6 Best Non-Slip Support Bars For Boat Hatches Boaters Swear By

You’ve been there. You’re reaching deep into a storage hatch, one hand holding the lid, the other rummaging for a specific lure or a spare line. A rogue wave hits, your hand slips, and WHAM—the heavy fiberglass lid slams shut, narrowly missing your fingers. A secure hatch support isn’t a luxury; it’s a fundamental piece of gear for safety and sanity on the water. It’s the difference between a smooth day and a painful, frustrating one.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Secure Hatch Supports Are Non-Negotiable

A falling hatch is a legitimate safety hazard. On a moving boat, where your balance is already compromised, a heavy lid dropping unexpectedly can cause serious hand, head, or back injuries. It’s one of those small details that becomes a very big deal the moment it fails.

Beyond safety, a reliable support system makes your boat more functional. It frees up both your hands to work in a compartment, whether you’re servicing the engine, organizing tackle, or accessing safety gear. You can focus on the task at hand without dedicating a limb to propping open a heavy lid. This simple upgrade transforms cramped, awkward spaces into usable, accessible storage.

The marine environment is relentlessly harsh. Salt spray, constant UV exposure, and vibration will destroy inferior hardware in a single season. Choosing a support built for this abuse—with marine-grade stainless steel or specialized coatings—isn’t just about longevity. It’s about ensuring the support works when you need it most, not just when it’s calm and sunny.

Taylor Made Gas Shocks: Reliable Lifting Power

When you see a hatch that lifts with a gentle pull and stays open as if floating on air, you’re likely looking at a gas shock. Taylor Made is a legacy brand in the marine world, and their gas shocks are often the original equipment on many new boats for good reason. They are the industry standard for reliable, assisted lifting.

The magic of a gas shock, also called a gas strut, is the pressurized nitrogen inside. It provides the force to help you lift the hatch and then holds it securely in place. The key is matching the shock’s pressure rating, measured in pounds, to your hatch’s weight. Too weak, and it won’t hold; too strong, and the hatch will be difficult to close. Most manufacturers provide charts to help you find the perfect match.

Built with corrosion-resistant finishes on the cylinder and a salt-tested piston rod, these are designed for the wet world. While they are incredibly durable, remember that the seals can wear over time, causing the gas to slowly leak out over many years. Think of them as a long-term wear item that provides years of effortless use before needing a simple replacement.

Sea-Dog Hatch Spring: Simple, Corrosion-Proof

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best one. The Sea-Dog hatch spring is a perfect example. It’s a straightforward, mechanical spring, typically made of high-quality stainless steel, that does one job and does it flawlessly: it holds a hatch open.

Unlike a gas shock, a spring doesn’t provide lifting assistance. You lift the hatch manually, and once it passes a certain angle, the spring takes over and snaps it securely into the open position. A quick tug overcomes the spring’s tension to close it. This makes them ideal for lighter applications like bait wells, anchor lockers, or small deck boxes where you don’t need a powered lift.

The biggest advantage here is bombproof durability. With no gas to leak or seals to fail, a 316 stainless steel hatch spring is a "fit and forget" piece of hardware. It will likely outlast the boat itself, resisting rust and corrosion year after year. For a simple, cost-effective, and ultra-reliable solution, the classic hatch spring is tough to beat.

Amarine Made Gas Struts: Versatile Fit Options

While Taylor Made is often the OEM choice, Amarine Made has carved out a strong reputation in the aftermarket. They are the go-to for boaters who are retrofitting, upgrading, or replacing an odd-sized strut. Their main advantage is a massive selection of lengths, pressure ratings, and mounting hardware.

If you’re trying to add a gas strut where one didn’t exist before, you’ll appreciate their versatility. Many Amarine Made struts come in kits with different end fittings and brackets, giving you the flexibility to mount them correctly on tricky surfaces or at odd angles. This can save you a lot of fabrication headaches and trips to the hardware store.

They are often more affordable than some of the big-name brands, making them a great value proposition. The crucial factor is to ensure you select their stainless steel models. Like any brand, they offer different grades, but for a boat, only stainless steel will provide the long-term corrosion resistance you need. Double-check the material, and you’ll get a versatile and budget-friendly workhorse.

Attwood SpringLift: The Assisted Opening Choice

Attwood’s SpringLift series offers a clever middle ground between a simple spring and a full gas shock. These units use a composite housing and a mechanical spring to provide a gentle "pop" that helps initiate the opening motion. It makes hatches feel lighter and easier to open with one hand.

Once open, the SpringLift locks securely in place, just like a traditional spring. This design is incredibly popular on bass boats and other smaller fishing vessels for livewell lids and rod lockers. It’s a cost-effective way for manufacturers to add a premium feel without the full expense of a gas shock system.

The composite body resists corrosion well, and the mechanical nature of the spring is very reliable. They offer a great balance of performance and price for medium-duty hatches that see frequent use. If your hatch feels just a bit too heavy to open comfortably, but doesn’t warrant a powerful gas shock, the SpringLift is an excellent choice.

Gemlux Friction Hinge: A Modern No-Strut Option

What if you could eliminate the support arm entirely? That’s the promise of the friction hinge. Gemlux is a leader in this space, producing high-end hinges that hold a hatch open at any angle you leave it, all by themselves. There are no gas shocks or springs to get in the way, creating an incredibly clean, uncluttered look.

The technology is built directly into the hinge barrel. Internal resistance is precisely calibrated to counteract the weight of the hatch, allowing it to stay put wherever you position it. This is a game-changer for hatches in high-traffic areas, as it eliminates hardware that can snag fishing lines, clothing, or shins.

This sleek solution does have tradeoffs. Friction hinges are more expensive than traditional supports, and they require you to replace your existing hinges. While high-quality versions from Gemlux are adjustable and designed for a long service life, the internal friction mechanism can eventually wear. But for a premium, minimalist aesthetic combined with flawless function, they are in a class of their own.

Southco M5 Series: Heavy-Duty Latching Support

When you’re dealing with a truly heavy hatch—think engine room access or a large lazarette lid—you need more than just support. You need an engineered, positive lock. The Southco M5 series and similar position-control stays are the industrial-strength solution for applications where failure is not an option.

These are not simple springs or struts. They are robust mechanical arms, often with multiple detents or locking positions that click firmly into place. You can set the hatch to different opening angles, and it will be held by a mechanical lock, not just by gas pressure or spring tension. This provides an unmatched level of security.

This is overkill for a bait well, but it’s exactly what you want when you or a mechanic might be leaning or working over an open engine bay in choppy water. They are built from heavy-gauge stainless steel and engineered for high-load applications. When you need absolute, unwavering support for a critical hatch, a heavy-duty positioning stay is the only real choice.

Selecting the Right Hatch Support for Your Boat

Choosing the right support comes down to three key factors: weight, usage, and environment.

• Hatch Weight: This is the most important starting point.

  • Heavy Hatches (30+ lbs): You need the lifting power of a gas shock or the absolute security of a heavy-duty stay like the Southco.
  • Medium Hatches (10-30 lbs): A lighter-duty gas shock or an assisted opener like the Attwood SpringLift is perfect.
  • Light Hatches (under 10 lbs): A simple and reliable Sea-Dog hatch spring is all you need.

• Usage & Aesthetics: How do you use the space? For a clean, high-end look in a cockpit where you don’t want hardware snagging things, the Gemlux friction hinge is an elegant solution. For a utility locker that just needs to stay open, a simple spring is fine. If you’re constantly in and out of a hatch all day, the effortless lift of a gas shock will save you a lot of hassle.

• Environment: This one is simple. Always choose marine-grade materials. For hardware exposed to the elements, 316 stainless steel is the gold standard for corrosion resistance. For gas shocks, look for multi-stage coatings designed to resist salt spray. Spending a few extra dollars on the right material will prevent rust stains, seizing, and premature failure, saving you money and headaches in the long run.

Ultimately, the best hatch support is the one you don’t have to think about. It works every time, keeps you safe, and makes using your boat that much easier. By matching the hardware to your specific needs—from a simple spring to an advanced friction hinge—you’re not just fixing a lid; you’re making a smart investment in your boat’s safety and functionality.