Most all of us have them, and not only that, most of them look like they were installed by someone that flunked sixth grade shop class.
Why in Heavens Name did someone start the tradition of gate latches on a sailboat?
I am no locksmith, but one is needed on staff at the MacGregor plant.
My intention is to rid the gate latch from any MacGregor I purchase and put on a proper lock that does not look like a Dennis The Mennis project.
This is just one example I grabbed from a Google search. The lock is upside down. & too short for the project. To make it work, it is placed upside down and a bend is put in it. Really? & this is not just on one boat, it is on every single sailboat I look at, and not just Macs.
Doing something like this ticks me off. I mean really!
Last edited by GaryMayo on Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Stuff looks like it was engineered by a certain famous rodent on even new macs. But it works. Some of the same junk on my venture was used on my brand new M. Rodger has had thirty five years to test this stuff, under a boat marketed directly to beginners who are apt the make mistakes. It's simple and cheAp to replace rigging and hardware.
As for the lock haspe.or gate latch. The larger hinged part must reside on the vertical panel that gets removed. If it lives instead on the horizontal part that slides forward, it will dangle and stab you in the head one day.
I have yet to see an elegant way to deal with this except on my vintage 33 yawl.but everything was handmade on that boat.
Could just mount a slide-latch on the companionway hatch that slides up into the overhang gap on the sliding top hatch. That would prevent the sliding hatch from being able to be moved aft, thus securing it. A padlock could the lock it in the up position. Another one could be place inside so that you could lock the boat from the inside which is currently not possible. All the hardware is on the removable hatch with this setup and you can make it as heavy duty as you want.
If a gate latch must be used (ERRRRRR) it should be positioned so when locked ALL (ALL) hardware screws are under the latch. It is best that way for security, protection of the hardware from the weather, and it also looks better.
Still the first thing one touches on a wonderful sailboat, is a 3 dollar gate latch and a padlock? Really?
Hmmm. Looking at that picture, I could be inside that "secure" cabin in less than 10 seconds, I would guess. Three screws along the track holding the lower insert door spun out with a drill-driver. Zip, zip, zip.
I don't find that the hasp is the weakest link on a Mac. IIRC, the screws are covered when it's locked on my boat. It's fairly easy to correct if it's not, by installing it with the hinged part facing downward, instead of the upward as shown in the picture. But you would have to reverse-bend the metal. The loop part can still stay on the sliding upper hatch, though.
I'm also thinking that even if you could access them, you'd have some difficulty stopping the nylok nuts from turning if you're trying to surreptitiously remove the hasp screws.
Hmmm. Looking at that picture, I could be inside that "secure" cabin in less than 10 seconds, I would guess. Three screws along the track holding the lower insert door spun out with a drill-driver. Zip, zip, zip.
I don't find that the hasp is the weakest link on a Mac. IIRC, the screws are covered when it's locked on my boat. It's fairly easy to correct if it's not, by installing it with the hinged part facing downward, instead of the upward as shown in the picture. But you would have to reverse-bend the metal. The loop part can still stay on the sliding upper hatch, though.
I'm also thinking that even if you could access them, you'd have some difficulty stopping the nylok nuts from turning if you're trying to surreptitiously remove the hasp screws.
- B.
It is not so much that one is any better at keeping unwanted visitors out. I understand stop nuts on the back. What I do not understand is Fit N Finish is completely left off any decision to outfit a crafted object in this way. This is the same way a thousand tree houses are locked when no one is home. I just think Roger could out do the kids building tree houses. The smart kids working with smart dads are tucking the screws up under the latch, something Roger seldom seems to do.
Is it the dealers that are adding the gate latches to the boats? That would seem like a possibility. I have a hard time believing Roger is doing that to his boats.
Just the thought of that D A gate latch on my sailboat ticks me off.
Next spring, when I break my boat (s) out of storage, I will show you guys how to put a proper lock on a sailboat.
The same idea does not add much to the looks of a car either. lol
I believe I have in my mind a workable solution to boat security.
Xnay the vertical ice cream cone shaped hatch door, keeping it for a pattern. Use aluminum 6" wide 3/16" thick sheets cut to proper length so the bottom is the narrowest, and stack them till they reach the top. 4 should do the trick. If 5" material comes out to be a better fit, use that.
On the top widest one, you need an additional 2" x 4" piece about 6" long.
At your local hardware store, get a dead bolt lock, like you put on a house. Take the deadbolt lock to your favorite machine shop along with the aluminum block, and the top piece of the vertical hatch. I might like the lock to be in the center, but off to one side would be fine. Have the machine shop cut two holes in the block of aluminum, according to the template in the deadbolt lock instructions, and one hole in the 3/16" aluminum. Have them assemble the lock for you so you know it works. The deadbolt needs to come up out the top when locked, and pull down in flush when unlocked. When placed in the boat, this will completely lock the boat, in a way that looks nice, and means business.
When not in use, the vertical hatch will stack in small pieces, making it easy to keep out of your way. The edges of each piece could be machines at a 45 degree angle to keep rain from going in the seams.
On the boat, there should be nothing to modify. This should work fine on the X & the M. Older boats with the pop up hatches would require latches, one on each side, to keep the hatch from being lifted up. (not gate latches, work with me here)
You can purchase a hospital rated deadbolt, that are made out of all stainless steel. They will cost you more, and may need to be ordered.
The aluminum slats can be painted with gel coat to match your boat.
When the boat is locked up, it will truly be locked up, and look locked up, even if you are sleeping inside, because you can lock it from the inside if you wish.
When the boat is unlocked, it will not have any lock showing.
This is what I am going to make for my boat. Additional panels can be made if you want light panels, or bug screens.
The locking panel can have a built in motion detector that puts off a bright LED light when a person enters the cockpit of the boat, to help you unlock, or deter others from messing with your boat. . This could also have an alarm if you wanted one.
The gate latch is stock from the factory. Putting a large screwdriver in it and twisting it will rip it out of the FG in 1 second, so it security function is minimal. Living in a place where said perps are rarified is important
Catigale wrote:The gate latch is stock from the factory.
I am amazed. Amazed they use em, and amazed they install them the way they do. Does that tell us something about the way these boats are built?
'
So, this spring I am going to the area boat show. I am sure a Mac will be on display. I will be sure to look at how all the other boats lock up that have cabins.
The entry level bicycles in walmart have better first impresson hardware than that. I understand what you are saying, and defending something we all love is understandable, however, in this case, if you give it even a moment to sink in, you will see the new guy has seen something simple that all of you have taken for granted for far too long.
In the mods section, when people are rebuilding elaborate doors for the entry way to their cabin, they still throw on that old gate latch.
Really?
As a new guy, I will do the right thing, and accept your answer ( yeah right, gate latch on my boat? Backwards installed gate latch with exposed screws showing? Gate latch bent and twisted like a hardware that came through an f4 tornado? No! )
Shame I put my boat away so I cannot work on it now. This means I get to build and rebuild this in my mind all winter. I may go mad!
As the cabin has a very usable living space inside, the door to and fro needs to be accessible from both sides, including locking and unlocking.
Imagine selling a motorhome with no door locks, only a gate latch on the outside and just a window to crawl out of in one bedroom? I doubt the safety industry would let the motorhome industry get away with that.
Think I will call Roger on this, and see just exactly why this gate latch is on our boats.
Bottom line is most boat people are good people, and most thieving rabble aren't interested in sails, oars, sleeping bags, or a battery. I just don't leave anything on the boat worth stealing.
If flunking 6th grade shop is the only qualifier - - - then I qualify 
