Sky Light information

[SEVEN]

A friend is completely remodeling his 1980 53’ YF. All bedrooms and heads are now done and he’s moved into the galley. Everything has been ripped out and he is building new cabinets now. He like all of us only have a 24” opening to lower in appliances. Rather than battle with this opening and trying to open the walls, He would like to find out if anyone has cut a sky light above the galley. He wants to install 1/2 or thicker glass and make a frame so it can open and close yet have a great seal. Has anyone on Sams done this? If so can you send me photos and dimensions. If you want to text them to me my number is (650) 619-2308. I’ll pass them on to him. Thanks in advance. Rusty

 

[Scarlett]

I sent. Photo of mine. John

 

[Pascal]

It s doable although I see two potential issues. First the galley will get very hot unless he has a dedicated air handler for the galley... second that means not having a sunpad up front which we use all the time.

I would rather do a cutout, save the fiberglass panel and reinstall by adding a fiberglass lip, heavy rubber seal and thru bolted.

Is if they don’t have a sunpad, that’s a good idea

 

[SEVEN]

It s doable although I see two potential issues. First the galley will get very hot unless he has a dedicated air handler for the galley... second that means not having a sunpad up front which we use all the time.

I would rather do a cutout, save the fiberglass panel and reinstall by adding a fiberglass lip, heavy rubber seal and thru bolted.

Is if they don’t have a sunpad, that’s a good idea

They are not sun worshipers, they would never have pads up there. And he’s trying to have one custom-made to have at least half-inch or thicker glass installed. I’m getting a lot of good information from a lot of different people. If he does do this I’ll make sure I take photos all the way through the process and pass it on to everybody.

 

[Scarlett]

We put ours in originally to remove and replace 2 generators. Used the crane at our yacht club to lift out and lift in new gen. It was super easy. Since then I have changed out batteries the same way. 20 minutes in and out with new batteries. Of course where we live in San Diego we don’t worry about heat or sun pads. John

 

[riverrandy]

I cut out my old "Step Up" hatch, and installed A Lewmar 3G size 70 flush hatch. It allows for 24.5" x 24.5" of clearance, (more if you remove it completely) I love the way it turned out, but I wanted the light. It also cost $870 retail. The acrylic is 3/8" but holds me at 270 lbs. not going to jump, but there is room if I want to switch out to 1/2" Polycarbonate.

In the case of that 53, I would cut the hatch use extruded aluminum trim, and an Opaque 1/2" polycarbonate. Screwed down and sealed with silicone for future removal.


Original Hatch

Old cut out, new coring glassed in

Finished project.

This did take quite a bit of work. I had to install deck drains and replace the ceiling in the Captains Quarters, but that was on the list anyway.

 

[SEVEN]

That looks factory. Great job.