Anchor locker door opening while moving

[Reefdonkey]

Anybody else have an issue with their anchor locker door coming open while moving? I've adjusted the latch each time.
It's happened 3 times now and the last one chipped the door.

 

[Julian]

Never had that happen....but not been in heavy waves either....

 

[Reefdonkey]

Never had that happen....but not been in heavy waves either....

This is happening in light chop, not even enough to spill your drink.

 

[2nazt]

You are talking the anchor locker right and not the consoles, either head or in front of helm? I've never had my anchor locker open but the door to my head area yes.

 

[FloJet]

Had this problem and dealer couldn't fix until I carefully studied it. The cause is the ball on the rope that attaches to the bow ladder gets in the way of closing. Move the ball up more and centered I believe. Haven't been on the boat in awhile but the ball is the main culprit on mine. Once I figured it out, it works like a charm now. Never comes up now.

 

[Bennie]

@Reefdonkey - I've had the same problem. What caused my problem was the dog ears that the latch on the "hood" connects with.

I believe that the screws has been worked loose so I had to replace them with bolts. = no more problems.

 

[Reefdonkey]

Thanks for the info. I know the ball isn't in the way as it shuts. The screws on the latch will not righted enough, I'll try bolts.

 

[jack a]

Any luck with different screws / bolts. The hatch shuts tightly - very, but as soon as I hit some chop, it pops open and bounces - makes me crazy... I don't think it is the ball, might be the whole ladder bouncing and bouncing the latch open or something - seems very secure when closed - very tight, not sure, maybe too tight, maybe anchor bounces up and makes it open - not sure... Annoying.

 

[ColaDawg]

Same issue with mine while underway. Close it, push down to ensure it is tight, then you look up and see it bouncing up and down while underway. I was thinking that the latch need to be adjusted a bit (I have had to adjust both of the latches on the clean out deck lid, as well as the head locker latch). I haven't investigated deeply enough to have a better understanding yet. I'd love to see some other input on this.

 

[Julian]

@swatski had his anchor locker keep opening during the heavy 2017 Bimini crossing, and he didn't have any way to secure it. Eventually it snapped off and flew over the boat and is now probably 2000' deep in the atlantic. I've not studied the latch to see how it secures, but mine never opened during that crossing....

 

[FloJet]

Any luck with different screws / bolts. The hatch shuts tightly - very, but as soon as I hit some chop, it pops open and bounces - makes me crazy... I don't think it is the ball, might be the whole ladder bouncing and bouncing the latch open or something - seems very secure when closed - very tight, not sure, maybe too tight, maybe anchor bounces up and makes it open - not sure... Annoying.

You have to make sure the ladder is pulled in towards you with the ball in the middle. Then shut it. I had this problem til I figured out that the ladder was always the culprit. Play around with it to see how it shuts.

 

[jack a]

You have to make sure the ladder is pulled in towards you with the ball in the middle. Then shut it. I had this problem til I figured out that the ladder was always the culprit. Play around with it to see how it shuts.

Thank you! Will do.

 

[Mike Clark]

I had the same issue, I realized the L- bracket that the latch cathes on was barely catching, moved bracket toward center of boat, and drilled new holes, problem solved, has never opened again. I believe If I remember right, If you line up and site through thru the small front opening on the lid (Cover) you can see the amount of engagement when it is closed.

 

[jack a]

Ok, It seems that I was trying to tighten things up when I should have been loosening. So, if you loosen screws and move the bracket up, the latch catches better. I had the L-bracket all the way at the bottom - tighter, but when you close the hatch, since it's so tight the spring loaded latch (hook) isn't extending fully and fully engaging the L-bracket. If you 'loosen' the fit up the latch extends further and 'grabs' the L-bracket better... Seems fixed...

 

[Drift Away]

Yamaha put the smallest match in the world on that locker. Mine did the same thing. Here was my fix. Not pretty put it works. I just made the grab lip bigger.

 

[drewkaree]

Alright, here you go, the edited version with pics added:

Mine was doing the same thing. If you have yours on a trailer, stand in front of it and look into the opening to see what's happening.





I originally thought my only problem was the metal L bracket wasn't sticking far enough out to catch on the latch, but it turns out my latch also wasn't square to the metal L bracket. On the underside of the anchor hatch, there are two screws that you can loosen (or they may have come loose and caused this issue for you). It works just like a door knob. Loosen the two bolts (they're machine screws), twist/turn the latch to the proper position, which is easiest to do while looking at the latch with the anchor hatch closed, through the openings. Here's the top side and bottom side of the latch, the bottom side pic shows the two bolts you'll need to loosen. If those bolts were already loose, use some Loctite 222 on them prior to tightening them down in their final place.







The second issue I had was that the metal L bracket was still not long enough to be sufficient after the latch was properly adjusted. I will say to adjust the latch first, because the metal L bracket was close enough that all I had to do was add a nut to each screw, then adjust the up/down position of the metal L bracket. Washers will work as well, but a nut was what I was able to use. Here's what my metal L bracket looks like now that it's properly spaced




When all is said and done, the metal L bracket should contact the latch squarely, and the last adjustment you might need to make is to move the latch up/down so you don't get any play in the anchor hatch. You'll know this is the case if it clicks and you can raise the hatch door any amount. It should be tight to the boat with no play. Problem solved. Here's mine, all adjusted, with no more issues.

 

[anmut]

Yamaha put the smallest match in the world on that locker. Mine did the same thing. Here was my fix. Not pretty put it works. I just made the grab lip bigger. View attachment 124479

Off topic, but I need some pictures of that JL in the locker!

 

[Drift Away]

Off topic, but I need some pictures of that JL in the locker!

Haha i think i might be the only yamaha boat owner dumb enough or sick enough with loud music to cut to 7.7" holes in my anchor locker. I will say they helped alot. Fill the boat up front to back with sound.

 

[drewkaree]

Fixed my post with pics added