It's been a pain to use the V berth locker which required wrestling both cushions and large hatch cover to the cabin sole.  If the table is not stored under the hatch cover, then the locker becomes much easier to access by cutting the hatch cover in half and applying a piano hinge. After the mod, to access one side of the locker, only that cushion needs flipped to the other side and the hatch swung open where it parks itself while the locker is accessed. If full access is needed...the cover folds over for easier handling.

The project took thirty minutes but will save a ton of aggravation. Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3

Instructions:

• Before removing the cover, place pencil between the cushions and mark  fore and aft.
• Remove the hatch and scribe a line thru the two marks.
• Center a 30" piano hinge on the line. 
  
• Using a drill depth guage, drill pilot holes in the last two holes on each end of the hinge.
• Using four screws, fasten the hinge in place and then drill the remaining pilot holes.
• Remove the four screws and set the hinge aside
• Saw the cover on the center line.  I used two clamps and a yardstick to form a running gage for the power saw.
• Install the hinge by first replacing the four screws and then the remaining screws.
• Drill one inch finger holes to facilitate opening by first folding the hatch over so the holes line up for easier carrying when the hatch is folded.