Leaky hatch with bent hinges

[Dino]

Hi, I’m currently away doing some extended cruising in Cornwall. On an earlier passage I noticed that I had a bad leak in a semicircular deck hatch. I removed the hatch and resealed it with butyl tape and Sikaflex 291i in all the screw holes. The hinge was very stiff and even good doses of WD40 wouldn’t free it. Once refitted I noticed that the riveted hinges are loose and the stiff hinge is preventing it from closing fully. I tried filling the gap with butyl tape but water was still getting in. A temporary fix has been a heavy plastic bag taped over the hatch.
I’m tempted to put a bead of Sikaflex around the seal and deal with it when I get home.
Will Sikaflex work on a rubber seal?

 

[Boathook]

I would sort out the hinge. It's only going to get worse.

There are better penetrative oils than wd40. Could always remove the hinges, sort out and then re-rivet them.

 

[Boater Sam]

Get some heat on the hinge and use some proper penetrating oil. WD40 is a water dispersant and is not what you need. With the hinge freed off, refit it so that it is secure and in line.

As a temporary measure, cover the hatch to keep the water out. Slavering goo on a gap is a waste of time.

 

[KevinV]

Will Sikaflex work on a rubber seal?

DO NOT do this - it's an utter sod to get off rubber!

 

[Dino]

Thanks folks. I think my best option is to remove the hatch and soak the hinges in hot water. The hinge appears to be aluminium with a plastic inner. I’ll try to get some better penetrating oil too.

 

[LittleSister]

Will Sikaflex work on a rubber seal?

Note that Sikaflex is a brand, not a product.

Sikaflex produce a wide variety of sealants, sealant/adhesives, and adhesives, etc., with the different products designated by numbers and hence rather easily confused! Sikaflex 291i is an adhesive sealant.

Some of the sealants will work with a rubber seal, but you definitely do not want to use the sealant/adhesives if you ever want to get it off again without a fight and a mess!

I think, as others have said, you need to sort out the hinges if you want to seal it properly. Find a temporary solution until you can do that. You don't mention whether this is a hatch of the type with a overhanging lip keeping the worst of the water away from the actual sealing faces, which should be quite easy to seal temporarily well enough (fill the gap as best able with plastic, cloth, length of rope or whatever, or the 'modern' type with fully exposed seal (could use gaffa tape. but don't leave it on too long or the glue will be left behind - if need be remove and replace every few days).

As the hinges are what you say are preventing the hatch sealing properly, consider removing the hinges temporarily and fixing the hatch shut for the remainder of your cruise.