Adding baggage hatches

[Rick kl]

On my boler 1700 there are small access doors to the corner storage compartments, storing long items like axes or even a broom has always been trouble, I solved this by adding some small access hatches to use these otherwise hard to get at storage space. It was a simple job, inexpensive hatches are available on Ebay.

[christineb]

On my boler 1700 there are small access doors to the corner storage compartments, storing long items like axes or even a broom has always been trouble, I solved this by adding some small access hatches to use these otherwise hard to get at storage space. It was a simple job, inexpensive hatches are available on Ebay.

Great idea. I'd love to do this with our Scamp. Was is difficult to cut the fiberglass?
Christine

[Rick kl]

Great idea. I'd love to do this with our Scamp. Was is difficult to cut the fiberglass?
Christine

The fiberglass cut very easy with a jig saw, watch for power wires and plumbing, after the install I moved the pex pipe in the picture out of the opening. as a added bonus I can see the level in my black water tank as well.

[April Wilcox]

How do you give your jigsaw blade a place to start the cut?

[Chris de Haan]

Drill a hole near the corner that is bigger than your jigsaw blade. Put the hole in the area which you will be throwing away. (A wood worker's trick)

[Rick kl]

Drill a hole near the corner that is bigger than your jigsaw blade. Put the hole in the area which you will be throwing away. (A wood worker's trick)

Correct! wear a long sleeve shirt and a dust mask the fibers can be irriatating

[April Wilcox]

[james kent]

Use the outer ring as a template and mark and drill the corner holes from the INSIDE. That way you don't accidentally run into a cross member. Re-mark outside, using the outer ring again, and mask the area with painters tape so as not to scratch anything you want left looking good. If you can't find a fiberglass cutting blade for your jigsaw, a metal cutting one works well. Don't forget to place a layer of butyl tape when attaching the door to keep it waterproof.

[peterh]

I wrote some fiberglass cutting tips in some of my posts. Look at the three posts starting here, where I talk about doing my U-shaped dinette conversion, and another two posts here, at ther top of my adding a hatch topic, then one more important cautionary note in the same add-a-hatch thread here.