Great news! They look fantastic and without the holes to mount the clear part should leak far less than original. As far as mounting facing forward we too have an old Garhauler rigid vang so I also reversed the opening side.
It is interesting that the Europeans don't have their forward hatches mounted to catch the wind. Their regulators have found that hatches can be ripped away by seas coming aboard so they require the hatches to face rearward.
Some hatches allow for the lid to be switched from opening forward or aft. They have identical latch dogs on both sides so they can be switched to catch a breeze at anchor.
If you haven't used a "Breeze Booster" you will want to buy one.
It has a rigid batten sewn on the front of the scoop and it can be mounted facing forward, or sideways. It isn't subject to the wind for support like other scoops and that makes it perfect for when in a slip and the breeze is from the beam, or at anchor or motoring when the current moves the boat contrary to the wind.
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