> I have just finished making the first hatch cover for my Ches.17' I am not
> completely happy with it though because it doesn't quite hold the radius
> out all of the way to the edges of the cover. Where the stiffeners end the
> cover flattens out. I guess it's probably not a huge deal, because I will
> be compressing foam to creat the seal, (if there is a problem let me
> know), but is there a way to create a uniform curve on the wood?

> TIA,

> Paul Paul; If I had a chance to do it over again, I would put in a flush hatch, especially in the front. That was one of my biggest complaints about the boat, she is wet. Water comes right over the deck and hits the hatch cover. If the hatch were recessed, it would eliminate some of the spray. Getting a uniform curve is going to be a bit of artwork. I would recommend making the stiffeners longer than called for in the plans, and exaggerating the curve slightly past the plan length, then cutting off the excess stiffener later. It is such a fragile glue up though; clamps and wood are bound to go flying. I would encourage you to consider a flush mount hatch design, possibly with a recessed lip that the hatch fits in. You would still have to get the hatch to conform to the deck line somehow. As I think about it, I wonder if you could wet out some cloth on the underside of the hatch, with your stiffeners on top of the glass. When everything dries the glass would offer resistance to the plywood springing back.

Good luck with whatever you do, Pete