Hatches!!

[CapDave]

We've been struggling with our Lewmar Ocean Hatches. We have 21 on our 2009 boat. We do all the usual service kits work on them, and have a steady drumbeat of replacing broken rivets on the catches and springs, but eventually the adhesion fails between the acrylic and the frame, or the gasket just gets too tired, and we buy a new lid. There is no way I can find to replace a gasket myself on this hatch.

Four years ago we bought new lids for a pair of #30s, and this year they both had acrylic/frame adhesion failures - even though the Lewmar warranty is three years, they very kindly sent us new lids. At the same time we replaced a #60 and a #70 lid.

Then we did 36 hours upwind in 25+ knots at 8+ knots taking A LOT of heavy water over the front of the boat, and all four new hatches leaked. So did two original 2009 hatches. Basically every hatch on the front half of the boat leaked. Maybe the worst one was a liter in 36 hours, so not a flood, but very inconvenient.

What hatches are you using that are standing up to this kind of treatment on the bow?? What are your experiences with Lewmar hatches?

 

[longy]

In no particular order, I've had hatches leak because of:
Joint in gasket had separated 1/16"
frame mounted to curved deck
latch handles loose/worn out
gasket was so old it had no more flexibility
bending of hinges
hinges coming loose from deck
plastic cracking
plastic no longer sealed to frame ( this can be hard to see sometimes, carefully push against plastic while holding frame)
Frame leaking thru deck joint
fasteners leaking

In other words, just about anything on a hatch may/will cause leaking

 

[CapDave]

Joint in gasket had separated 1/16"

Not in this case, not old ones and not new ones either

frame mounted to curved deck

These hatch locations have survived tough upwind slogs in the past without leaking, so the decks are flat enough

latch handles loose/worn out

No, we use service kits at the first drop through a handle, and there are four leaking brand new lids that come with brand new handles and O-rings

gasket was so old it had no more flexibility

This is when I buy new lids. Four new lids all leaked.

bending of hinges

Not observable. And they're not leaking from hinge edge, they're leaking from the handle edge/corner areas as far as I can tell.

hinges coming loose from deck

They're fastened through the frame/deck and riveted to the frame too. No observable movement, and not where they're leaking.

plastic cracking

Nope, and remember, four new lids

plastic no longer sealed to frame ( this can be hard to see sometimes, carefully push against plastic while holding frame)

The two that were replaced on warranty had this failure at age 4. But again, four brand new lids....leaking

Frame leaking thru deck joint

Not leaking between frame/deck

fasteners leaking

Not leaking through the fasteners

In other words, just about anything on a hatch may/will cause leaking

I've also inverted or replaced the plastic catches if they show wear; some become quite worn where the dog chafes them.

I noticed the catch on one hatch was leaking right through one rivet, though not only there. I'll remove and re-rivet that catch with fresh sealant.

We also use service kits for the hold-open springs at the first drop there, that's not where they're leaking.

I was able to rule out a few sources of leaks as above, but I wasn't really able to exactly see where the leaks were originating.

Very frustrating.

 

[longy]

Have someone on deck direct full hose flow all around hatch while you watch from below
Try placing strips of paper all the way around gasket, close hatch & pull strips thru from inside to test gasket squish

 

[longy]

I have one or twice found hatches that were not squeezing down tight and was able to shorten the 'spigot' on the hatch dog a 1/16" to add compression. Also check the o-rings/washers that actually seal the dogs, they may have dried out

 

[longy]

Basic fault tree for hatches: they can leak from three causes:

Thru gasket
thru hardware
thru mounting

 

[LewSipfher]

I have used Sil-Glyde goo from NAPA to renew gaskets. Use a shortened acid brush or a q-tip to apply

 

[CriticalPath]

Gotta love the Atkins & Hoyle hatches C&C Yachts used. A&H is still in business, and supports all their old hardware. Pearl's forward hatch was refurb'd by a PO in 2003 and functions flawlessly.

The midships hatch started leaking at the thru hardware (after 49 years in service) so we took it to A&H for lense, gasket, and thru hardware replacement, also had the frame re-anodized to clean up a PO's attempt to cover with black paint.

A&H's refurb cost more than a new Lewmar or Bomar hatch (which wouldn't fit the moulded openings) but the difference in quality makes it a worthwhile investment.

Cheers!

Hatch Repairs | Hatch and Port Repair | Atkins & Hoyle | Boat & Marine Dinghy Davits, Hardtops and Arches

Stop leaking hatches and ports on boats, replacement boat hatch and port.

www.atkinshoyle.com

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After:

 

[Sweare Deep]

i have a hatch that will sometimes drip, drip, drip from condensation in thick fog but not let a drop in during heavy rain or, as we experienced yesterday, during a lively Gulf Stream crossing.
Periodically, I lubricate the gasket with silicone grease and clean the hatch lid where it bears on the gasket fastidiously, which helps, I think, ’till next time.

 

[CapDave]

I had a very close look at the 6 hatches in question (four new lids, two 2009), and I found that on a number of them even though the lids are new the plastic catches riveted to the frame on deck are quite chafed/worn down. These rivets do fail with some regularity, and I generally do turn the catch over to use the other side when I rivet them back on - but in this case I proactively turned over every catch with any sign of wear at all.

Then I found that one of the 2009 hatches the dogs on the handles were also chafed/worn down, so I replaced those with two new handles I had in spares, and replace the visibly tired O-rings at the same time.

After this, I had two hatches with new lids (thus new handles & O-rings) and with no catch chafe that have no obvious reason to leak. They pass the paper test pretty well, there is decent compression of the gasket.

I can't really learn any more until I test them with water again - either an upwind bash, or hopefully I can find a dock with enough water pressure.....