With more Retrofit Hatches in production I would like to share the reasons for buying them. The most often cited reason by customers is for letting in light just like the more modern boats after 1986 with respect to Catalina. Just like the more modern Lewmar and Bomar hatches you do not step on them even though my hatches are 1/2 inch thick both for safety and scratching. The tendency is to still step on that area because you always have had. With a new boat some how we are very aware not to step on the aluminum cased hatches.
The hatches are formed on an investment casting and come out very close to each other. Like every boat they are just a little different. If you are ordering one I have you, as depicted in the Retrofit Hatch video by Joe Cicero on Youtube, measure the arc on the side of the hinges so that we may deliver one to you that matches closely. The rest of the fit is dependent on the lock down and the resilience of the gasket. A new gasket may need to be acquired from Catalina if yours is torn, flattened, and no longer able to compress and bounce back. Hope this helps.
Mike
