You need to keep a flow of fresh air moving through your boat – but when you’re tied up somewhere and it’s raining, the last thing you want to do is open your forehatch a crack. One solution is to get a large square piece of cover material, put an eyelet in each corner and lash it over the forehatch. If you make it significantly bigger than the hatch, it will keep rain out while you put the hatch on ventilate, let air flow, and also act as a light blocker, so if you sleep in the forepeak you won’t be dazzled by the rising sun.