Leaking Forward Hatch

rondds

rondds

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2006
8,859
Jersey Shore
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
For the first time in 5 years, my hatch is leaking. Slight drip from the forward-most starboard corner - it takes a sustained downpour to happen. It's not coming from the bedding b/c the headliner, which is cloth, is not wet. It's not coming from the screw that the latch swivels on (that has happened before). I'm thinking it's the gasket around the hatch?? See pic below - typical hatch found on many SRs.

Hatch.jpg
 
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Had the same issue. Try rubbing the gasket with vaseline. It worked for me.
Good luck.
 
oceanpearl said:
Had the same issue. Try rubbing the gasket with vaseline. It worked for me.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Petrolium products + rubber may cause damage to the seal. I'd go with silicone grease.
 
Lightly clean the rubber gasket and silicone. Caulk the hatch to deck area, a small bead will do, then take a turn on the center screw on the latch mechanisms. This should fix all your issues! Good luck!
 
Medium body pvs on the seal and close. Problem should be solved. ;) Otherwise use the suggestion above. Maybe get someone to put a hose to it while you're below to see where it's coming from?
 
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Brian:
I prefer a good purple nasty tasting polyether. I know where it's coming from. I was sitting in the pouring rain watching it leak in. Gotta be the rubber gasket that mates up to the lip at the hatch rim.
 
Ron,

Aren't the hatch dogs adjustable? Try closing the hatch and tightening the center screw, if there is one, to compress the gasket a little more.
 
Did you buy the rubber gasket at home depot too? I think I saw them in isle 3 right next to the hose clamps.
 
Frank
Thanks but I tried that. Didnt work.

Mike
F-U:grin:
 
Same thing happened to me this morning. Poured rain for hours and the drip started. I washed the boat on Saturday and nothing happened. Any brand names for the silicone grease to use?

Thanks.
 
Begging your pardon but how exactly does grease stop a leak?
 
rondds said:
Begging your pardon but how exactly does grease stop a leak?
Click to expand...

It repels water and fills any tiny voids that may channel water through the sealed area. It's very effective.
 
Holy cow! Don't any of you guys know how to find a leak of this type? Ron, if you're pretty sure it's the gasket, get some chalk dust and a squeeze bulb. Clean and dry the area around the hatch, close and dog it. Using the bulb, blow chalk dust around the closed hatch. If there's a spot that is not sealing, you'll see the non-sealing gasket covered with chalk dust. Now you know what has to be fixed.

This was quite common for auto dealers to do back in the day to find bad door and window weatherstripping.

Best regards,
Frank
 
John and Frank
Thanks. I'll do more troubleshooting of this next spring. INterestingly the past two massive rains that occured there was no water penetration. Or maybe it just dried up by the time I got to the boat (?)
 
Remembered the second way to identify bad weather seals. Again uses chalk dust. Coat the gasket area liberally with chalk dust. You know you can get this at the hardware store, right? Then gently close and dog the hatch. Now open the hatch. Undisturbed chalk that didn't transfer to the mating surface indicate the loose spots.

I remember reading both methods in the factory service manuals for a some 60s, 70s, and 80s cars I've owned.

Best regards,
Frank
 
If its a taylor hatch,you can buy the weatherstrip seal at west marine.It comes in a roll that i think glued on to the hatch.I replaced all the seals in my 25 sundancer and never had any more leaks.Was inexpensive and an easy repair.Also make sure its not leaking around the glass to the frame.Mine were leaking there too so I removed the glass from the frame,resiliconed the glass in and was like a new hatch.Think it costed about $20 each hatch.
 
Make sure the hatch isn't leaking around the frame that beds to the deck! Thats where ours started leaking. Same deal. Was laying in bed one night during a good rain when I felt a drip. Front corner was leaking. I pulled the frame, removed the old gasket and siliconed the perimeter and screw holes before it had a chance to ruin the coring. I have since rebedded all the hatches. Good luck!
 
Ron, I tried a lot of the suggestions already mentioned to fix a leak in my main salon hatch and finally realized it was the silicone seal between the glass and the aluminum frame. Inspect it carefully while pushing on the glass on the outside and you may see movement where the glass isn't bonded to the silicone. To repair it I cut away the old silicone (don't need to remove the glass), tape off the glass and the white aluminum frame, install new bead of black silicone, smooth it out and remove the tape. Good luck, Mark
 
rondds said:
For the first time in 5 years, my hatch is leaking. Slight drip from the forward-most starboard corner - it takes a sustained downpour to happen. It's not coming from the bedding b/c the headliner, which is cloth, is not wet. It's not coming from the screw that the latch swivels on (that has happened before). I'm thinking it's the gasket around the hatch?? See pic below - typical hatch found on many SRs.

Hatch.jpg
Click to expand...

I had a few drops from my forward hatch this summer as well. My hatches are "Taylor-Made" and I took the lever assemblies apart only to find that the o-rings were shot. I replaced them and all is well in the world again until the next time.

~Ken :thumbsup:
 
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