DOWN THE HATCH

When is a door . . .
I hatched a plan for today . . .

This is the door leading to the skipper's family quarters on the afterdeck of the Humber Sloop 'Comrade'. Is this where the expression 'down the hatch' comes from ?

These vessels, with an iron and steel keel, plied their trade across the River Humber and beyond carrying differing cargo. River families lived on board and the two-man crew of skipper and mate needed all the mechanical assistance that could be given. Today there are two preserved vessels at Barton-on-Humber.
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