V Berth Hatch Leak

E

Ed J

New member
Greetings - Our 1988 Cruiser would leak a few drops at the v-berth hatch with very heavy rain. I removed the hatch to recaulk and found saturated balsa core extending from from .250" to about 5" deep around the perimeter. Dug out the wet and damp core and will replace with marine plywood coated with West System, then recaulk. Would appreciate any suggestions on caulk others have used in this application.

Other C Brats with very minor leaks at the hatch may want to check the core in this area.

Ed J
 
My recommendation is that all of the boats need to pull the hatch and any other fittings on the deck and route out the balse core for a short distance (.25 inches is adequate)--fill with thickened epoxy--and in many cases build up glass to make the hatch fit tightly in the cutout. I have used 4200 for a sealant. I have used Butyl tape on RV's but not on boats. I am sure that the tape works fine. I like the sealants which can flow into holes, voids, as in non skids, around bolts etc. Just an old habit. But prevent deck rot--rather than have to replace core. When you replace the core--put in plenty of thickened epoxy to avoid any voids as you push the epoxy saturated plywood...
 
thataway":37c5pwzo said:
My recommendation is that all of the boats need to pull the hatch and any other fittings on the deck and route out the balse core for a short distance (.25 inches is adequate)--fill with thickened epoxy-
Click to expand...

I'm in the midst of this project now and I agree 100% that it should be done. There is nothing better than redrilling the same hole through hardened epoxy knowing that the core will be forever protected. Not that hard to do - really not that much hardware on the deck of our 22.
 
Had the same problem on my hatch. I dug the material out and used a fiberglass product called "duraglass" available at auto paint stores. Body shops use it for almost all fiberglass repairs, both for strength and filling areas. I also used it in putting in my new lazarette hatches, where I had to close the gap and reform the hatch area. See: http://www.c-brats.com/albums/Snoopy-C/IMG_0042.jpg

I also used a product called SeamerMate, available at Home Depot stores to reset the hatch glass, and seal the hatch. It is like a super silicon, and used in rain gutter sealing. Both have worked great.
 
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