What Is Up With The Gate Latches (Hasp) On Our Macs?

[opie]

OK - OK
I saw my error immediately....haha, the above will only work if there is someone inside the boat........ oh, well..........

[Sumner]

...Since on my Mac, the vertical hatchboard can not be removed without pushing forward the sliding hatch a couple of inches, .......

The hasp works for us and I now have a board that can be used on the inside that keeps the sliding hatch from moving if we want to lock ourselves in and works as opie outlined above.

To me the hasp thing doesn't look like a cheap way out that only MacGregor used, but in fact is widely used across manufactures. Most of the boats I've looked at are exactly the same when it comes to locking up the boat,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[GaryMayo]

...Since on my Mac, the vertical hatchboard can not be removed without pushing forward the sliding hatch a couple of inches, .......

The hasp works for us and I now have a board that can be used on the inside that keeps the sliding hatch from moving if we want to lock ourselves in and works as opie outlined above.

To me the hasp thing doesn't look like a cheap way out that only MacGregor used, but in fact is widely used across manufactures. Most of the boats I've looked at are exactly the same when it comes to locking up the boat,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37


Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

There are two separate issues with the hasp / latch on the sailboats for a cabin entryway lock. First is the issue of a hasp at all. For one, it is a one side locking system on a door made to allow people to come and go. No other vehicle in the world uses such a silly system to lock a people door. This is made to lock up trash cans in an alley, or keep a paint cabinet off limits to a three year old in a garage. Not something one would ever use to lock the front door of a vacation home.

The second issue with the hasp / latch is the caca way they are most often installed on our Macs. On every Mac I have seen, they are bent like someone has already broken in, and most always installed incorrectly with the henge hardware protruding outward, rather than being tucked under. If the hasp were to be installed like a locksmith did it, or like someone that could read the package directions, the installation look would be a lot cleaner.

The Mac 25 was placed into the sailboat hall of fame. With a hatch locking system that I have seen? Galvanized hardware with rusted nuts and bolts? Most soap box derby entrys are better thought out.

The true marine hasps are stainless, with stainless hardware, installed correctly. Even then, it treats the cabin like it it was a cabinet you are child proofing. My idea, while being heavier duty than it needs to be, is not something that looks like who ever installed it, did not care how it looked or how it functions as a door lock for people.

[bscott]

"and the beat goes on"

Bob

[K9Kampers]

Those dolphin hatchboards are COOL!
--------

Of those that need to lock themselves IN... where are you sailing??

[Sumner]

....Of those that need to lock themselves IN... where are you sailing??

We only had one night, when our paranoia took over ....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... 10-16.html

...that I would of wanted to of been able to of locked the boat from the inside. I guess when you are watching someone doing something that might be illegal and they know you are watching then that is maybe not a good situation to be in, especially in a remote location. I've never had a fear of someone actually coming to the boat to rob us or such. Now saying that we do lock the dinghy to the boat as that is a concern in some places, even with us on the boat. Still worst case I can't think of a way to lock us in that would stop someone who was determined from getting to us. I think the chances of that ever happening or so slim that I'm not going to spend time worrying about it.

In the last couple years I've never read of someone being attacked/robbed on their boat in the U.S.. I'm more worried about what can happen on the road or in motels getting to the boat.

Gary you did a nice job on your mod and if it is what you want then that is all that counts. I've done stuff to our boat that some think looks like crap, others like it, but the only ones that matter are Ruth and I. I post it for others to take or leave. We all have different reasons for the mods we do or don't do and none of us have to justify them to others. In the other post I was just pointing out that the hasp is widely used on all makes of boats. BTW ours is SS and I guess it came that way on the boat,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[GaryMayo]

This is my first mod to a boat. Roger has made, what, 35,000 sailboats, and he is still warping a galvanized gate latch (hasp) and installing it incorrectly and with non marine hardware, that frankly amazes me.

I still have one hatch door, and over the winter I will be doing this mod again, this time with concealed locks that do not show, that can be opened and closed from both sides..

[K9Kampers]

Roger has made, what, 35,000 sailboats, and he is still warping a galvanized gate latch (hasp) and installing it incorrectly and with non marine hardware, that frankly amazes me.

35,999 Mac owners don't see it as a problem, he must be doing something right!

Roll 'em

...The result is that we have the best selling boat of this type in the world. We have built over 36,000 sailboats. In this competitive society, we would have been gone along time ago if our boats weren't right.

Sail Magazine recently recognized MacGregor as one of the most innovative of the sailboat builders over the last 3 decades, and as the builder that brought affordable sailing to thousands.

Just wait til you start sailing your Mac, then you'll realize the significant drawbacks of this brand!

Love my with all it's drawbacks

[trdprotruck]

LOL! I just read all the pages and can't believe how large this thread got. I too dislike the factory method of locking the hatch.

I don't dislike the locking hasp for the lack of security when someone breaks in, but more for the possibility of somone getting locked inside either on purpose or accidentally. Although I hope it never happen's I couldn't help but wonder about the scenario where you are sleeping aboard and someone sneaks aboard and puts a lock / bolt through the locking hasp. Although some of us are skinny enough to fit through the bow hatch which has no exterior lock, some of us with more girth could certainly get stuck making a comical site for all others to see in the morning.

-Randy

[Crikey]

Still Ribbit Must be something going on with this nonsense though..... beats me

[Catigale]

Brian....you are too technical.

[GaryMayo]

I think a sailboat is the only jail cell sold publicly with a cot, toilet, sink and windows you can not crawl through, and a one way lock on the outside.

What other single item is for sale, designed to house people, that only locks the front door from the outside?

While it is true, Mac's are not the only ones guilty of this, Mac's seem to be one boat maker that takes very little pride in mounting this inappropriate locking mechanism on a door that could very easily have people inside, and is designed to attract people.

Yes, ship containers, tractor trailers, dumpsters, and many other things can and do get people locked in them from time to time, but these things are not designed to have people inside them. California will not let some farmers water their crops because some small beetle is endangered, but they let a boat maker sell what could be a floating people trap? While in the history of Mac's have never shown this to be the case, most likely because people can get out the front small hatch, or kick out the flimsy door, still, the whole thing brings into wonder why the silly latch / lock / hasp was ever used in the first place?

This thread is as active as it is because deep inside, all of you know what I have said hits a resounding cord of truth. Sure the latch as it is works, but you could also duct tape the door closed each time and cut it open like a UPS box . Ghetto is ghetto.

Some people here have placed this thread in the realm of Mac bashing. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I love my mac, and I am planing on getting a Power Sailor when I find the right one. I love em. They look as good or better than other sailboats in their class, do more, do it better, and do it for less money. However, being a perfect sailboat for 35,000 boaters does not mean the first thing an owner sees when he climbs aboard is something that looks like the entry way to Dennis the Menace's tree house.

When I purchased my boat on the lawn in front of the marina, my boat was along side another boat belonging to The Attorney General of the State of Nebraska. His boat looked much the same as mine, another brand and a little smaller, do not remember what brand. His boat was also locked up with gate latches. Yep, two of them. One on each side. He fiddled with the locks for an hour, do not know if he was trying to lock it or unlock it. Two gate locks on his boat. Maybe because as the Attorney General of the State, he needed an additional level of security, or maybe what, I do not know? I do know two gate latches on a boat does not look any better than one gate latch looks.

[GaryMayo]

It would appear from the front page numbers about posts and readers, the only thing more important to Mac owners than the lock on the front door, is a good inexpensive autopilot.

[seahouse]

Hey Cat!

Technically though, isn't that called a "hang fire" posting?

"He who hast hashed out the hasp, hasps best" - Haspiddes Agrippa the G_eek philospher once harped.

- Brian.

Hey, notice that I have 360 posts - so don't try to tell me I'm not well-rounded.

[GaryMayo]

Did a little digging, and it appears the last thing the captain on the Edmond Fitzgerald was heard to have said was " Darn Hatch Hasp!" lol


http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story ... erald.html

"An official inquiry into the sinking attributed it to human error — saying the rear hatches had not been properly closed."