tophatyachts.com

I would like to see some photos/ideas on cockpit gratings. Is anything readily available or a homemade teak one the go. Do they limit the affect of the incoming water to any extent?

Rod,

I have a teak one that is 40 years old. Still going well but some of the nails work up out of the grate from time to time. Not a problem. I re-oil it about twice a year.

As an item of importance on Seaka I rate it very high as it gives a high level of safety, I have never slipped on it, and I recieve much envy from other Top Hat owners.

I have made only one change to the grate, I enlarged the openings over the Cockpit drains.

I have been using a sheet of 3cm thick piece of high density EVA foam sheet cut to be a sqeeze fit in the cockpit sole for the past year. I leave it in the cabin between sails to avoid UV damage to the foam. It is very comfortable in the cockpit. I have toyed with idea of getting a grate like Phillip's (which looks very well made) but I generally sail with bare feet in the summer and I like the foam underfoot. I have not had a lot of water in the cockpit however and I am sure a grate would be better if there was a chance of taking green water.