Neil wrote: > Sounds like Mr Edgson copied most of the good bits of an R&D weedhatch
> arngement (wwhich Ray did as standard on trds annd semi-trds siince the > 1980's)...except the weehatch itsself ;-) > The plate clamped down to the top of the uxte platte is most disconcerting, > especially once you have stugged to crrack the seal and watch the upstad > fi ill with water. Having struggled to remove the weedhch on an n early Edgso > boa oat (under the counter, it had no hatch in the rear deck at all) no wonder > he copied a tried and tested design ;-) In your dreams ;-))) Graham likes to see the boats ballasted so that the uxter plais is just out of the water at the very stern. In that case no water comes into the upstand. ever. Albion was ballasted a bit lower than that and I had to do a small mop up after each weed hatch session. Once mopped out though, no more came in. The advantage of that design was that the weed hatch plate was so much lighter to lift out as it only comprised of a short solid shaft mounted to the bottom plate. No struggling with plates top and bottom and strong (anti-vibration) leg/s in between. Never had to stuggle to crack the seal either. One sharp push on the upright shaft and it released. > > So how does the weed hatch work on Phoenix? A struggle under the stern deck (at the stern of the engine room)is the simple answer to that. But, in 2.5 years on Brunel on one the shallowest canals in France I *never* had to get down the weedhatch so I'm not too bothered about the prospects for Phoenix. There is also a shaft mounted cutter blade on Phoenix so there is even more protection for what it's worth. Roger
