Hi folks. I have a 1981 Hunter 33 that we are bringing back to life. It has a very nice inlaid wooden hatch cover that looks great by leaks like a sieve. I'd like to keep it as it complements the look of the boat, and have tried a variety of auks and sealants without success. Seems like the inlaid strips are staying in place but the is some splitting in the caulk seems. Anyone have any experience sealing, fixing this type of issue ? Thanks
Leaking companionway hatch cover
- Thread starter spadaforaj
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Are you asking about the companionway slider? I thought the H33 was like my H37C and had a Lexan cover. Like this: http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=28&aid=6930&page=article&mn=33_77-83 .
Remember that when a caulk states that it can allow 50 percent joint movement that it may not be a wide enough joint for the caulk. I suspect that the wood dried out and shrinks and opens the joints. when it stays wet long enough the wood swells and the joints close and stop leaking. It that is indeed the case then you must make the joints wider with a router and recaulk with the most elastic caulk you can find.
When the cover is very dry look closely at the width of the cracks and call that space 50 per cent of the needed joint width. Thus if you have 1/8 inch cracks then you need joints at least a 1/4 inch wide.
Thanks Ed
Ed. It's the slider on the top. The link looks good, I just don't have those carpentry skills.
Often, you can't fix an old leaky thing by just firing in the right kind of goo.
If your sliding cover is leaking where the lexan meets the wood, the proper fix may be to:
- remove the cover from the boat
- remove the lexan (plastic) from the cover
- repair and refinish the teak frame
- rebed the cleaned lexan with butyl or some other long-life, pliable sealant
- re-install
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