Engine hatch question

Peteris · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:21 am

Hello to all,

I have been reading this forum for quite some time, have always managed to find all the answers i needed in here. This time however i am incapable of finding the right topic anywhere on the internet, so i have to ask you guys for guidance. The question is - how to build a waterproof engine hatch? Its not really for an engine, just a hatch for a portable gas tank in the deck, but the idea is the same. I get that i should finish the deck and then cut the hole, but won't it leek through the ss moldings? Or do you put some silicon or rubber kind of material between the steel and the deck? Hope i made it understandable. My boat would categorize as a small outboard, but i put the topic under powerboats, because i think it's more of an inboard question, hope it's ok.
Looking forward to your feedback, thanks.

Peter

Time · **Joined:** Mon May 05, 2008 9:55 pm **Posts:** 94

water proof has soo many definitions.

are we talking a big bluey over the bow repeatedly? or just some rain?

Peteris · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:41 am

Well, i am not building a submarine, but i would like it to be protected from some rain and splashes, nothing serious.

Time · **Joined:** Mon May 05, 2008 9:55 pm **Posts:** 94

thats pretty easy then.

you need an interior and exterior seal, like a car door. you can usually by D or P shaped rubber from a good supply store. even in latvia....

I'd take a look at some comerical hatches and make something that suits your needs. failing that look at some car doors.

Peteris · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:39 am

Ok, thanks alot. I thought of that too, i just want the deck to be smooth and flush, here are a lot of hatches made that way, thought there might be a special technique for that.

fergal butler · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:36 am

Neel thompson is doing a nice hatch using the hinges from a chevy suburban might be worth a look. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12166&start=135

Bill Edmundson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:56 am

Peter

The engine cover on my tahoe leaks and I need to work on that too. I'll have to address the issue on the Bartender that I'm working on now.

Just remember there are two kinds of hatches. Those that leak and those that are going to leak.

Bill

neel thompson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:31 am

Just a though for you. As Fergal said, I did use Suburban hood hinges on my engine hatch, but I have three additional hatches that do not have hinges at all. I made sort of a rain gutter around the inside of the hatch openings.... I have the hatches sitting on a sill around all four sides. I cut a deep groove in the top of the sill where it meets the frame opening and mitered all four sides. The hatch sits directly on this sill and there is 1/8" clearance on all sides of the hatch. I then drilled two holes in the rain gutter and installed 3/8" nipples and attaced hoses to these niplples. The hoses currently run to the bilge, but eventually will lead to a sump system that will pump the water overboard. I don't have any good close up pics of this system, but there are some pics of the hatches on the thread "gentry build continued". If you would like, I would be happy to take better pics for you. If you decide to do something like this, you will have to figure some way to hold the hatch down and keep it centered in the opening. Good Luck,,,,,,Neel

Peteris · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:55 am

Thanks for your responses, very helpful. Neel, i like your hatch solution, i might steal some ideas. I would definitely like to see a close up picture, if that is not a burden. I am also going to make a sill around all sides for the hatch to sit on, but i just thought i could make the groove in the deck, which could then accommodate the above mentioned P or D door rubber. The steel moldings would hopefully press against the rubber making it invisible and seal it from the water somewhat. That's just an idea. Any comments?

neel thompson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:01 am

Peter,,,, I will take some close ups for you. Just one problem, I am in Florida until March 5th. If you can wait that long, let me know and I will get out the camera as soon as possible. I am having trouble visualizing exactly what your plan is for the metal and rubber seal, but I am sure you have thought it out....Neel

Peteris · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:30 am

March 5 is great, i'm in no hurry.

The picture is stolen from Craig Strike, just to help explain my point.
I want to make a groove in the deck, where the steel embracing the hatch meets it. I would glue the door/window sealant rubber down to the wood, into the groove, so that the steel parts would press against it. Kind of like a car door principle. Maybe i should do this with the sill underneath the hatch as well.
Bill, I've been looking through your Tahoe pictures a lot, do you have some kind of sealant thingy under the hatch braces?

Bill Edmundson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:37 am

Peter

At present I don't have anything under the bracing. I thought about putting a flat rubber strip as a gasket. But, then ended up not doing it. I just got in a hurry at that point.

Bill

jeffh · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:01 am

I have four hatches like that on my boat and I used adhesive backed weather stripping. It comes in lots of widths and thicknesses. The best part: it is cheap and easy to replace. If I accidentally drop the hatch lid, it protects the finish on the boat too.

pamelalynne1 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:55 pm **Posts:** 354

Sometimes I get to wonder how critical issues like this one are. When the boat is not in use you would want a mooring cover. When it is in use, there is sufficient possibilty to take on some water via spray, etc. Any water that would leak through the hatch will go into the bilge; and that is why you have a bilge pump.

The leak issue might be of more concern for an engine hatch where you want to divert any water from the engine, especially any exposed electrical circuits. Although, if you keep the wiring and commponents in good condition it will not be much of an issue. Let's face it. There are plenty of other places for the rain to fill your bilge if you happen to get caught out in a storm. I have tried to race thunder showers to shore many times. Sometimes you make it; and sometimes you get soaked. :lol:

Bill Edmundson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:07 pm

Personally, I'd rather the water go overboard. When I put the boat up I really like to have a dry bilge. The pumps just don't get it all. I wet vac all I can.

Bill

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Engine hatch question

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