Ive read the posts on building a hatch and cutting the opening. Is there anywhere I can buy a pre-assembled and finished hatch? Ive posted this here because; Ive read that at some point every Hunter 35.5 will need an access hatch installed to service the holding tank and/or plumbing. I bought a 1993 Hunter 35.5 three weeks ago. There is a foul odor in the aft cabin and especially when I open the starboard lazerette in the cockpit. P-U! The only way for me to service the system is to cut an opening. --------------------- I just did this project and will post some pictures soon. The specs that are available in the photo forum were perfect and I would advise following them. I did widen the opening slightly (30) to the starboard side and I found that a circular saw, set to 3/4 depth worked much better than the router I started with. Be very careful at the starboard top edge of the cut -- the exhaust hose is right there. Cut a 10 inches, go inspect from above, cut a few more. One thing about this opening. Once you cut into this aft bulkhead, you have now created the most efficient way to sink your Hunter 35.5 -- a 3-4 square foot hole that is right at and below the waterline. If enough water gets dumpend in through an open lazarette in the cockpit (something plausible if the boat is on its side for a moment) it will be very easy for a poorly-secured hatch cover to stove in. My plan: secure the lazarette hatches with latches or canvas straps with snaps, make the aft bulkhead hatch cover removable but strong. When I figure out how to do this, Ill post about it. Also, I wound up installing a Lectrasan and a very small holding tank. Everything fits well in the space and I wound up with room for twin golf cart batteries on either side. Dipboye Seattle --------------------------- This is the access opening added to the V berth floor on the Port side. Through this opening I can check the Snake River foil sending unit for the water tank. It also allows me to inspect the rear side of the water tank.

This opening is cut in the V berth floor on the Starboard side. It allows you to inspect the water line connection from the tank to the pump.

James Rushing