BHM 28 deck hatch

[28bhm]

Hi Guys
I'm new to this forum and am looking for some advice on the best way to make as best as possible my existing aft deck hatch water tight. I know water tight may be difficult so lets call it near leak proof. If you're not familiar with the older BHMs the deck hatch area is raised a little almost making it like a hump. They factory used the same deck material for the hatch for continuity purposes I guess. I've used standard weather stripping with the hatch screw downs but she still leaks. I would put an aluminum oval commercial grade hatch in but am looking to save a little bit of $$ plus I don't know if I can get one to fit without grinding down the area and recessing it. Any suggestions would be great!!

 

[traditions]

Theres an old tick we used to use for fiberglass hatches.Rough up one surface with some sandpaper and clean it good with acetone,preferably the bottom ring.Apply a good wide bead of good GE silicone all around the ring.Put some waxpaper on top of the silicone and just set the hatch on until its almost flush with the deck.Let the siloicone dry and remove the hatch and the wax paper,you should have a rubber seal.I suppose you could just put a good coat of wax on the hatch,and hope it doesn't stick.If you buy a Bomar or similar,make sure you have room for the opening mechanism,so it doesn't interfere with the steering gear.

 

[F/V First Team]

I recently re-did a fiberglass hatch, made by Jimmy Stevens himself (that's how vintage the archives are), cleaned everything up really nice and put a replacement gasket from Bomar on it. Some longer bolts and it went down nice and tight. Nothing you want to have to open quickly to be sure, but talk about water tight.

 

[28bhm]

Nice idea, I'll try it!! Baier makes a low pro hatch with 2 3/4" clearance needed below deck. Its an option if your idea doesn't work out.

I'll also take a look at some gasket material I have left over from a bomar repair.
Thanks

 

[plowin]

No offense to Jimmy Stevens, I have his hatches, and they suck! Unless you have a half an hour to open them. Otherwise they leak miserably or only fit nicely in one direction and thats if there is no gasket in the frame. I would do almost anything to avoid having them if I had a choice. My opinion only, maybe I don't know the tricks to them.

 

[F/V First Team]

Hey, when it's what a customer wants it is what the customer gets

 

[plowin]

No doubt Travis, this was not a criticism of you or your work just an honest opinion of those type hatches. Best advice regardless of the money would be to pull them out and replace them with a true water tight hatch. JMO

 

[F/V First Team]

I agree with you 100%

 

[El Mar]

What's a Jimmy Stevens hatch??

 

[F/V First Team]

Screw-down fiberglass oval hatch