Most recent trailering lession

[DBBRanger]

I've put on over 25,000 miles trailering my R25 Classic and it seems I get a new lession every time I take a long trip . My last lession was to be very careful leaving motels at dark because overhead tree limbs can wreak havoc on the radar arch even without the radar mounted on it. This time I find it's important to check the security of the hatch lock handles to insure they have not vibrated loose. Apparently one set of latches did vibrate during travel and opened up. Then, bouncing of the boat allowed the hatch to open a bit and the wind caught it, flipping it back and spraying glass everywhere. The situation was aggravated by the fact that I had turned the front cabin hatches so they open to the front to help flow through while at anchor. All the hatches handles are relatively loose. Has anyone addressed that? Maybe the gaskets have flatten a bit. I was thinking of adding washers under the latch bolts to put more pressure on the latch before the bolt bottoms out in it's hole. Any thoughts?

 

[Hydraulicjump]

You have both my sympathy and empathy. Did the same thing towing my 27. The fault was all mine because—having reversed the hatch to improve airflow—I failed to fully secure it. I found locking the new hatch (as part of my trailering check list) was sufficient to prevent this from reoccurring. Of course, I have to remember to consult the check list.

And I found glass in odd places for a full year.

 

[knotflying]

Question? One of the latches has a tab for locking the hatch, was that engaged when the incident happened and it loosened?

 

[DBBRanger]

One of the latches has a tab for locking the hatch

As far as I can see, we have no locking tab on either of the two latches on any hatch. I'll check the new hatch when
I get it. Maybe my 2008 hatches don't have that feature? I assume you are not talking about the knob used to hold the hatch open. We did not have those tightened, but I would not have trusted them to keep it locked down.

 

[stwendl]

Perhaps some gadget that slips over the handles and rigidly connects both so that they can’t turn might help

 

[Larry H]

Someone here on the Tugnuts has made a plywood bracket to keep the handles from opening. I have seen a photo in one of the albums here, but I don't know which album. I will see if I can find the photo.

 

[Osprey]

 

[Larry H]

Osprey,

Thanks for posting your photos. My old brain sorta got it right, but I could not find the photos. Now I have them saved.

 

[knotflying]

Mine does have a tab on one of the handles to lock it in place