how does a hatch work?

My current boats work with a coming and a lid with edges that fits over the coming

Help! I really need to know this! I am in a race in a few weeks, and I really need to have a waterproof hatech. Is a sliding hatch best?

Cowana,
THat depends on what type of boat you have... what type are you sailing? The sliding hatch type is common on boats like the Victoria and the CR-914. It isn't exactly watertight, but often times people supplement that with packing tape or some sort of waterproof tape. If your boat has a sliding type hatch, I suggest you use that in addition. However, there are few boats that are completely watertight in ALL conditions (RC Laser might be one of the few...)

Andy

I am making my own boat... How does the lasers hatch work?

By not having one !

cowana,
Pick some style/type of hatch, then make it as water proof as you can. How do you do that? By making the hatch cover as snug as you can, maybe with a of soft inner lining sort of like a jar's lid. If that doesn't stop the water from pouring in, then tape the thing. Or maybe find a fairly large plastic jar/jug with a screw on lid. Use the neck with the threads on it as part of the deck, screw the lid/hatch on. Very few hatches are absolutely water proof (neither are boats for that matter). The 'trick' is to limit the amount of water that gets into the boat and remove what does get in...
- 'Doc

The laser's hatch is round, and resembles the plastic cover that you see on a cannister of peanuts... only smaller. Have a look...

[link=http://www.sailrclaser.com]www.sailrclaser.com[/link]

Andy

Yea right,
Just like I said it doesn’t have one, just a pillbox for the electronics like we have been using on I O M for years.

One Piece and Watertight - The RC Laser is molded (deck and hull) in one piece. Except for a 1/16" hole in the transom, used for pressure equalization, the boat is completely watertight. And, yes, it is hollow.
Electronics compartment - The engineering jewel of this boat is the electronics compartment. We have all fought with different ways to keep electronics dry, but this boat took the effort to a new level. When the boat is molded, it has a "cockpit" molded into the deck. A well-designed deck plate is then permanently sealed over this cockpit. The result is the driest, most accessible electronics area in any RC boat. Only those that operate RC equipment around water understand just how important this is - especially when sailed in salt water.

Mr. Peanut - Yes, it is a source of gentle ribbing that the cockpit hatch (entry through the deck plate) is remarkably similar to the plastic cap found on a peanut can. The male section of the hatch, which is molded as a 1" "tower" in the deck plate, ensures a positive snap shut hatch that is very easy to open and close, while being the tightest, most reliable, seal of any hatch in model sailing. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing hatch, but owners really don't care - it works so well.

The Laser is a nice mass produced RTR ideal for folks with little time or not too much building ability, but it can't offer much in the way of a solution to the perfect water proof hatch.

John.