Forward Hatch - what? How to repair?

[gulfislandfred]

This hatch is on my 'new' Fisher 30, built in the UK.

It's strong, well built, and heavy. The lens appears to be thick tempered glass.

The frame appears to be water tight, but water drips from around the glass. I may be able to scrape out a thin space between the top of the glass and the frame, and put in a bead of caulk.

I would like to find out how to take the frame apart, and rebed the glass, maybe replace the gasket in the frame as well.

[gulfislandfred]

Attachment learning curve. Your patience appreciated

[gulfislandfred]

Still learning

[donradcliffe]

Probably a leak between the lens and the frame. Try stopping it with painters tape. If that works, its time to cut out the lens, clean up the lens and frame, and rebed. Best sealant is Dow 795 silicone.

[gulfislandfred]

Thanks

How do I cut out the lens? Looks like metal frame on both sides?


Does the frame come apart? Or am I missing something about how the lens is stuck in there?

[coopec43]

Did you mention it is a Houdini hatch?


HATCH SEALSAs boats age, rubber window seals deteriorate. If there is a leak around the opening of your hatch, then you can buy a replacement seal. However, if the leak is between the glass and the frame, this seal cannot be replaced as the glass is sprung into the frame during the manufacturing process.

https://www.houdini-marine.co.uk/spares


Houdini hatch leaking - Cruisers & Sailing Forums


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"Leakage between hatch coaming and gasket - a temporary mitigation by using silicone grease around the gasket. Long-term replacing the gasket (usually part of the glazing system) is the only cure".27 Mar 2008

https://forums.ybw.com/threads/leaki...atches.156085/

https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/th...reseal.202552/

[GordMay]

I suspect your hatch lens might be acrylic, rather than tempered glass.

FISHER 30 MS was designed by Wyatt and Freeman, and built by Northshore Yachts [who would know the make/model hatches they used].

Northshore Shipyard,
Itchenor, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7AY, England
Email: Email: sales@northshore.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1243 512611
Web Contact: https://www.northshore.co.uk/contact-us
➥ https://www.northshore.co.uk/


If it's a Lewmar hatch:
How To Identify Your Lewmar Hatch ➥ https://www.lewmar.com/sites/default...tification.pdf

[gulfislandfred]

Thanks! Once again, this forum comes through!

I have not confirmed that it's a Houdini. No marks that I have found, yet. The closure is not the same.

If you look at the picture of the hatch open, you can see the closures on the hatch base sides. The only place I've seen those is on an Italian Site that sells classic boat jewelry. They do not identify a maker



I'll look again, but the lens feels like glass, and sounds like glass, not plastic, when you tap it (gently) with a folded up pocket knife.


I'm beginning to think that it's not made to come apart, that the leak is between lens and, frame, and that my fix will be to clean out the space where the old gasket is/was between lens and frame, and fill it with... to be determined.
I've used various caulking compounds in the past. Haven't used the silicone product that's been mentioned in reference to hatches. I'll have to confirm whether it's glass or plastic (glass will have the tempered mark, I think)

You-all have given me information to keep me busy for a bit. I'll email Fisher today and see if the hatch is original. (Thanks Gord!)

[paulajayne]

REmove the seal from the lid - there should be screws that secure the tread bars under there.

I have a brass hatch of similar design.

[gulfislandfred]

Thanks! I'll look again.

[rognvald]

So, G,
If it were my boat, I'd want to avoid a rebuild since it is very time consumptive, labor intensive and prone to NOT WORK as an unprofessional boat project. So, before the circus, I would take a tooth brush with a mixture of vinegar, soap, and water and clean meticulously on all the edges(inside and out) until no dirt appears. Then, I would take fresh water and repeat the process. Finally, after drying, coat the entire surface(inside and out) with a rubber seal lubricant and rub well into surface especially where the rubber meets the frame. The principle here is that 1.) the dirt may have created a pathway for water or 2.) the gasket was dry and needed to be treated allowing it to swell. I would then give it a week or so and if it doesn't work, I'd send it back to the factory, if possible, since most resealing is a waste of time for the average boat owner and very LABOR INTENSIVE TO DO IT PROPERLY! Good luck!
Rognvald

[Madehn]

That hatch comes apart. They didn’t manufacture it as one piece and the magic the glass in. Get all the old sealant out and you will probably find bolts holding parts or check the other side— somewhere it is there. Once you get it apart it becomes fairly easy to reseal. Takes a little time and is a bit messy but not that hard a job. Best of luck

[Lepke]

You sure it's leaking and not condensation collecting on the glass?

[gulfislandfred]

Thanks for all your time and advice



Yes, I'm sure it's leaking. Small puddle on the floor after a rain.


After all the good advice here, I spoke with an old friend who is a mechanic, machinist, and general boat repair worker. He has a very similar hatch on his 40' boat, which he lives on.

My friend has had his hatch completely apart and back together a couple of times, and it still leaks after a year or so. He finally made a canvas cover that snaps down over the hatch, to snap bases below the bottom of the hatch frame.


Before you-all chime in with you experience about your hatches, please understand that this is a heavy brass hatch with tread bars and a tempered glass lens. Your experience with plastic lenses and aluminum frames may not relate here.


So, I have decided to remove the hatch cover at the hinge, clean out the seam between the lens and frame, on both sides, clean the adjacent glass and brass, and put a bead of caulk in the seam, on both sides. I will research what kind of caulk is most appropriate.
If I can find something semi liquid, I will lean the hatch cover on its side, fill the seam, let it set, and turn the cover, repeat, until it's full and set. I might try pliobond rubber cement, if I can find it. I have had good results with it in the past.


If the hatch leaks after that, I'll try to maintain the seam, and I'll make a cloth cover to use as needed

[coopec43]

"this is a heavy brass hatch" Well now we know! (I thought it was SS)

https://www.google.com.au/search?sca...&bih=615&dpr=1