After the 400th time the lazerette lids have fallen on us, we decided to get
the kit that the
Stingy Sailor sells
for adding gas springs to the lazerettes for the Catalina 22. These make it so
you need to keep the lazerettes down rather than trying to keep them up. They
are a little on the expensive side for what they are, but the kit works with
all the parts, and there are reasonably good instructions.
It took maybe two hours to install. Just some advice: although the instructions say to start on the port lazerette, I would start on the starboard side. You use the port lazerette more often so if you make any mistakes it should be on the lazerette you use less frequently. When you place the bracket inside the lazerette, place it back as far as it will go into the corner. At least that is what worked on our 1985 Catalina 22. We had to re-drill the holes to move it back further when it wouldn't close. Also, we subtracted 1/4" (10.25" instead of 10.5") to the distance from the back wall for the location of the top bracket from what was in the instructions when we did the second lazerette.
We get a smile each time we open the lazerettes now as they aren't falling as we get the gas tank out and other stuff.
With the springs, it is important that your latches for holding the lazerette shut are secure while under sail. You don't want the lazerettes popping open at the wrong moment (such as if you turtle the boat), as they now default to open rather than defaulting to shut.
