New deck/escape hatch

[Swanrad2]

We are replacing the foredeck hatch on our Centaur. The old one is horrid. The replacement is a Houdini and a little smaller than the existing so we are placing it in a teak frame and attaching that to the deck. So thinking about the best way of bedding the wood down (the Houdini will be bedded on a Neoprene gasket). The choices are:

1. Sikoflex (easy to work with, forgiving but messy
2. epoxy and micro balloons

Which is best?

Ta

Tony

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I would use Sikaflex.
FWIW epoxy can also be messy.

 

[duncan99210]

Sikaflex or similar: epoxy is rigid and will crack if there is any flex between the hatch and the deck and your wooden mount. If you tape up round the hatch before applying the sealant it will reduce the messiness to an acceptable level.

 

[SteveSarabande]

Using Vaseline helps keep sikaflex under control

 

[30boat]

I wouldn't use wood (even teak) for the frame.Much better to go to the trouble of making a fiberglass base glued and faired in with epoxy.That's what I did on my previous boat.Wood will eventually leak.

 

[aquaplane]

This one:
http://scotland.boatshed.com/westerly_centaur-boat-164400.html
has a modern hatch fitted to a wooden replacement for the original manky GRP one.
Why he didn't just cut out the translucent bit of the old hatch and fit the new one to that I can't understand.
My point is, I find the extra couple of inches head room in the forecabin quite useful so would try to fit a new hatch at the level of the existing one, not flush (or nearly so) with the cabin top.
I would fit the new hatch to the existing one initially. I'd see how I got on with it and then epoxy the old hatch in permanently when I was happy.
Of course getting a piece of acrylic cut to replace the reanslucent pannel and fixing it down with some sticky stuff would work too.

 

[Fantasie 19]

We are replacing the foredeck hatch on our Centaur. The old one is horrid. The replacement is a Houdini and a little smaller than the existing so we are placing it in a teak frame and attaching that to the deck. So thinking about the best way of bedding the wood down (the Houdini will be bedded on a Neoprene gasket). The choices are:

1. Sikoflex (easy to work with, forgiving but messy
2. epoxy and micro balloons

Which is best?

Ta

Tony

Based on experience to date (minimal!) I would use butyl tape - been very impressed with how easy it is to use...

 

[Swanrad2]

Based on experience to date (minimal!) I would use butyl tape - been very impressed with how easy it is to use...

Even for bedding the wood down?
Never used Butyl tape, but I know it is the sealant of choice when you might need to move the thing in the future...

 

[KellysEye]

We had teak surrounds on all our hatches which were held by Sikaflex and screws, to fit the hatch Sikaflex was put on the teak and the hatches screwed down to the teak surround. The teak never leaked. Use tape around the teak underneath the hatch and around the bottom edge of the hatch where you would put your fingers to lift it.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Even for bedding the wood down?
Never used Butyl tape, but I know it is the sealant of choice when you might need to move the thing in the future...

I can't think why not - especially as you're using a hard wood.. the reason I like the stuff is because it so easy to use... it doesn't smell, is easy to work, is easy to clean up, and doesn't get everywhere I don't want it to be, etc.... and removing stuff afterwards is just a matter of unbolting and then lifting fitting off....

 

[Alpha22]

+1 For Butyl Tape. Sticks like $h1t, will absorb flex, will never leak, will last for years.

 

[northwind]

+1 For Butyl Tape. Sticks like $h1t, will absorb flex, will never leak, will last for years.

Another +1 for Buytl tape, if you don't need an adhesive, its great.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware