Gas struts or hydraulic engine hatch lift
 

Need your ideas. Rigging the 37 scorpion, built offshore race hatches. Which should we use for lifting our engine hatches. What are the pros and cons of each.

its really tough to beat the simplicity of power hatch lifts seems most side by sides do use struts though.

power lifts
pros - well . . . ya push a button an they go up . . . thats it
cons - ya gotta buy and install two of 'em

struts
pros - cheaper and easier install
cons - no "one button" to push while your sittin at the dock trying to look cool :cool:

:D



I would probably use two smaller power lifts or maybe build some custom hydraulic ones. I always thought older Merc MR (pre Alpha) trim ram cylinders could be used in some creative ways like this. Long throw, fairly cheap and easy to find plus there pretty strong. Early MR rams are smaller around then later Alpha/Bravo variants.

What's wrong with an electric actuator? No hoes or oil to mess with.

I was going to do hydraulic rams on the hatches I built. I bought the rams, extra pump, and all the hoses and there they sit in the garage. Never got around to installing them with all the other projects I have going on. So I installed gas struts on the backs of the hatches and they work really well.

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Measured the area. Seems like we need an actuator that's 41" closed. The longest I've seen is 31" (CP performance). May need to fabricate a 10" bracket? Seems so.

I like the simplicity of the electric, , but you got me thinkin cole, hoes and oil, could be fun! :D

I'll help Ryan out

Thanks buddy

Broom stix's!!! bla hahahahaha..

Freudian slip? Ha

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Anyone know of this apache with struts ?

Wrong one sorry. [ATTACH=CONFIG]540087[/ATTACH]

This is the apache I'm talking about

What are the two silver washer looking pieces on the hatch?? Are they the mechanisms to hold the hatch down?

Second one is in jersey. "Joker" John makepeace had it redone then traded it into outerlimits

Working in the bilge, with your head up just above the opening, a gust of wind comes up......may wish you had actuators instead of gas struts. ;)

Good point ..