[ReelFisher]

I am looking to switch out the traditional lift and turn latches on my boat to slam latches. I am tired of people either not knowing how to work them or not closing them properly. My question is what are the chances that the L shaped locking bracket that goes inside the hatch is close to the same depth in both styles? The bracket has a little bit of height adjustability but I don't want to have to fill in the existing holes and drill new ones inside the hatch to make it work.

Has anyone done this before?

 

[jmrodandgun]

Careful with slam latches if your hatches use a gasket. They aren't adjustable over time so as the gasket wears the hatch becomes loose.

 

[DuckNut]

I am looking to switch out the traditional lift and turn latches on my boat to slam latches. I am tired of people either not knowing how to work them or not closing them properly. My question is what are the chances that the L shaped locking bracket that goes inside the hatch is close to the same depth in both styles? The bracket has a little bit of height adjustability but I don't want to have to fill in the existing holes and drill new ones inside the hatch to make it work.

Has anyone done this before?

If your luck is anything like mine then there is a zero percent chance and a full blown repair will be in store.

I know why you want to do this and I wish you great success.

 

[ReelFisher]

Good points, may just be more trouble than it's worth. Can't tell you how many "experienced" people can't seem to close the latch all the way or they close it backwards aka the hatch flys open at speed.

I've even had someone close the latch when it wasn't down so when they then closed the hatch and sat down, the cam crunched the fiberglass...that was a fun repair

 

[Frank Ucci]

ReelFisher, I thought about doing the same thing for the same reasons. Then I remembered how pissed I get when someone slams the ice chest lid after I've poled half a mile to sneak up on some fish. I figured giving someone 4 more things to slam would drive me over the edge, so I decided to live with the lift and turn latches.

 

[firecat1981]

What about just upgrading to better compression style latches? The Gemlux I have only closes and lays down in one direction if memory serves.
Not a hug fan of slam latches, they always get loose and rattle over time.