Installing a new hatch, fiberglass question

[Timo42]

I picked up a 17" hatch at Minneys, too good a deal to pass up, problem is, it's about an inch too big in both directions, the flange on the new hatch overlaps the valley between the cored deck and the existing opening. I am thinking I should rough up the gelcoat and fill the valley with mat and a layer of cloth, then use a sabre saw to cut the new opening. Will that be strong enough, or should I glass in a reinforcing ring of marine ply underneath? or...

 

[Ross]

The only problem with a cored deck is with the fasteners

If it is cored with balsa you must seal the core against moisture. If it is foam you must install a hard plug to prevent crushing the core. I presume that you will through bolt it? Balsa doesn't have good screw holding qualities.

 

[Ross]

It could get walked on and you don't want it to flex

and break the caulking seals. It certainly won't hurt to make it too strong. Besides you don't want it to catch and hold water.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Two things ....

1). If you havent done any fiberglass work yet and 2). you have to ask on here, maybe you ought to pass on this idea.If you screw it up, your Mac 22 will have absolutely NO resale value.No matter what kind of upgrade you do, it will devalue your boat greatly if its an obvious thing.Unless you find someone on here with a boat identical to yours and the same kind of modification, i would strongly suggest you read some books on fiberglass boat repair. They will detail similar type mods and the rationale used. Tony B

 

[Benny17441]

Put the hatch on your car if you don't have a

sunroof. Best idea sell it on E-bay that is no bargain for your boat.

 

[Timo42]

The more I look at it, *!

I think the way to go seems to be to cut off the raised lip and fabricate a ply ring that will fit snugly in the recess and glass that in with epoxy, going to paint the deck anyway so gelcoat isn't an issue, neighbor stopped by tonight to solicit car advice, model maker for Mattel, ex aerospace, dragooned him into the project so I am good with the fiberglass work now, ;D If anyone has done something similar, I would like to see pictures. That kind of sunroof went out of style in this part of the country in the 80's so I am stuck with putting it on the boat This boat is a learning experience, so if it doesn't look right, I will do it over until it does. I have more invested in the rigging than the initial price so resale value isn't a problem. Tim

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Since you have made up

your mind to go ahead with this project, your idea of glassing in a reinforcing ring of marine ply for strength is a good one. I too think it is a necessary step. After you glass in the ply for strength, you can use anything to mould the shape you want on top of that. Things such as cardboard, foam, split paper towel tubes, whatever, then glass over this.Have funTony B