PocketShip.net

Has anyone considered making the hatch opening wider at the top than at the bottom? The idea would be that you'd only have to slide each drop board up a few inches to remove it, rather than sliding them up their full length as it is now, with straight sides.
Drop boards are rectangular now, with this mod they would be trapezoidal.

I like the idea and it is a possibility for the plan builders. I have the kit and it is already cut out for you, so I would not be able to implement.

It would also be possible to make the retainer covers a bit wider and have the retainers tapered (i.e. the bits that stop the boards moving sideways). The tapered wash boards (drop boards) can then be lifted out without 'hoisting' all the way up. The overlap of the retainer covers will have to be fairly narrow and precise.

Thanks! I am thinking of retrofitting, by installing new retainers that are wider at the bottom.
Probably also will make a bigger, wider, and more rounded bottom piece to make it more comfortable to sit in the hatchway.

I can't understand why CLC didn't design the hatch that way to begin with. The sides would only have to be tapered a tiny amount so I don't think it is a structural problem. It would be nice not to have to lift the dropboards all the way up with the sails in the way, but the other thing is the dropboards have to be lifted and lowered perfectly straight or they constantly bind.

Perhaps I need to shorten the boards a teensy bit and/or round the corners a bit. Would appreciate some feedback if anyone else has done this, or has another solution. I'm using the lexan dropboards that came with the kit.