My forward hatch on my '86 Cal 28-2 is leaking. I pulled it out to rebed it. As it turns out, Cal took a couple of serious shortcuts in the mounting of this hatch. The outer deck has a molded raised area that just has a hole cut in it for the hatch. There is no core in the area. The inner deck has a flange molded into it that comes up to meet the outer deck. However, the hole in the outer deck is bigger than the flange. In some areas there's a 3/8" crack between the outer deck and the flange from the inner deck. The space between the 2 deck parts is empty and about 1" deep. Cal had simply stuffed the crack with bedding compound and there were spots that were cracked and leaking.
So, here's the question: What should I do to fix this? I'm considering trying to thoroughly clean the edges and fill the crack with thickened epoxy (hoping it won't sag out of the opening before curing) and then sanding it down and bedding the hatch frame in with Life Caulk. Does that sound like it might work? If anyone's got another suggestion, I'd love to hear it.
Right now the rain is preventing any progress, and it's predicted to continue for several days. I've covered the hole with taped down plastic. Here's hoping it holds.
--Smitty
So, here's the question: What should I do to fix this? I'm considering trying to thoroughly clean the edges and fill the crack with thickened epoxy (hoping it won't sag out of the opening before curing) and then sanding it down and bedding the hatch frame in with Life Caulk. Does that sound like it might work? If anyone's got another suggestion, I'd love to hear it.
Right now the rain is preventing any progress, and it's predicted to continue for several days. I've covered the hole with taped down plastic. Here's hoping it holds.
--Smitty