Sealing Cockpit Engine Inspection Cover -- Help!

[Serenade30]

Our engine compartment cover in the cockpit is leaking like profusely during rainy days. Does anyone know of a good way to seal it? It has the screws that tighten it down, and we even thought of caulking them, but what a hassle it would be to remove it. Any better ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Darrel and Christal

 

[Ed Schenck]

Archives for info.

Originally when I first saw this question I thought it must be an owner modification. But so many have written about the cover in the cockpit sole that it must have been standard on some years of the H30. At any rate if you will search the "Forum Arhives" you will find discussions about sealing and changing the screws out for bolts, etc. See Related Link for one.

 

[Jack Tyler]

Improved gasket & fastening the key...

D&C:Removeable cockpit soles to aid engine access used to be more common (e.g. Albin Vega, Hallberg-Rassy 35 and Monsun - and these boats were intended for offshore ocean crossing) and is a great feature. In addition to your gasket probably being past its useful life, you are likely not to have a long-lasting fastener system for holding it down.I don't think I'd like to raise the sole 2" as mentioned in Ed's link tho' the fix described there sounded permanent enough. Consider visiting a local rubber products vendor (e.g. in our area it's the Goodyear Rubber store, which is not a tire shop) and see what kind of HD rubber gasketing they can offer you. After cleaning up the mating surfaces (which may require some minor eposy fairing work on your part), look for a way you can anchor female stainless fasteners either into or underneath the flange in the cockpit sole on to which you place the hatch lid. You may want to visit a fastener specialty house to get the widest selection of products. I don't think the idea of conventionally bolting the hatch to the flange is adviseable, as it will make access to the engine much more difficult and the benefit of this arrangement should be easy engine access.Jack

 

[Stephen Ord]

I also have this problem

I think this is a fairly common problem and feature. If anyone does come up with a satisfactory solution then please post it with pictures if possible.

 

[J. Tesoriero]

Sealing the engine cover.

The engine access cover is rarely used. I have only opened mine once in ten years to remove the fuel tank. It is practically useless for servicing the engine unless you can hange upside down. I would advise that you take up the cover, clean all of the sealing surfaces, apply a good caulking compound and rebed the cover with larger screws or bolt it in place. Once properly sealed, it has not leaked, even with a flooded cockpit (ice in the scuppers).