Hinge for dog house

[tom135]

Hi,

I own a 198CLX Chaparrel (spelling) boat. The dog house that covers the engine is just sitting in place. I would like to install two stainlessteel hinges on the front, so I can lift it forward. I would also like to be able to disconnect the center part of the hinge to remove the doghouse completly. I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for any help.

Cheers
Tom

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Hinge for dog house

Hey you are a member of iboats! Have you checked out the iboats store for parts?

http://www.iboats.com/Boat_Parts_Ac...205253--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0

I am sure you might find what you need there.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Hinge for dog house

Tom, That is a pretty common way of attaching the motor cover. You should be able to find the correct hinges in most Marine supply places. My '88 SeaRay was built that way. When I rebuilt it, I omitted the hinges. The motor box never moved, after I removed the hinges, and I found it really hard to work on with the box on the hinges, hence why I remved them.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Hinge for dog house

fwiw. i have one latch in the center of my doghouse at the back. the ft. is free standing. i don't know how my boat came from the oem. but there is a hook glassed in place inside the ft. center of my doghouse. it has a bungee cord of all things that i hook to the ft. motor mount + on the hook inside. my doghouse don't move amazingly + it's easy to remove and put out of the way while servicing the engine.

just food for thought. if ya like the idea, i can put up a pic to make it more clear.

i really inteneded on doing a hinge or the likes when i got my boat 3 years ago, but this stupid bungee thing works so well, i've not bothered. if it ain't broke, don't fix it i guess....

 

[lowkee]

Re: Hinge for dog house

Have you considered a simple slot?

Mount a slot on the transom and the cover will have a tab which lowers into the slot. That way it can lift right off but won't move when in place. For the front you can simply mount a couple of dowels in the floor and drill a couple of receptor holes in the doghouse. You now have a freestanding doghouse which won't inadvertently move.

 

[tom135]

Re: Hinge for dog house

Thanks for all help. I'm fairly new to boating and any help is appreciated.

I looked in iboats store and found one type of hindge that I liked, but it is out of stock. I never really thought about the doghouse getting in the way. With that I would still like to secure it some how. Ziggy if you could send a pic of your setup my way it would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

Cheers
Tom

 

[ziggy]

Re: Hinge for dog house

ya may need copy these pics to paint and blow them up.

here's the outside back.

it's just a suitcase type latch. has an eye for a padlock that i don't use. this i'm sure is oem for my boat. the doghouse just latches to the deck.

the inside.

my doghouse is all fiberglass and there apears to be a small block of wood likely glassed into the inside center of the doghouse. the hook is screwed to the block.

the bungee just loops over the hook. the free ends get attached to my ft. motor mount.

like i said. in my case. this system works amazingly well. i remember when i bought my boat the po said ya'll be able to make that better i'm sure. well, i don't know that anything would be better. very nice to get the doghouse out of the way totally while working on her...

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Hinge for dog house

That Lime Time sure is purty, looks like a brand new replica. I bet your lake neighbors know who is cruising from five mile away, LOL.

Keep in mind what will be in or on the floor. I would not want something I would be stubbing my toe on to be there.

Ziggy's sounds like there is nothing? or maybe an alignment block?

 

[tom135]

Re: Hinge for dog house

Wow, thanks for the pics, opens up more options for me. Very nice boat.

Cheers
Tom

 

[ziggy]

Re: Hinge for dog house

Ziggy's sounds like there is nothing? or maybe an alignment block?

nope nothing to align it other than the seats and rear deck keeping all in alignment. nothing to stub my toe on is a plus too....

thanks for the compliments on the boat, she's a 1975 original. no restore....

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Hinge for dog house

My Chaparral's engine cover just sits there held by it's own weight, tipping it forward is good for checking oil and a visual inspection but that's about it, made of plywood awkward and heavy, I thought about hinging it but aborted the idea, what I should do is make it two pieces, a base and top, that way at least I can take it out of the boat by myself without busting a nut.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Hinge for dog house

My MT has a latch on each side at the rear which secure it to the floor. I would not want a hinge there as most of the time when I need to do something on the engine, I want the hatch out of the way, not just tilted forward.