How to Make a Hatch Cover

Item # X-HT-200509

A hatch cover is an easy way to protect your hatch window, keep the sunlight out, and eliminate additional heat build-up inside your boat. Lucky for us, it just so happens that making a hatch cover can be a very simple sewing project!

Installed hatch cover on our Seaward 24 sailboat.

We patterned a hatch cover to fit the square hatch opening of our Seaward 24. It features Sunbrella fabric and Tenara thread, both of which are UV resistant, so the hatch cover will last for many years. Although there are several different ways to design a hatch cover, we decided to use a leechline drawstring to secure the hatch cover to the hatch.

Watch this step-by-step video demonstration on how to make your own drawstring hatch cover for your boat.

Video Chapters:

  • Taking Measurements - 0:22 min.
  • Patterning Sunbrella - 1:26 min.
  • Sewing Hatch Cover - 6:38 min.
  • Creating Pleats - 9:41 min.
  • Installing Hatch Cover - 15:19 min.
  • Materials List - 17:13 min.

Materials List:

  • Sunbrella Marine Grade Fabric (we used Marine Blue #4678-0000)
  • V-92 Polyester or Lifetime Thread
  • 1/8" Dacron Leech Line #21209
  • 1/4" Barrel Lock Closure #102552

Tools List

  • Tape Measure #102986
  • Soapstone Pencil #102766
  • T-pins #95848
  • Rubber Cutting Block #378100
  • Sailrite® Edge Hotknife #103800

If you don't have a square hatch opening, we hope this can be a good starting point for your own custom design.

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