I have a Valley Pintail and I am looking to add a dayhatch and
: third bulkhead to it. I have Chimp pump fitted to the right behind the
: cockpit and would like to fit a dayhatch to the left. Even though I have
: the pump the bulkhead is fitted right behind the seat with a fitting going
: back to the pump which is in the rear compartment. I am considering using
: one of the Beckson screw in hatches as they are inespensive and sit flush
: to the deck. Does anyone have any experience with them? Are they descent
: or do they leak? I can go with the 7.5" VCP but they are more
: expensive and I worry about how well it would stay attatched as I get in
: and out of the boat. With the hatch protruding I would be sitting on it as
: I get in and out and I am...uh....a bit big for a Pintail!

I feel your pain, John. I've done something very similar to my Pintail, and I'm also a tad over design spec weight.

Actually, I've done about all you describe --- only in sequence.

First thing was to replace that @$!#%$Q Chimp pump with a foot pump. I converted the hole where the deck pump, using a Beckson deckplate as a wannabe day hatch. The downside of using either Beckson or Viking low, flush mounted deckplates is that, with the low rear deck and extremely low freeboard, you tend to get a lot of water in there while you're trying to reach through. So I added a VCP 7.5 inch hatch kit on the port side, and sealed up the deckplate.

This has worked out reasonably well for about five years. I have to hold myself up on the sheers while I slide in or out, because, as you note, you can't sit on that hatch (more than once, anyway), and it gets in the way of the skeg line, but there are a lot of workarounds. But it's pretty dry, and the seal is great.

I did the same thing with the foam bulkhead, although it isn't sealed. Seems to work fine.

By the way, you have enought flat real estate on the foredeck to add a four inch Viking deckplate and get a "Fat Bag" to hang down between your knees. I call it my glovebox --- saves opening the skirt to get to stuff in bigger water.

Jack Martin