A true boat lover knows very well how to take care of his boat. It’s not as easy or cheap as a car to maintain. It costs a lot of money to maintain and it costs a lot to buy or make some of its components as well.
When it comes to boat hatches, it not only creates a lot of space under your boat by dividing your boat surface to hull, but can also make it more beautiful. You can buy it in the market or make it yourself. At first glance this may seem like a daunting task but believe me it is really easy to make a good quality homemade boat hatch.
If you are able to do this yourself, I must say that you can save a good amount of money. On the other hand, it will help you learn new things as well, which could be fun.
What is the boat hatch made of?
Boat hatches are made of different things. It can be made of aluminum, fiberglass or even wood. But speaking of popularity, hatches as well as boat made of fiberglass are the best, no doubt. It looks very elegant and durable although it is more expensive than the other two.
In terms of relatively cheap, durable and light features option, many people choose to attach aluminum hatch on their boat.
What Things are required for this Job?
Some item you don’t need to buy all the items if you just want to a make single or couple of hatches obviously like the item of drill machine or circular saw!
You can borrow this item from someone you know or can rent for a while. Other things you must buy in terms of making good quality hatches, needless to say.
See below for a list of items you need for your job:
- Square Aluminum Tubing
- Aluminum sheets
- Circular Saw
- Drill Machine
- Rivet Gun
- Rivets
- Angle Brackets
- Piano Hinge
- Stainless Steel Screw
- Metal Cutter
You can find all your desired items which you want to buy at your nearest hardware shop or even online.
Step by Step Making Process of Aluminum Hatch
- Step-1: At first you have to take the measurement of the hatch with a tape of your installment area very thoroughly and carefully. Do not make any mistake here, otherwise you will just waste your money and valuable time, nothing else.
- Step-2: Now cut down your rectangular size aluminum bar according to your measurement. Make four out of it and then cut it down with a circular saw at 45 degree angle very cautiously.
- Step-3: Next, scrub the corners of the bar well with fine grit sandpaper and rub it to make it as smooth as possible. Now insert the angle brackets at both ends and drill it with the help of drilling machine. If you want, mark it well with a marker pen from outside.
- Step-4: Now attach the screws well with a screwdriver. Make a rectangle like a square window according to your size.
- Step-5: Now it’s the turn of the aluminum sheet. Cut it very carefully with a metal cutter and place it on top of the rectangular aluminum frame.
- Step-6: At this stage, drill a few times on each side of the frame and drill holes. Place a gap of four to five inches in the middle of each hole.
- Step-7: This is the final stage of making your home-made hatch. Insert the rivets into the hole one by one and fasten them firmly to the bar with the rivet gun.
- Step-8: With the help of Piano Hinge and screws, you can fix your hatch as well and your work is done here.
I hope you understand the whole process very well. If you do that accordingly I am sure you can make it happen like a professional.
Some Tips and Tricks for Making It
- You can also use stainless steel frames instead of aluminum if you want. It will make your hatch more durable and increase longevity, no doubt. It can cost you a little more but for using a long period of time it could be a very good and wise choice.
- It is advisable to wear a proper suit or gloves while using the machines. A little carelessness can lead to mutilation or even death in a minor accident.
Conclusion of How to Build Aluminum Boat Hatches
I hope you now understand the process of each step and what you should do about it. I am certain that you can now make your own homemade boat hatch all by yourself easily.
Even then, if you feel you can’t do it on your own, you can get help from someone else or a professional for your job.
Related: How to Polish an Aluminum Boat
Photo: amazon.com
