Oceanis 37 access hatch is not water tight

[Pilgrimtex]

While stuck in a storm 4 days with confused seas; we wound up with a good 20 gallons of seawater in the bilge. Our gulper was plugged and water level hadn't initiated our 2000 gph pump at this point so we hand pumped it out. That's how I can estimate the amount. Granted waves were breaking over the boat but it was the access hatch back by the swim platform that leaked. At times we had ankle deep water entering through the opening to the platform so the hatch was submerged on and off.
I've searched for a "watertight" hatch cover but have not found one that would fit in the area. Aluminum covers are to expensive.
Does anyone have info?
A word of warning about the hatch. The latch is cheap and can fail. Mine broke shortly after receiving the boat. I feel it can fail at a bad time such as the storm and it certainly does not keep the cover tight on the gasket. Should the cover open; no pumping will keep up with the ingress.
It is raining heavy today and our gulper is coming on just from the runoff flowing over the hatch. The rest of the boat is tight with no leaks.

 

[Pilgrimtex]

Got a couple of pics showing broken latch.

 

[Southpaw]

I would look into getting a better latch before I would get a new hatch

 

[justsomeguy]

Does anyone have info?

In what shape is the gasket material (if any) on your hatch? Is it in good shape?

 

[Pilgrimtex]

It's not only the hatch latch but the hinge as well. I could add a gasket to the hatch to try for a tighter fix. Beneteau sent a new hatch plus I rebuilt the original stronger than the original. That's not the point. Unlike lake sailors when your out 200nm plus you want to be assured your equipment is top notch. The hatch is a piece of s%&t and needs to be replaced. Beneteau messed up on this one. 4-5 meter seas taught me an important lesson.
Asking for info on "watertight" hatches and warning 37 owners about the dangers of this inferior hatch.
151 rum and ginger makes for candid typing. Sorry if I offend anyone.
Happy New Year. Keep the Grog flowing and the wind blowin.
My Beneteau is a 2015 model.

 

[justsomeguy]

151 rum and ginger makes for candid typing.

No offense taken.
With a name like "Oceanis", one might expect some ocean-going capabilities, no? Happy new year yourself.

 

[Pilgrimtex]

Thanks for understanding. "Sail'n Somewhere" is a 37 footer. She will take me wherever we want to go.
This post is more of a warning to others with the same hatch. I will have a watertight hatch if I have to build it. Let's say you choose to use a drogue in a storm. That means you will probably have water flooding into the cockpit at times during following seas. That places the hatch under water. You want to know it watertight and secure. A friend of mine bought a fancy bay fishing tunnel hull boat with a flat platform type deck just above the waterline. Down in south Texas. He had two similar hatches in the deck aft. Wavelets lapping onto the deck while tied up at his dock sunk the boat from water entering through the closed hatches.
Should the hatch fail in storm conditions your boat could be swamped before you even realize it.

 

[justsomeguy]

Thanks for understanding. "Sail'n Somewhere" is a 37 footer. She will take me wherever we want to go.

Re-reading my post, it does sound a bit disparaging of Beneteau's Oceanis model. That was not my intent.
I hope you find a fix for this issue.

 

[Gunni]

Never noticed that hatch on a production Beneteau so I strongly suspect that a previous owner thought it was a good idea. It is not. Some of the production hunters have the same thing - a swim platform hatch that opens to the bilge just a foot or two above the waterline. If this was my boat I would replace that cheap plastic hatch with the appropriate size Lewmar Ocean hatch
http://www.apsltd.com/low-profile-h...aign=Product&gclid=CKaRuIr8o9ECFYyLswodFqQDUA

 

[Pilgrimtex]

Thanks Gunni.
I bought her new from the factory. When the latch broke they sent a whole hatch cover. Same as was on it.
I have those Lewmar hatches on the cabin. Only thing you "normally" open from inside though you also can from outside.
I've pretty much worked out a design in my head using starboard thick enough so it can't deform over time.
I'll start collecting the parts and post the finish product when I'm done. Now if I could only find my rountoit.

 

[Gunni]

On a new boat like yours I would insist that Beneteau replace that with a proper ocean hatch. An off-the-shelf Lewmar is what is needed and they know it.