We’ve had our Outland Hatch Covers for about a year and a half now, and we love the way that they keep the inside of the boat cool and don’t have to be removed to go sailing or if a squall threatens. They protect the hatches from crazing and clouding, and only took about 5 minutes to install.
AÂ few days ago, a friend here in the harbor right now called us and thanked us profusely for recommending the hatch covers, which they bought about 6 months ago. And yes, they liked how cool they kept the boat. But there was another reason . . .
It seems that another friend was helping them do some work on a wind instrument at the top of the mast. And despite taking numerous precautions, the guy at the top of the mast dropped a hammer to the deck.
Well, actually not to the deck . . . but smack dab onto a hatch.
38 feet. Full-size hammer.
The only damage? A gouge in the hatch cover. Well, that and a lost hammer. Â It bounced on the hatch cover and over the lifeline into the water.
But the hatch didn’t break . . . or even get a scratch on it.
(Note: this story also illustrates why you never, ever stand near the mast when someone is working at the top of the mast — even a dropped screw is going to hurt if it hits you!)
Okay, you’re not going to buy hatch covers “just in case” someone drops a tool from the top of the mast. And Outland Hatch Covers isn’t going to guarantee that their covers will always protect in situations like that. But I have to say that I like the idea that these covers provide more protection than a fabric hatch cover does.
We’ve left the hatch covers in place during at least five squalls where it blew 40 knots or more. They stayed perfectly in place, tight against the hatch. The fasteners didn’t budge.
The Outland brothers told me that someone else had them hold through a hurricane (they were accidentally left on), although they recommend that you remove the covers when winds are expected to be over 50 knots — or when crossing oceans.
Also, when I told the Outland brothers — James, Steve and Bob — about the hammer hit, they gave me a little bit of info. Should you ever need to replace a cover that they already have the measurements for, you can do so very quickly and at a reduced price: $15 for the smallest up to $30 for the largest. Two other benefits: since they are all white and don’t change color in the sun, the replacement will match the originals perfectly; and since it’s made from the same pattern, the fasteners will line up perfectly with the new one!
Read my first post about our Outland Hatch Covers here or just go straight to their website here. They have some of the best customer service of any company I’ve ever dealt with, too!
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Sailing Lutris says
We love our Outland Hatch Covers, LLC too!
david says
How do these do for insulating the heat inside when your up north in the winter?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Since we’re in the Florida Keys, I can’t say. Hopefully another reader will chime in. I’d think they’d help — just don’t know if it’s a huge help or more moderate.