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Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 7:50 pm
by SFBaysailor
Well, we finally got down to Broad Reacher, our new-to-us 28 CK (#4!) and started taking off 10+ years of bird droppings, dirt, and dust. I was actually very pleasantly surprised by the condition of the gelcoat under the 'protective' guano layer...

Anyway, while scrubbing the forward hatch, which is a yellow-ish translucent affair (matches the companionway 2-piece slider) I noticed that the surface was 'furry'. I thought it was the remnants of an old decal, but once it dried I realized it was fiberglass. The hatch seems to have it's integrity, and there aren't any cracks (definitely crazing, though), so my idea is to just lay down a couple coats of epoxy to encapsulate the glass. Any issues with this plan?

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 8:46 pm
by drcscruggs
I think that would work. I have done some work with West system and mostly happy with it. You might consider painting to protect the fiberglass work. I have seen some deterioration over time without the protective coating of something. I am not a fiberglass expert just a boater with a little experience. It would not cost a lot either. Best.

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:45 pm
by bbarnewolt
My understanding is that epoxy does not have a lot of UV stability and so an unprotected layer of epoxy might look good at first, but eventually yellow and crack from UV degradation. Assuming your "fuzz" is on the exterior of the hatch.
Good luck.

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:18 pm
by SFBaysailor
Yep-the fuzz is on the outside.

Were the hatches on these boats left un-Gel Coated? I’m assuming it’s to allow some light through. The companionway slider is the same finish, but is in much better shape.

I’m thinking I might just pull it off and run it down to TAP Plastics for their take on it.

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 3:39 pm
by seadago
SFBaysailor wrote:Well, we finally got down to Broad Reacher, our new-to-us 28 CK (#4!) and started taking off 10+ years of bird droppings, dirt, and dust. I was actually very pleasantly surprised by the condition of the gelcoat under the 'protective' guano layer...

Anyway, while scrubbing the forward hatch, which is a yellow-ish translucent affair (matches the companionway 2-piece slider) I noticed that the surface was 'furry'. I thought it was the remnants of an old decal, but once it dried I realized it was fiberglass. The hatch seems to have it's integrity, and there aren't any cracks (definitely crazing, though), so my idea is to just lay down a couple coats of epoxy to encapsulate the glass. Any issues with this plan?
Timely thread! I have to do the same on my UK-built 28 CK. Hatch frame is also fiberglass, and is showing the glass fiber. If it ever had a coating, it long lost it. On the inside of the cabin, around the hatch whole, there is a one-piece fbg coving which can be removed. It looks more like a finishing/aesthetic element, rather than structural. However, that coving is shandwiched between the inner lip of the hatch frame and the edge of the hatch hole on the roof. This "lip" seems to be plastic, not fbg.

If I'm going to recicle the thing, I need to remove it, repair dents and scratches, sand it, epoxi coat/paint it, replace the crazzed plexiglass window on top, replace rubber seals -if I can find them!!- and refit it. It just seemed an awfull lot of work for a recicling job. Not to mentioned that I may very well damage it irretrievably in the process of removing it.

Question is, has anyone had to do the same thing, and if so, what model hatch was a good fit for that opening? I'd rather not be in that situation of having to have something made to measure.

Thanks!!

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 6:17 pm
by Ereiss
Select Plastics in Norwalk CT rebuilds hatches. About half the cost of new. Did a great job on my main saloon hatch.

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2018 4:14 pm
by seadago
Ereiss wrote:Select Plastics in Norwalk CT rebuilds hatches. About half the cost of new. Did a great job on my main saloon hatch.
Thanks Ed!

Re: Fuzzy forward hatch

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:11 am
by bad
We have transparent fiberglass hatches that are now 40 years old... kinda yellow but let plenty of light in. I would not re-coat with an ordinary or really any epoxy product since they are not UV resistant. Possibly sand down then coat with polyester again.