Boat deck locker

1. A locker in a deck of a boat comprising:

a lid having a top surface and a side surface extending downwardly from the top surface;

a striker plate mounted to the side surface of the lid;

an opening through the deck having a first side and a second side;

an enclosure beneath the deck;

the lid being hingedly mounted along the first side of the opening, the lid movable between an open and a closed position, the opening configured to be closed by the lid when the lid is in the closed position;

a latching mechanism configured to releasably engage the striker plate of the lid, the latching mechanism being positioned adjacent the second side of the opening, the latching mechanism movable between a latched position engaging the striker plate of the lid and holding the lid in the closed position and a release position; and

the latching mechanism mounted within a channel outside the opening adjacent the second side of the opening, the channel having an inner wall that faces toward the opening, the latching mechanism also including a trigger extending through the inner wall of the channel to engage the striker plate of the lid.

2. The locker of claim 1 , wherein an edge of the top surface of the lid in the closed position is substantially flush with the deck adjacent the second side of the opening, and wherein the locking mechanism raises the edge of the top surface of the lid above the deck when the latch is moved from the latched position to the release position.

3. The locker of claim 1 , wherein a lip surrounds the opening, and the deck defines a water channel that surrounds the lip at a location beneath the lid.

4. The locker of claim 1 , further comprising a handle mechanism to actuate the latching mechanism between the latched position and the release position.

5. The locker of claim 1 , wherein the channel is incorporated into the deck and provides structural support for the deck adjacent the opening.

6. A locker in the deck of a boat comprising:

a top opening;

an enclosure beneath the top opening;

a lid for covering the top opening having a top surface and a side surface extending downwardly from the top surface;

a latching arrangement for releasably securing the lid in a closed position covering the opening, the latching arrangement including:

a striker mounted to the side surface of the lid;

a latching member for engaging the striker to secure the lid in the closed position;

an actuator for releasing the latching member from the striker to allow the lid to be opened; and

the actuator and the latching member being offset from the lid.

7. The locker of claim 6 , wherein the striker is mounted to an edge of the side surface of the lid.

8. The locker of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is mounted in a channel along a side of the top opening.

9. The locker of claim 8 , wherein the channel drains beneath the deck into a bilge of the boat.

10. The locker of claim 6 , wherein the striker includes a striker member that is at least partially recessed relative to the side surface of the lid.

11. The locker of claim 6 , wherein the striker includes a striker member that is not recessed relative to the side surface of the lid.

12. The locker of claim 10 , wherein the lid includes a notched region at the side surface, and the striker member is at least partially recessed within the notched region.

13. The locker of claim 12 , further comprising a lip positioned above the notched region.

14. A boat comprising:

a deck;

a locker provided at the deck, the locker including:

a compartment positioned beneath the deck;

a top opening for accessing the compartment;

a raised lip surrounding the opening;

a lid moveable between a closed position where the top opening of the locker is covered and an open position where the top opening is not covered, the lid having a top surface and an outwardly facing side surface that extends downwardly from the top surface;

a striker member mounted to the side surface of the lid; and

a latching member movable between a latching position and a non-latching position, the latching member being adapted to engage the striker member when in the latched position to prevent the lid from being opened, the latching member allowing the lid to be opened when in the non-latching position, the latching member being mounted so as to not be carried by the lid when the lid is moved between the open and closed positions.

15. The boat of claim 14 , further comprising an actuator for moving the latching member from the latching position to the non-latching position, the actuator being located at a location offset from the lid.

16. The boat of claim 15 , further comprising a channel mounted to the deck, wherein the top opening of the locker includes a first side positioned opposite from a second side, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the deck adjacent the first side of the top opening of the locker, wherein a portion of the channel extends along the second side of the top opening of the locker, and wherein the actuator and the latching member are at least partially mounted within the portion of the channel that extends along the second side of the top opening.

17. The boat of claim 15 , wherein the top surface of the lid is flush with the deck when the lid is latched closed, and wherein the latching member lifts the lid to a non-flush orientation with respect to the deck when the actuator is actuated.

18. The boat of claim 14 , wherein the striker member is at least partially recessed relative to the side surface of the lid.

19. The boat of claim 14 , wherein the striker member is part of a striker plate having a top lip positioned above the striker member and adapted to mount substantially flush with the top side of the lid.