leaking Lewmar hatch

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camman

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www.knightsurplus.co.uk
Lewmar hatch circa mid 1980's leaking rain water around perspex seal, can the perspex be removed to re-seal with a car windscreen type of sealer or to replace the old seal?
 
Yes I did it on mine over the winter, I removed the hatch lid and took it home. Cut the old seal with a sharp blade to get the glass out. Then remove all the old sealer from the glass and frame. To rebed it I used a black sealant called PU18 it's a polyurethane sealant/adhesive. I masked off the frame and glass and rebedded it in. I also replaced the rubber o-rings on the handles. So far so good and I've been out with waves over the deck and it's been ok.
make sure you fit the rubber seal before fitting the glass back in.
 
Spyro said:
Yes I did it on mine over the winter, I removed the hatch lid and took it home. Cut the old seal with a sharp blade to get the glass out. Then remove all the old sealer from the glass and frame. To rebed it I used a black sealant called PU18 it's a polyurethane sealant/adhesive. I masked off the frame and glass and rebedded it in. I also replaced the rubber o-rings on the handles. So far so good and I've been out with waves over the deck and it's been ok.
make sure you fit the rubber seal before fitting the glass back in.
Click to expand...



I did mine 2 years ago and replaced the crazed perpex sheet with new.

Question the use of PU18 though? great as a constructional adhesive, but hope you never have to get it out again?

I used it to seal a chainplate deck cover , big mistake , trying to remove it later pulled up a section of gelcoat and mat!!

Arbosil 1081 black glazing sealant is what Hadlow Windows use and supplied to me, along with all the necessary glazing gaskets etc, also supplied me with a new tinted and shaped piece of Perpex after me supplying mine for a template, complete with a routered hole for a ventilator.

Very helpfull people, and a very extensive cataloge you can download with good useful tips.

http://hadlo-43547-001.dsvr.co.uk/Pages/Hadlowmarine2012.03.pdf

No conection just a very satisfied customer
 
I found the easy way was to buy a discounted new/old-stock hatch from Seateach, then flog the old one for spares on eBay. No sailing missed!
 
If you just want to re-seal it, try some creeping crack seal. Did the trick on a couple of mine.

If you want to replace the perspex (or the hatch), what size is it? (I have a size 60 in the garage that I have been meaning to sell for a while and never got around to it).

Bob
 
Have a look at the hatch frame near the hinges. My hatch leaks because the two aluminium welds there have cracked through due to people sitting on the open hatch. The hatch no longer closes against the seals on the hinged edge due to flexing in the frame. With the hatch closed, you can see a 1mm gap between the frame and the seals. I plan to fix this by reinforcing across the welds (one day when the sun is shining...)
 
camman said:
Lewmar hatch circa mid 1980's leaking rain water around perspex seal, can the perspex be removed to re-seal with a car windscreen type of sealer or to replace the old seal?
Click to expand...

I would post a picture or describe the hatch location on the boat and dimensions. All types of seals can be replaced and there are plenty of suppliers. Others have described how to replace the mastic type sealants used to bond a perspex panel in one hatch type.

There are also companies that will refurbish hatches if you wish to purchase that type of service e.g. Hadlow Marine Services. I have used this company for aluminium framed window refurbishment with excellent results. I am planning to use them to refurbish my Lewmar Hatches. They have tips on their web site as well e.g. Replacing Acrylic Hatches, which are aimed for DIY work.

Seals can be purchased from here: Seals Direct. I have never used them but book marked the page based on comments made on this forum. Review their technical help page before wading into the seals directory, it may help with identifying the type of seal you have, if the hatch is seal type

Good Luck,

BlowingOldBoots
 
Spyro said:
Yes I did it on mine over the winter, I removed the hatch lid and took it home. Cut the old seal with a sharp blade to get the glass out. Then remove all the old sealer from the glass and frame. To rebed it I used a black sealant called PU18 it's a polyurethane sealant/adhesive. I masked off the frame and glass and rebedded it in. I also replaced the rubber o-rings on the handles. So far so good and I've been out with waves over the deck and it's been ok.
make sure you fit the rubber seal before fitting the glass back in.
Click to expand...

As spyro recomended to me, i used PU18 got it via e-bay did the job great. easy to use & yes just mask off did mine in situ, as we live on board. good luck
 
A simple water proofing fix is a square canvas cover, couple of inches bigger than hatch.
Attached in place using 4 x those little press stud thingys to secure cover to deck.
Also serves to keep out light when lying in bunk.
Mine is a dark blue to match dodgers and was made from a cut off from local sail maker.
Also prevents rain from puddling on top of glass.
 
oldgit said:
A simple water proofing fix is a square canvas cover, couple of inches bigger than hatch.
Attached in place using 4 x those little press stud thingys to secure cover to deck.
Also serves to keep out light when lying in bunk.
Mine is a dark blue to match dodgers and was made from a cut off from local sail maker.
Also prevents rain from puddling on top of glass.
Click to expand...

You can develop this into something that keeps the rain out with the hatch open 1 notch, and even scoops in a bit of forced ventilation.
 
oldgit said:
A simple water proofing fix is a square canvas cover, couple of inches bigger than hatch.
Attached in place using 4 x those little press stud thingys to secure cover to deck.
Also serves to keep out light when lying in bunk.
Mine is a dark blue to match dodgers and was made from a cut off from local sail maker.
Also prevents rain from puddling on top of glass.
Click to expand...

Sounds ok for a quick cheap fix but what about when it's a foredeck hatch and you are taking waves over the bows. The cover wont be there long.
 
xeitosaphil said:
Question the use of PU18 though? great as a constructional adhesive, but hope you never have to get it out again?

I used it to seal a chainplate deck cover , big mistake , trying to remove it later pulled up a section of gelcoat and mat!!

Arbosil 1081 black glazing sealant is what Hadlow Windows use and supplied to me, along with all the necessary glazing gaskets etc, also supplied me with a new tinted and shaped piece of Perpex after me supplying mine for a template, complete with a routered hole for a ventilator.

Very helpfull people, and a very extensive cataloge you can download with good useful tips.

http://hadlo-43547-001.dsvr.co.uk/Pages/Hadlowmarine2012.03.pdf

No conection just a very satisfied customer
Click to expand...

As the sealant is the only thing holding the glass in the frame it needs to be a good adhesive as well.
 
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