Help -- my sliding hatch broke!

[Tallgrass Sailor]

Yesterday I was standing on the with one foot on the hatch shroud and one on the sliding hatch putting sail ties on a flaked main sail. Just I finished the last sail tie on near the outhaul cleat my foot dropped about six inches as the hatch cover fractured from the aft edge to forward edge. :cry:It appears the teak handhold broke first and the plexiglas followed.

Q. Is it possible to do decent "temporary repairs" to make this hatch cover somewhat water tight?

Q. Is procuring a fresh piece of 7/16 in thick plexiglas feasible or should I consider an alternative?

Thanks,

Brad

PS I'll post some photos later today.

 

[isaksp00]

I would think you could use some strong tape, like duct tape, as a very temporary fix, just to keep water out for now - would depend on whether the pieces can be mated OK. And I would also think you could get a piece of plexiglass (if that type and thickness is available locally) and fashion a new one - if I recall, it is just some wood bits screwed on it, so would not be too hard to fashion.

 

[caverun]

Assuming the H23 is somewhat similar to the H25 hatch, this file from Hunter may help in the repair:
http://www.marlow-hunter.com/export/Model-Information/25_2005/H25 Sea Hood And Hatch Assembly.pdf

 

[Deucer]

From a quick look on the internet, you might want to consider using Lexan vs. Plexiglass. Lexan is much tougher than Plexiglass, but scratches easier (although you can get coatings to make it less scratch resistant. A real quick look showed a 1/2" 2'X2' sheet running about $50. Maybe Crazy Dave has an input.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Many boat yards generally have excess lexan/pleixglass that was left over from repairs. I would suggest looking there first as you will get a better price as a whole sheet of 4 ft by 8 ft is very expensive. I was once asked if you could glue the two halves back together safely and my answer is still no and from a safety issue, I would not suggest trying either.

When either is scratched, I used either wet and dry sandpaper with water of course with vaious grades of sandpaper to get the scratches out followed by a fine finishing compound. If the sanding was not necessary, sometimes I would use a couser grade of compound and then with the fine finishing compound (suggest the paste Finese It by 3 M).

As for making a new hatch, follow the article as a lead that CAVERUN graciously inserted or referred to. As to plexiglass vs. lexan, I have folks who say each other is better. I would go with the smoked so sunlight cannot come thru or once I stepped on a boat to make a repair when I was told no one would be there and with the slider hatch closed, I saw too much with a clear slider glass as Miss 30 year old was changing. I got off quickly and apologized. I was embarrassed.

crazy dave condon