Where to look for replacement engine hatch lifts?
 

Looking to replace the single ram in my Donzi 33ZX with a pair of them and move them to the outsides of the engine compartment. That heavy hatch has gotten beat up from rocking back and forth it seeems, kind of surprised they only put one ram in the center in the first place. Pulling it off fixing the fiberglass cracks and id like to redo it in a more stable manner. It rocks sitting on the trailer, in the water no wonder it got beat up if the hatch was ever opened

open the ram currently is 56.25 from floor to the hinge bolt center, and it has around 23.5" of stroke. Anyone have lists or places to start looking for reasonably priced rams?

Search for linear actuators. What brand is the current one?

cpperformance?

API Marine also Lenco --- I am dealer for both of them.

My brother got one last year for his 33zx. I will have him chime in

I wouldn't advise installing two on a single hatch. That could turn into a nightmare.

I had to move my hatch ram further to one side to clear my new engine so I put a gas strut on the opposite side to help out a bit.. Works pretty good..

Acculift is where my brother got his.

He has an 01 33zx worked perfectly

I looked all over when I replaced mine a few years ago.
Prices were all pretty similar. I got mine from CPPerformance. Had a lifting capacity of 500#

Can you expand on this?

I like the idea, have any pictures of how offset it is?

The strut would keep it from wobbling, but it would have to be a pretty low pressure Id think to not make it harder to close, etc. have dimensions/part number for what you used?

Didnt necessarily mean nightmare but more so the possibilities of the rams not going up and down the same.assuming you'd wire both rams to one switch. in a perfect world they would work perfectly without one operating a bit slower in due time and or having intermittent problems with one or the other. Even thought you can pull a pin I would just think they would be in the way and a head banger while wrenching. Not sure sure where your outer stringers are at but will they align ok with hatch without interference. If you did install two I'd glass in a 1 1/2" x 3" board or similar just to help strength and might help even out weight, hatch, etc. Is your hatch fully padded with the seat back attached? I'm just trying to think if there is a way to prevent your problem without having to go through the time and expense. I'm not familiar with the underside of hatch and what it gets pulled down to or not to. Not any other option to eliminate problem. Nice looking boat though....

i remember I had a boat with just your basic car hatch strut that worked fine but would just need to work the opposite like a screen door air ram. (Just refeering to the concept not actual)

Thanks, the old girl should be a looker when shes done.

I was thinking hydraulic, whereas they were connect they would self level like lift.. but that aint this LOL. I can see what you mean. The lift is on a middle stringer dead center, and the outboard ones are in good location to put lifts on either side. Really no way to have offset one of any kind, you have outside edges and center as only real mounting options. Its just the sunpad, no seats attached when raised. The current setup has a steel hinge bar at the back of the hatch (hatch is basically flat square with sunpad on it) two hinge points under swim platform, and two mounting points on underside of hatch 3 screws on each mount point. The fiberglass is cracked up real bad there, cant get screws out stripped etc, so Ive taken it off to refiberglass all that. Was thinking of putting a stainless 6" by 5 ft or whatever plate across it when fixed, so the mount points are distributed across the surface in more than 2 2' circles (pretty dumb design) Honestly with a fresh lift, sturdy base mount it may be perfectly fine no more weeble wobbles? I like the idea of a low pressure gas strut, maybe just add two very light ones on the outer edges for stability with the hatch open and pull pins to drop them out of the way when servicing.

The are just about all the way to the outsides of the hatch.. I'll have to look up the part number I used.. got it at Autozone..
Found the part numbers I used... Hardware ML3000 Gas strut A95767

My hatch ram doesn't pull down, it's set up so I could lift the hatch by hand if the battery is dead. When I close it, I have to push down on the side with the gas strut to get it to close the last 2" on that side but no big deal.

https://i.imgur.com/ddBRNzP.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yGTStTF.jpg

Of course the pitures dont show haha

Hey I might have to eat my words and is what it is but ck out swap right now. How coincidental!!! Slick set up FS.

????

Think He's referring to this..

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...tch-lifts.html

Hydraulic I would say no problem with twin rams. Electrical linear actuators, stick to 1.

There is a YouTube of those Dana Hatch lifts in action I saw a couple years back. Not sure what pump the guy used but they opened in like 4 seconds and closed in 2-3 seconds. :eekdrop:

Your pictures still dont show Boatally

Nice setup.. but bit pricier than what I was trying to do for hatch, i gotta get two blowers motors drives and stereo stuff done! haha

huh.. they show on mine but they're off MY google account so maybe that's why.. let me try to change it..

Can anyone else see them?

No pictures can be seen. Just big blank spots.

I just changed where I have them hosted.. hopefully they work NOW..

Not the best shot of the hatch rams as I was taking engine pictures but can take some this weekend if it'll help you out.. :)

Pictures are showing.

I'm selling a new pair of engine hatch lifts made in Italy by Ultraflex Control Systems (Uflex). $700 for the pair. AV4512

Manufacturer Part Number: 40582D
Length Fully Retracted: 32.5"
Length Fully Extended: 50.5"
Stroke Length: 18"
External Diameter: 1.9"
Maximum Oscillation Range: 125°
Maximum Load: 530 Lbs
Lifting Speed (No Load): 1"/sec
Lifting Speed (Max Load): 0.67"/sec
Current Absorption: 20 Amps
Waterproof Rating: IP 65

The AV hatch lifters are electromechanical actuators, specifically designed for marine use on recreational boats. They allow full or partial opening and closing of heavy engine hatches, peak tanks, hatch beams etc. By activating a switch, it is possible to lift the hatch to any desired position from closed to full open; an internal self-locking mechanism will maintain the position preventing any accidental hatch closing. Please note that these are single action lifters. The internal motor will function to extend the lifter. When commanded, the lifters rely on force of the load to retract. These lifter motors do not retract the lifters without any force applied. In case of a power failure an emergency device allows for manual opening.