Hardware for under-the-floor access?

[jtexas]

It's a 15ft tri-hull fiberglass fishing boat, constant 5.? foot beam from transom nearly to the bow. I'm putting a floor into the cockpit area where it had none before. It'll only be 2" off the hull at the center. Where this floor meets the stern casting deck is a bulkhead (if you can call it that) with a hole right smack in the middle draining to the bilge. Don't think it matters, but there is a floor under the stern deck.<br /><br />I want to be able to clear that drain hole when it clogs, so I need to cut a hand-sized panel out of the floor right there. I'm not inclined to use hinges. I'm looking around for some kind of hardware to hold it down without hurting a bare foot that might step on it. The floor will be finished with a layer of fiberglass cloth, maybe paint, but no carpet.<br /><br />Any ideas?

 

[samsam]

Re: Hardware for under-the-floor access?

Maybe you can incorporate a drain for your new deck into the old one so all you'd have to do is stick your finger or a piece of wire in it to clear it. Sam

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Hardware for under-the-floor access?

What about doing it the simple/stupid way and just getting a premade deck hatchor deck plate?<br />Here's another plate:<br />Click here. <br />If you wanted to keep it real flush, you could router out a bit of the floor around the plate's flange to sink it in a 1/4" or so. You may want to reinforce that area a bit though if you're using 1/2.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Hardware for under-the-floor access?

Thanks, Paul but eight or twelve bucks is kind of steep...nah, just kiddin.<br /><br />That's exactly what I'm talkin bout. Didn't intend to delegate my searching to ya, just didn't really know what I was lookin for.<br /><br />Thanks!