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

[GaryMayo]

I can buy a portable torch kit from harbor fright for less the three hundred bucks and be through the lock the door and whatever else in three seconds and with little noise. And I'm going to wonder what the heck is in there that's worth an impressive lock. Must be something good!!

My wife will be sleeping inside there, what is she worth? Twenty eight years together would seem to be worth a lock on the door, that locks and unlocks from the inside.

Talking to you guys about a lock on a door is a little like watching John Cleese doing the skit called Rogue Cheddar on Monte Pythons Flying Circus.

Finally he says, "not much of a cheese shop is it really".

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P3L-2Lo ... ata_player

[Catigale]

You make the Admiral sleep inside a trailer? Now, thats frugal......

[GaryMayo]

You make the Admiral sleep inside a trailer? Now, thats frugal......

One of my favorite tee shirts reads:

You mess with me and you mess with the whole trailer park!

Priceless!

I guess now it could read: You mess with the whole slip! Lol

[Fxwg80hd]

So as my first mod of a MacGregor sailboat I hope to show what can be done with an obvious problem that everyone seems to have overlooked, or just has not bothered with.

I like the new way of thinking, do a mod and post in the mod section for others to view, use, or whatever. I was thinking about how to lock while I'm inside sleeping, though not that worried about it. I was thinking of installing a simple slide bolt but would love to see what you come up with. I have not done it yet since I would be sleeping on the boat during the warmer months and would simply have a screen covering the hatch, so no reason to try and lock that.

[Hamin' X]

Good idea, leaving the keys there. That way they won't damage the lock, or container when they break in.

~Rich

[Catigale]

You mess with the whole slip!

If I put a picture of me in my slip and Jims pantyhose, no one will break in for surely....

[Russ]

I love these threads.

Gary is right that the latch looks cheap. I seem to remember my Hunter had some kind of clever slot in the companionway board that a metal tongue slid through for a lock. Eeh, can't remember now. I did have an alarm setup which made awful noise that I hoped would scare off a would be thief. If I wanted to be really clever I would have had the spreader lights and all running lights come on flashing also.

When we're on board, we keep the hatch open for air. In fact, I don't want any barriers keeping me from getting out in a hurry. If you are worried about intruders, I think it was settled that a nice flare gun works well.

Yea, I don't want to force a thief to use a crow bar or sawsall to get in my boat. Just keep out the curious ones. I use a real cheap lock on the hatch. Please don't break my hatch to get in.

Most boats in my marina leave all their stuff out, GPS, VHF etc. Nobody locks anything. Better pickin's elsewhere.

[GaryMayo]

Recounting, I have two Mac 25 cabin doors, I picked the one not being used on the boat to use as a prototype.

Installation of this Mod was about an hour, give or take. In fairness, when I get the boat out of storage, and can check fit of a new door, I will be using all new materials to construct a nice looking door.

The deadbolt locks are keyed alike, but could be changed by the boat owner without tools in 20 seconds to be different keys, or two locks with two different keys, if you want to go partners on a boat, and always sail with the partner. for example. You could also just lock one lock. The main reason I used two deadbolts, is they add strength to the finished product as the materials used to beef up the door are sandwiched on each side of the original door, and held in place with the deadbolts. I have ordered a 16" stainless steel marine handle to open and close the door with, making it easier to carry below. This also will serve to strengthen the reinforced cabin door. That should be here next week. I ordered a matching one for the sliding pop up hatch cover also.

Watch the videos, and please let me know what you think.

Yeah! No More Gate Latch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk-y4g-E45c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sostpxHfQWw

[Crikey]

Anyone who like 'Monty Phython' can't be all bad' but I'll raise you one with 'Charlie'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X6HBUUu ... re=related
:Locks schmoks!

[GaryMayo]

Is this a step up from Gate Latches?

[Catigale]

If those deadbolts aren't 316 SS they will freeze up in one month in salt water

[Russ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sostpxHfQWw

I gotta admit, that is nice work. It looks much nicer than a gate latch. The double key missile launch style is a fun twist.

BTW, on the M (I've never seen an X) the hatch is hollow and floats. It's bulky as heck, but would float. I'm making a new one out of Lexan that sinks like a rock but lets light in and stores in 2 pieces.

If those deadbolts aren't 316 SS they will freeze up in one month in salt water

Or a year in fresh. Could cramp a sailing weekend to find it that way.

[mastreb]

If those deadbolts aren't 316 SS they will freeze up in one month in salt water

In the interest of accuracy, my my locking trailer hitch pin lock lasted almost four months being dipped in salt water twice a month.

[GaryMayo]

I am on the waiting list, I get to show it off in my marina slip in about ten years! lol

Cost of the cabin door lock mod was under $100 One lock, all that would have been necessary, $60ish

Next Mod?

A Helm for the Mac 25. That is a little bit bigger challenge. Hope to keep the total cost for that, including lengthening the boat, at under a grand.

[mastreb]

A Helm for the Mac 25. That is a little bit bigger challenge. Hope to keep the total cost for that, including lengthening the boat, at under a grand.

You can have mine if you come up with a reasonable tiller mod for the 26M