Well said. I am sure Bob has considered all the angles before keeping the hatch and hinging it forward. I do worry about someone who cannot remember to dog down the forward hatch cover when the boat is on a trailer, since the thing could just as well fly up in a gust while sailing and gulp down a wave. Anyway, I think an opening a few inches from the main hatch on a boat this size is unnecessary, unless the cabin top needs the extra strength around the mast step. But give us the wisdom to accept things we cannot change without extensive fiberglass work. I have a slightly smaller boat in my stable (the brand of which I dare not mention) with a flush cap at the bow that can be removed to screw in a dorade vent; perhaps a cleaner solution for ventilation, and somewhat closer to idiot-proof. Since I do have that beautiful hatch cover I will probably never open, I might just try to find a flexible solar cell that covers the unit and keeps the battery charged. How green is that? Wicked gnarly, dude, and way rad. Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla (2004 vintage) My Body (much earlier vintage) -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+tjenk=gte.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+tjenk=gte.net@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tom Smith Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 3:53 PM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: RE: M_Boats: Re: hatch direction Unless I'm mistaken, Bob bought or licensed the rights to use an M17 deck mold (among other molds) that included a hatch designed to hinge forward. Possible Bob changed that, but because the deck is molded to include raised mounting areas for the hinges, I doubt it. Perhaps Bob will correct me if I'm wrong... I believe that Jerry changed the configurations on the newer deck mold (what...post '82?) because of concerns that some fool (you know who you are) would drive down the interstate and the unsecured hatch would blow off and crash through some guy's windshield. I imagine he changed the sliding hatch from a design that allowed it to lift off to the present captured version for the same reason. I doubt those changes had anything to do with legislation but rather with litigation. Since most M17s live on trailers and get towed places, it probably wasn't a bad idea. So let's blame Jerry for protecting us from ourselves, not the government. Don't get me wrong, I personally love to bash the government (even though I'm currently suckling at the government teat myself on a very sweet 6-month contract). After almost 8 years of breathtaking incompetence, who wouldn't? BTW, I've found the open hatch on our M17 provides more than enough ventilation regardless of which way it's hinged--it's better a sucking air out than blowing it in anyway. tom _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats