Re: Leaking hatch seals

Posted by Ron Miller on Nov 7, 2004

It seems to me that, other than not having hatch rims, the biggest challenge to sealing hatches is matching the hatch radius to the deck radius so there are no gaps. I found this very difficult to do, and despite my best efforts, I had some gaps as much as 1/8th inch. My solution was to by lot's of different thicknesses and widths of weather stripping. I used the very thick stripping for the main part of the seal, and added thinner ones wherever there were gaps. I have tested it with the garden hose on full power, learning how to roll, and two hours paddling in 20 knot winds and waves crashing over the deck. The most water I have found in my hatch is about a tablespoon. I clip my hatches and then tighten the buckles no problem. The weatherstripping job required a lot of patience. It took about two hours a hatch, but was well worth it. Happy paddling!

Ron Vancouver Island, BC CH17

In Response to: Leaking hatch seals by Homer on Nov 6, 2004

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