The forward hatch on my 1980 O'Day 25 leaks a bit from rain. What have people used to seal around it? I have tried some 'B' shaped weather stripping but it doesn't stay stuck for very long. Do people seal the lazerette oppenings too? Thanks, sPk
O'Day 25 hatch leak, what type of seal?
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Leaky Hatch
Hi sPk, I have a leaky hatch as well but it is not my rubber gasket but the seal between the hatch and deck. I've reset it before but haven't been able to do a proper job since one of the large screw used to hold down the hatch is securely and forever stuck, so I have to remove the rest and hold the hatch as far away form the boat as possible, then squirt, shuve, and poke as much sealant as possible under the last bits...but it never seems to last long enough. Check with a hose that it's really the gasket or the hull joint. Also, if it is the gasket, are you able to put the weather stripping between the frame and the existing gasket? This may hold the new stripping down by not having it in direct contact with the mmoving hatch. Good luck.
Hi sPk, I have a leaky hatch as well but it is not my rubber gasket but the seal between the hatch and deck. I've reset it before but haven't been able to do a proper job since one of the large screw used to hold down the hatch is securely and forever stuck, so I have to remove the rest and hold the hatch as far away form the boat as possible, then squirt, shuve, and poke as much sealant as possible under the last bits...but it never seems to last long enough. Check with a hose that it's really the gasket or the hull joint. Also, if it is the gasket, are you able to put the weather stripping between the frame and the existing gasket? This may hold the new stripping down by not having it in direct contact with the mmoving hatch. Good luck.
Leaky forward hatch
Two years ago I completely removed my forward hatch and re-caulked it with Boat Life Boat caulking. I've since been using 3M Marine Adhesive Sealant Fast Cure 4000, and prefer this type of Polysulfide caulking. If you decide to use it, just get the bolts snug and wait a day or so for the caulking to set up. Then come back and re tighten the cap-nuts and try not to let the small bolts turn as you tighten it up. Also, these forward hatches are notorious for seizing up. All the parts to the hatch can be carefully dissembled and freed with the aid of drift pins and a small hammer. The plastic knobs can be removed from the metal inserts provided that you press them out in the right direction. The hatch cover is held with small pins that need to come out from the right direction. The adjusters on my hatch were completely frozen from years of salt build up, and I was able to free them, and seal my hatch from leaks. Good luck. Joe
Two years ago I completely removed my forward hatch and re-caulked it with Boat Life Boat caulking. I've since been using 3M Marine Adhesive Sealant Fast Cure 4000, and prefer this type of Polysulfide caulking. If you decide to use it, just get the bolts snug and wait a day or so for the caulking to set up. Then come back and re tighten the cap-nuts and try not to let the small bolts turn as you tighten it up. Also, these forward hatches are notorious for seizing up. All the parts to the hatch can be carefully dissembled and freed with the aid of drift pins and a small hammer. The plastic knobs can be removed from the metal inserts provided that you press them out in the right direction. The hatch cover is held with small pins that need to come out from the right direction. The adjusters on my hatch were completely frozen from years of salt build up, and I was able to free them, and seal my hatch from leaks. Good luck. Joe
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