Sealing the front end of the main hatch on a Catalina 22 ?

[Leeward Rail]

Evening all...
I've got another question for you.

When towing down the highway, and in driving rain, the front of the main hatch on my Catalina 22 would leak a bit.

Has anyone installed, or made their own teak weatherboard on the front of the main hatch ? I know that some models came with them
Did it help with leaks ?

Maybe install weather stripping on the front edge ?

Anyone have some good upgrade ideas ?

What's the "normal" poptop/hatch gap on the front of the main hatch on a "new style" C22 ?

 

[RJD]

Weatherstripping should do the trick. Added some to my lazerettes and they are watertight now.

 

[Gene Neill]

Are we talking about the pop top hatch, or the sliding hatch?

 

[Leeward Rail]

Gene,

Sliding hatch.

I believe that you mentioned once that you stuck something in there to stop leaks when towing.
At least I know someone did.

I seem to remember that some C22 had weatherboards on the front edge, but I suspect that was just cosmetic.

The raised edge around the hatch opening would, I assume normally keep water out in 99.9% of normal sailing.

Last fall, when towing the boat in the rain, we found that water seemed to drive up under the front hatch edge, follow the hatch bottom, and get into the cabin.

We did get some leaks from the pop top when it's wasn't centered correctly, or the dogs were not fully tight.

 

[ShotgunSlim]

That may have been a post of mine you're referencing. One camping trip to the lake, I left out early in the morning under cloudy skies with imminent rain and several strips of duck tape over the front of the sliding hatch because I figured driving + rain would soak everything in the cabin. I arrived at the lake with rain still falling but the weather front moving out and the wind picking up that afternoon. When I opened the boat, there wasn't a drop of water in the cabin. Just one more reason to trailer with a roll of duck tape in your "possibles" bag.

 

[Milton.Audas]

I believe that CD actually sells such a thing, in teak. It's called an 'East Coast Forward Weatherboard'. Here's the link... https://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/435_18/forward-weatherboardbreast-coast-c-22s.cfm
Although, a strip of rubber door seal might also do the trick for much less $$.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Thanks for the link. that's what I was referring to in my first post.
I couldn't remember where I saw them.

I suspect that it's for the original design boats though.

As you say, a rubber door seal will likely be the best option. Even that weatherboard listing mentions that some people sandwich a rubber seal between the board and the hatch.