J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Hatch Replacements

I've found it's finally time to replace my old plastic hatches with something more solid (and ORC legal!), but I don't want to "break the bank" . Anybody got any recomendations or warnings? I love the Lewmars, but we're racing on a shoestring budget!
Thanks,
Doug.

I can tell you what NOT to do... I have bought 4 Bomar forward hatches in 9 yrs. I finally got them to admit there was a "problem" with them at the Annapolis boat show in 2003. The pins they use in the hinges are/were "rolled stainless" and in the tropics the salt water caused these to rust, swell, then break inside the plastic hinge...which is integral to the hatch, thus non replaceable. They say if I send them the old hatch (which one?) and a receipt they will replace it.... GO LEWMAR.

Try the Lewmar Medium Profile hatch. They're significant less expensive than the Ocean hatches and Lewmar claims that they're just as strong. Unfortunately, Lewmar does make them in the 00 size.