Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: Brad Taylor on October 14, 2001, 11:35:12 AM

Title: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Brad Taylor on October 14, 2001, 11:35:12 AM
My Hatch above the salon is leaking. Seems to be coming from the forward edge where the hatch is sealed to the deck. I could (and did) tighten each screw about 1 to 2 turns. When I tightened the forward edge screws some mosture squeazed out. Not sure yet if this will solve it. How big of a job is it to remove and reseal this joint?
Hull #1464 Year 2000
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Pete G on October 31, 2023, 10:59:34 AM
Brad,
It's been a while since you posted, so I hope you've figured it out by now.  I'm having the same problem.  I tried a product (forget the name) that is supposed to seal hairline cracks, but it didn't work.  Any advice?

Pete
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: scgunner on November 01, 2023, 06:10:08 AM
Pete,

It's unlikely Brad even still has the boat. When I've been bedeviled by hatch leaks the main culprit has usually been screw holes.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Pete G on November 01, 2023, 08:42:33 AM
Thanks, Kevin.  I'll re-seal them and see how it goes.

Pete
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ron Hill on November 01, 2023, 02:44:49 PM
Brad : After removing all of the hold down screws; I'd take a heat gun and heat the existing caulk and remove the entire hatch!! 
Then clean things up, inspect the core for dry rot and repair - if necessary.  Then re bed with 3M 4200 or butyl rubber and reseat the hatch !!

A few thoughts
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Stu Jackson on November 02, 2023, 12:05:34 PM
Quote from: Ron Hill on November 01, 2023, 02:44:49 PM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Then re bed with 3M 4200 and reseat the hatch !!


You don't need an adhesive, use Bed-It-with-Butyl from Maine Sail.  I did.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ron Hill on November 02, 2023, 04:28:55 PM
Brad : When I removed that center hatch I found some deck voids!!  So I filled the voids with 3M 4200 and then with the tube of caulk open I just bedded the hatch in with the 4200. Don't be surprised if you also find some voids.

As Stu mentioned the butyl rubber works well!!

A few thoughts
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: waughoo on November 04, 2023, 08:55:19 AM
A quick note on Butyl... I prefer this stuff most of the time.  However, when I reset my forward hatch and tried Butyl, the screws into the fiberglass did not have enough purchase to properly compress and seal the hatch to the deck.  Additionally, in trying to compress them, some of the holes stripped.  When I have a fastener with good clamping force like a thru-bolt, butyl is great.  I ended up using something else for the hatch, but no longer remember what.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Stu Jackson on November 04, 2023, 01:31:10 PM
Quote from: waughoo on November 04, 2023, 08:55:19 AM
A quick note on Butyl... I prefer this stuff most of the time.  However, when I reset my forward hatch and tried Butyl, the screws into the fiberglass did not have enough purchase to properly compress and seal the hatch to the deck.  Additionally, in trying to compress them, some of the holes stripped.  When I have a fastener with good clamping force like a thru-bolt, butyl is great.  I ended up using something else for the hatch, but no longer remember what.

I had a similar "issue" when I redid mine.  But instead of thinking  the screws were the issue, I identified it as simply not enough thickness of Bed-It-with-Butyl.  Once I doubled the thickness of the butyl, things were just fine.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ron Hill on November 05, 2023, 12:59:21 PM
Pete : A couple of years ago I removed my front V-berth (Lewmar Roll Top) hatch and sent it off to "SELECT Plastics".  They are in Norwalk CT (877) 874-3767

They put in a new lens (mine was severely crazed) and replaced the gasket. It was like new again!!  Give them a call they do all kinds of hatches.

A few thoughts
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Noah on November 05, 2023, 01:14:21 PM
Ron—how long did it take and what did it cost? Did they also replace roll-stop hinge hardware?
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ron Hill on November 06, 2023, 01:44:45 PM
Noah : It took a couple of weeks (from the time that I sent it), I don't remember the cost ? (Select Plastics will give you an estimate on the phone) and I don't recall if they gave me a hinge kit or if I already had one??

A few thoughts
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: WBev on November 20, 2023, 06:57:07 PM
Late this past summer I contacted Select Plastics.  The turn around was said to be 6 weeks.  The cost, well, my new lens came from CD a week later. 
I have to say the hatches those guys repaired for acquaintances look to be done well.  It appears they know their stuff. They charge accordingly.  If you compare their cost, w/shipping, to a marine yard locally pulling the hatch, redoing the lens and resealing it all, they are likely cheaper. 

On my Pearson 27-2 I hit a Defender sale and the new hatch with shipping was less than the quote from Select Plastics in 2016. Installed w/Rod's Butyl Tape, easy job.

Now, if I could only figure out how to remove the top of the forward hatch to bring it home so I can actually replace the lens, I'd be in business. &*^%!

Good luck.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Noah on November 20, 2023, 07:50:37 PM
Although no leaks, I do have lots of crazing of the lens and my rollstop hinge hasn't supported itself open for years and have been using a stick to prop it open. So, I am doing my own replacement. I bought the lens from CD and a gasket and replacement handles and rollstop hinge kit from Select Plastics/Hatch Masters. I couldn't wait the 6-weeks lead time and inconvenience of shipping it to them. Should be fun. Wish me luck! 8)
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ed Shankle on November 22, 2023, 03:45:57 AM
Since Select is based in Connecticut, they service a lot of east coast sailors and slow down in the winter. So they encourage doing the non essential jobs over the winter. Lead times might be better then.
Regards,
Ed
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: waughoo on November 22, 2023, 10:20:33 AM
I have installed a hatch masters roll stop hing repair kit and it worked great. 
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Noah on November 22, 2023, 10:32:18 AM
Good to hear.  :clap That is my project for the next week or so. That, and inspecting and rebedding a chainplate or two.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ron Hill on November 22, 2023, 02:41:56 PM


Noah : What I've found is that if you let the hatch set in between detents - that is what kills the "roll stop".  What I used to do was let the hatch latch handles arms close and let the hatch close and rest on the arms - but that was NOT a detent. That way that hatch was only open about an inch!!
Consequently it killed the 3 detent positions so it quit being a roll stop!!  Clear as mud??

A thought
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Noah on November 22, 2023, 05:03:55 PM
Thanks for the info Ron. My forward hatch "stops" have been dead since I bought the boat 8 years ago. I have been using a teak notched stick to hold it up. Over the years I have changed all of the glazing/portlights/etc. throughout the boat EXCEPT the forward hatch. When shopping for "parts" this month I was surprised Hatch Masters/Select Plastics had the long discontinued rollstop hinge parts. So, I bought them and a couple of new handles too. Will see how it goes. I am still hanging on to my prop-it-up stick just in case.
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Ron Hill on November 25, 2023, 12:41:53 PM
Noah : Yes, hang on to your teak prop stick. Just make sure that your "notches" match the detents on the roll stop hinges!!

A thought
Title: Re: Leaking Lewmar Hatch
Post by: Noah on November 25, 2023, 02:08:26 PM
Ha!  :abd: I have the "basic" prop-it-open-teak-stick model. Only one notch: Propped 45 degrees open or closed!