Wa'apa Build - Part 26 (Hatches on the cheap?)

A while back I came across these Gamma Seal lids for 5 gallon buckets. They have a ring which snaps on top of the bucket, and an inner part which screws into that. Supposed to be air and water tight.

They seemed like a good option for making large cheap hatches out of. I found some locally so grabbed one and a bucket to experiment with.

Top of bucket cut off and excess plastic removed, leaving just the one ring going around.

Lid snaps on tightly. There is a rubber seal in there.

The ring left on top of bucket is perfect distance, just slightly lower than the edge of lid.

Testing fit in a piece of scrap ply.

Fits great and sits nicely on that plastic ring on top of bucket. With some good sealant placed under that ring and pushed down tight it should provide a good seal.

Extends under enough so that screws can be put into some support timber and keep the whole thing in place firmly.

Only con is they aren't exactly low profile and are a bit industrial looking. However I don't think they look too bad, and for only $10 and ten minutes of time to make...it's hard to complain. I think they'll do the job nicely.

Wa'apa Build - Part 17 (Rudder supports, deck supports, inspection hatch...)

Been working towards getting the ends closed up. Lots of little fiddly bits and slow going...

I've cut holes in side of hull behind bulkhead to take timbers for hanging the rudder(s). They will be glued (and screwed probably) to the bulkhead timber.

Template made for the deck(s).

Then after cutting and trial fitting the deck from 4mm ply, I decided to make a light support framework to stiffen and also help the deck take a nice fair shape.

And cut the hole for inspection hatch...

Still need to finish beveling the gunwales where the deck goes, and repeat this on other hull, and get everything glued up and so on...

Wa'apa Build - Part 10 (Dry fit #2, syringes, hatches, etc)

With glue cured I planed and sanded the excess off the bottom. I then put that half of the hull aside, grabbed the bits for the other half, and got it dry fitted.

On another note, I found these syringes cheap and have been using them for all my epoxy mixing lately, one for resin and one for hardener.

Now I'm able to mix the small batches I actually need, and combined with experience gained thus far, I manage to use almost everything I mix without much waste at all. Great!

Also I ordered and received my inspection hatches for the end compartments, 6 inch quarter turn.

I still haven't cut the holes in the bulkheads for them though. I will have some through hull pieces of timber right behind the bulkheads on which to hang a rudder. I'll wait until I know for certain the position of those so I can place the hatch where there will be the least amount of overlap.

All for now!