Repairing a Leaking Stateroom Hatch (Vol. 59)

Deck hatch removed from Neptune #35

Recently the stateroom hatch in Neptune #35 started leaking. Water got in via the caulked joint between the fiberglass and the hatch. When John Isaksen removed the hatch, which was difficult since there was a lot of caulk holding it down, he found that its stainless flange barely covered the opening.  

Better than new

In the top picture note the location of the screw holes.  Their proximity to the edge of the hatch shows how little of the flange actually rested on the fiberglass.  Rather than risk another leak because of the small mating area between the flange and fiberglass, he made a teak frame to go between the two. John reports that the stateroom is now drip free once again.