gear/deck-plates.html