Any ideas on how to fix leaking cockpit hatches?
Our 1986 Trawler has a 4 foot long fishing cockpit. The cockpit has 4 fiberglass hatches wich are held in place by gravity. There are no seals on the hatch covers or the cockpit itself. Consequenstly, some water always leaks into the bilge and it is normal to have a couple inches of water in the bilge in this area. The water annoys me.
A previous owner installed a 1/2 diameter drain hose connected to the "U" channel that goes along the perimeter of each hatch opening. The 1/2 drain opening is normally plugged with dog hair or other stuff so it serves no useful purpose. The "U" Channel is only about 1/2 inch wide which is why he used such a small drain hose.
I considered purchasing commercial water tight hatch covers to replace the existing covers, but Bomar and others do not make anything large enough for my needs (I need two 18 inch x 30 inch and two 20 inch by 30 inch hatch covers).
Also considered fiberglassing in a bigger "U" channel along the perimeter of of each hatch openning. Then I could connect a 1 1/8 drain hose which would actually be big enough to drain water. But this seems like a lot of work. Is there a better or easier solution? Any advice would be appreciated.
Mike
Our 1986 Trawler has a 4 foot long fishing cockpit. The cockpit has 4 fiberglass hatches wich are held in place by gravity. There are no seals on the hatch covers or the cockpit itself. Consequenstly, some water always leaks into the bilge and it is normal to have a couple inches of water in the bilge in this area. The water annoys me.
A previous owner installed a 1/2 diameter drain hose connected to the "U" channel that goes along the perimeter of each hatch opening. The 1/2 drain opening is normally plugged with dog hair or other stuff so it serves no useful purpose. The "U" Channel is only about 1/2 inch wide which is why he used such a small drain hose.
I considered purchasing commercial water tight hatch covers to replace the existing covers, but Bomar and others do not make anything large enough for my needs (I need two 18 inch x 30 inch and two 20 inch by 30 inch hatch covers).
Also considered fiberglassing in a bigger "U" channel along the perimeter of of each hatch openning. Then I could connect a 1 1/8 drain hose which would actually be big enough to drain water. But this seems like a lot of work. Is there a better or easier solution? Any advice would be appreciated.
Mike