Hatchboard Precautions

One of the dangers of sailing in stronger winds is the chance that a really strong gust will overpower your boat and knock you over so far that water pours over the cockpit coamings and into the cockpit.  If your hatchboards are not in the companionway, water can them pour through the open companionway and into the cabin of the boat - - potentially sinking the boat.

 

An easy precaution to prevent this is to install quarter-inch barrel bolts on the lower two hatchboards.  Then drill a quarter-inch hole in the companionway molding so that the hatchboards can effectively be “locked in”.  With the hatchboards locked in, the chance of a knockdown sinking your boat is greatly reduced.

Try it - - this is an easy and effective modification.