Water Leaking in thru sliding hatch

[betzhunter]

We have had really bad rain falls the last two days and while we were caught in one of them on the boat we notice water leaking from the sliding hatch. It was coming in the corner (see picture) where you can see the water drops. At first we thought the channels that run alongside the hatch were clogged. No such luck, so is there another place where the water should drain along where the hatch slides? Any help would be great.

Bub

 

[kloudie1]

Man.. that is one of those things on a 34.. Hunter designed the drains to run uphill and they continue to refuse to do that even after all these years.. The pocket for the slider has no real drain, so when it fills up, it goes down into the cabin. I used to use a piece of 5/16" line with a knot on one end. When I needed to, I'd push the knot into the starboard corner under the slider. The other end went into the sink .. so the rope would guide the water to the sink..that is kinda' agricultural looking.. Now, I use a cheap small tarp with a throw cushion under it to make the water go to the sides or into the cockpit.. Last time I had the pocket cover (Sea hood?) off I drilled a couple of small holes in the forward end to try to get the water to drain into the rope tunnels on both sides.. Seemed to work for a while but I think they got plugged with Katrina debris , you know those shredded leaves that are half the size of a fingernail and fly everywhere.. .. I don't have a solution, just some observations. I think the front drain has the best chance of working, but I don't know how to make that happen yet. Other thing I am considering is a "mini dodger" .. A small piece of Sunbrella with two batten pockets, one aft and one about half way forward on the slider. The battens would be just a little too long to fit between the aft slider rails and they would bow up when put into the slot between the closed slider and the rail top. With flaps on the sides and front, the rain should run off the bowed top, over flaps and away without getting into the pocket.. I dunno..
I know that a regular dodger would stop (hide) the problem, but really don't like the access problems that causes with the Bimini supports etc..

EDIT.. I would use the mini bimini when leaving the boat or as needed during a storm when the slider is shut. otherwise it could be rolled or laid flat under a cushion for storage.

 

[Don Crowther]

I have a cover something like a tonnue cover that was on my MGB. It snaps over the entrance. The front edge snaps down up by the main sheet and along the side down to the cockpit floor. There are 3 battens sewn into it to keep it ridged. I think it's made out of sunbrella. It sits out all winter and the bilge is dry in the spring. Didn't have one on the 31 and it was always wet after a rain. Wish i had a picture of it to post.

 

[Allan12210]

We solved the issue just like Claude and Don. First it was the knotted rope down to the sink. Then my wife sewed the waterproof Sunbrella cover that snaps by the traveller and again at the aft end of the sliding hatch, finally folding down to the companion way bottom (where that teak step is). We stuff the throw cushion under it on top of the slider to keep it from filling up with water.

 

[lnikl]

I have the same problem on my H34. Please let us know what your solution is. I have a rubberized sunbrella slider cover that keeps things dry but that is a bit of a pain while cruising.

I have wondered if a small piece of wood silicone in might entice the water to drain where it should.

 

[betzhunter]

Hey thanks guys, I think we will use some of your ideas and make a cover with waterproof Sunbrella. I just wasn't about using snaps or velco.

Bub

 

[Dan Johnson]

Bub...

I'll chime in add my 2 cents too. I pretty much do the same thing as the other guys have pointed out.

When on the hard over the winter I bungie a big piece of canvas over the companionway to keep the slider from leaking from rain and snow. A tarp over the length of the boom adds to the protection.

Now that the boat's in the water, my dodger keeps the slider dry. I have a canvas panel that attaches between the rear edge of the dodger and the from edge of the bimini. When off the boat, I keep it atttached to the dodger and bungie it down and back to the bimini deck mounts to minimize the amount of rain that can reach the slider. Works well with a minimum of water penetration.