Adding a Deck Plate (hatch) to Oasis

Did some searching for a half hour and found nothing.

Has anyone added a screw in deck plate to the rear cargo area of an '09 Oasis? I'm thinking of adding a 5" opening for my automobile loading device, access to nuts for aft handles I'm adding, and access to the rudder strings.

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Just Traveling About

I haven't seen any either. Keep in mind that cargo deck does get wet. If you put a hatch there you can expect some water to be entering the hull at that point. I wouldn't recommend it -- you've got other access areas and ways to extend your reach into that area if necessary.

THIS IS MY FIRST POST SO BEAR WITH ME PLEASE. WIFE AND I HAVE A 07 OASIS AND WE HAD A 8" HATCH INSTALLED FOR EXTRA REACH. ALSO WORKED OUT GREAT FOR XTRA ROD AND HOBIE FIRST AID KIT THAT FITS THESE HATCHES. IT JUST DID FIT IN THIS AREA WITH NO SIDE PLAY. THERE IS A STERING CABLE BELOW THIS POINT SO CUT CAREFUL.

Welcome Har01dav!
I'm interested in your extra hatch -thanks for posting. It has been talked about but you may be the only one who has actually added one.
How is it going? You've had no problems with leaks?
A pic or two would be great!
If you're not sure how to post pics this may help:
http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=9237:

Thanks HARO1DAV. I nicked the rudder line housing but no real damage. Didn't break through. I knew it was there but didn't use my depth gauge on my Rototzip and let it go a little deep.

I installed a 4" screw out hatch for a beta test of my loader. I will install a 6" screw out as soon as it arrives. I'm using screw out deck plates because of the fitting I have mounted to the plate. I will have a spare plate to screw in when I want the area flat. The screw outs are better at sealing than the Hobie hatch, IMO, due to there ability to apply equal pressure around the seal and varying pressure for gasket expansion/compression. I used 6" because I am to far aft, for my loading device to work, for an 8".

Did you puts some fairleads or clamps on the rudder lines to keep them clear of the hatch? It would be less of an angle change than where they enter the hull at the stern so should not cause a wear issue.

I'll post pictures when the installation is complete.

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Just Traveling About

HEY, I'LL GET AND TRY THE PIC THING FIRST CHANCE I GET. I DON'T HAVE PICS NOW THOUGH. AS I SAID LAST POST I PUT A HOBIE FIRST AID KIT THAT HAS THE ORANGE TOP AND IS MADE TO FIT THE 8" HATCHES. I JUST PUSH THE CABLE TO THE SIDE AND DROP THE 1ST AID KIT INTO PLACE. ONCE HATCH IS CLOSED I ASSUME IT EITHER STAYS TO THE SIDE OR DROPS DOWN AND SLIDES THERE. I'VE BEEN OUT SOLO AND TANDEM AND HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY DIFFERENCE IN H20 LEAKS.

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VRC

I DID IT STRINGY. THIS IS THE HATCH AT THE BACK OF MY OASIS.

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VRC

THE NEXT PICS SHOWS WHAT THE AIR FITTING IS FOR.


HOPES THIS HELPS STRINGY.

THANKS FOR PIC INFO ALSO

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VRC

HARO1DAV, great pictures and nice installation! What are your thoughts about water entry through the hatch mounting or lid?

Nice installation. My hatch is centered about 2" aft of your location and the reason I'm using a 6" hatch.

Roadrunner, Water should drain out by the rudder before it stands long enough to leak I hope. Might be bad news if you forget to close it though.

Rick

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Just Traveling About

Nice work HARO1DAV!
It looks like it was factory installed. Very professional!
Thanks for posting the pics.
Rick- You and HARO1DAV have come up with a useful mod that I am going to have to try on my Oasis.
Thanks for the idea!

THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENTS. AS FOR LEAKS GO I REALLY HAVE'NT
BEEN IN REAL ROUGH H20 FOR VERY LONG. SAW NO MAJOR H20 ON MY OUTINGS THAT I HAVE TAKEN. BUT IF YOU OLD SALTS SAY HOBIE HATCHES DO OR ARE PRONE TO LEAK, I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH TANDEM AND GO WITH A SCREW IN STYLE SINCE I DON'T GET IN IT VERY OFTEN. HENCE THE STORAGE OF THE FIRST AID KIT.

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VRC

Hobie should do this in the factory to all their Kayaks. It would make replacing the rudder strings much easier for sure.

I finally got around to installing the 8" aft deck hatch. It has greatly increased what we can load and allows the interior space of the Oasis to be fully utilised.
I located the hatch so that the rim was just clear of the angled rise of the deck.


I used a Dremel to cut the hole and avoid the rudder line


I put plenty of silicone sealant on the hatch and the deck then using 3/16 screws with large flat washers and lock nuts
tightened the nuts a little. When the sealant was drier I then tightened the hatch screws fully. Testing with a hose showed no leaks. A wing nut on the lower port screw keeps the rudder line out of the way.



The extra hatch makes it easy to load longer items and gives us an extra gear bucket location.


A very useful mod for Oasis users IMHO!
Thanks Haro1dav and tandemcyclist for the idea!

Stringy, great "How-To"! Your two step application on the silicone to form a level gasket surface and and wing nut for the rudder line spreader were really slick problem solvers. Nicely documented as usual.

Thanks to all three of you for demonstrating that a rear hatch can be an excellent project!