Hatch Farm

[Darryl]

RCRV: Basically, it is a different era. I feel fortunate to have worked on the lakes in the 1970s when the fleet was large and the steel industry was not under the pressure of globalization. The boats have always run 24/7, but this running well into January in extreme icy weather with a reduced crew? These are hardship circumstances. I'm a realist, and know business has to change, but darnit, when I get below, I want to pile in a cab with three or four shipmates, get buzzed into the Iroquois Club, and drink beer. When I sailed in recent years, there was not one card game aboard ship, other than a little cribbage! They can watch their satellite TV and play their computer games. The young guys don't know what they missed. I'm just an old boatnerd.

[hayhugh3]

If the block gives way the cable will cut you in two.

[RCRV]

I've worked on hatch farms and self-unloaders. And when all's said and done, hands down I'd take the hatch farm.

Why is that?

[hayhugh3]

"Don't stand in the bight"

[Al]

I happened across this illustration the other day. It's a safety illustration from The Interlake Steamship Log from 1947 or so. It gives a pretty good picture of how the process works for those who have't seen it.

[hayhugh3]

I remember many-a-time thinking the next day, I must have had a good time - I spent a lot of money...

[Darryl]

Wow. The only saving grace may have been about 32 guys on the crew, and both a deckhand and a deckwatch working on a watch system. Trouble is, many times back then, they sailed short. As a deckhand at times, I worked 6 and 6 with additional OT for a few weeks (17 hours/day). Many times the night watch could be a breeze. The biggest question I have today is, what did I do with the money?

[Jon Paul]

I worked on a hatch farm that was a self unloader. The J R Sensibar had 32 hatches and a trunk house. We ran mostly coal shuttles with quick turn around times. Toledo to Niagara Mohawk Power in Tonawanda, NY (N Buffalo) was considered a long trip. Between opening 32+ hatches before the coal dock, shifting multiple times during loading, closing all those hatches and then 6-12 hours later opening all those hatches and unloading and then closing up I have some painful memories as a deckhand, lol. The only plud was LOTS of overtime. Luckily I was long gone before tarp season set in!

[Darryl]

I've worked on hatch farms and self-unloaders. And when all's said and done, hands down I'd take the hatch farm.

[Brian Ferguson]

I wonder how many old timers sang Captain Wood's praises after they worked their first ship with "Wood Patent Hatches and Covers" the single piece with an iron deckhand. There's a great section on their development in book "Master of the Inland Seas" which is about the Wilson Fleet.

[geysir]

Yes, you are looking at the wedges. That's not a clamp bracket, just a bracket to hold the wedge.
I believe there is the tarp, then a long board (wooden batten), then the wedge is pushed tight between the batten and bracket.
Without the batten the wedge probably would rip the tarp.

[Brian Ferguson]

I never had the fun of working on a telescoping hatch ship, the closest thing to a hatch farm I worked was a footer with 37 hatches but those clamps are nothing.

My question are the wooden wedges what I see in this picture jammed between the coaming, and clamp brackets in this picture?

[hayhugh3]

Did I pound my wooden wedges in wrong on all my hatch farms?? I was taught to pound the wooden wedge in with the point toward the center of the ship.

No you were doing it the proper way. I think, in the photo, that you are looking more or less at the center of the hatch. You also used another wedge to pound out another wedge and not the hatch hammer. Lots of old timers still around I see...

[pcolachap]

The McKee Sons and the Sara Spencer aka Adam E. Cornelius also have these telescoping hatches. These two vessels, along with the Saginaw, aka John J. Boland, were built(rebuilt) for Boland and Cornelius (American Steamship) in the 50s. Mike

[geysir]

Did I pound my wooden wedges in wrong on all my hatch farms?? I was taught to pound the wooden wedge in with the point toward the center of the ship. The idea was that waves, etc would tighten the wedges rather than knock them out. I see on the "putting on the tarp" image that the wedges are pointing the other way.

[Al]

For those who haven't seen the process, a few more scenes from life on a hatch farm, in this case the William A. McGonagle in 1983:

[Guest]

Are there any boats left still working with hatches like that?

Look at the "Telescoping Hatches" post.

[RCRV]

Are there any boats left still working with hatches like that?

[Al]

After the tarps were on the deckhands added what one captain used to call "her jewelry" to secure them.

[ned gang]

I worked on wood hatch farm! in 1950's. we used hatch clubs. two men carried each hatch to outside isle and stacked them up on top of each other. Boy the last one was a good lift! We used 2 men on each side of ship and we used to race to see which side was faster! Those were good old days. That don't count 30 some foot cross brace and 5 end to end braces. heavy canvas,and 60 some wesdes all around hatch .