The cockpit AFTER the hatch is installed (with LOTS of butyl sealant)...
The cockpit AFTER the hatch is installed (with LOTS of butyl sealant)...
Last edited by mbd; 07-16-2005 at 07:44 PM.
Mike
Totoro (Sea Sprite 23 #626)
Some more pictures of the installed hatch...
Thanks Tim!
Last edited by mbd; 07-16-2005 at 07:44 PM.
Mike
Totoro (Sea Sprite 23 #626)
great access !! Fits in there real nice..looks good.
Great to meet Tim. We are so chary of portraits on this board, it's great to see the man.
But also, this series of photos you have here is just the kind of sharing that is so useful for others to have. It's a perfect addition to an inaccessable part of the boat that others should seriously consider! Let's hope it don't leak.* Too much.
Thanks, guys!
*talking bomar not yer expertise!
Last edited by ebb; 07-17-2005 at 08:54 AM.
[size=2]Looks like a first rate fit!
If I had an inboard, (especially the diesel you have that I would dearly love) I think I should look for this same modification.
Tim Lackey certainly has MUCH more experience then I, but there are two issues I did not see addressed in the install that you might want to think about.
The cockpit is a very wet area, it does not just take water with large breaking waves, but every rain that falls. I did not see (maybe you just left it out) any caulking used to seal the hatch to the deck. Water intrusion past the flange will cause you much heartache down the road.
The other issue was the bare core exposed by the sawing. Should moisture find it's way to this, it could soften the entire cockpit floor in short order. A good example of how to deal with this potential problem can be seen in Kurt's installation of a Hawsepipe aboard #422
Again, Tim Lackey (and others on this board like Mike and... ok most of this board) have more experience then I so they may have other suggestions. I think the project is a great addition to the already great boat you have got a hold of.
[/size]
Last edited by c_amos; 07-17-2005 at 05:30 PM.
Craig, good points!
Jeeze, I'm wondering now if I should have asked Tim's permission to post this in case someone comes away from it thinking he's not as thorough and meticulous as he is!
My bad. Yes, I did leave some pictures out. I stupidly was trying to "abbreviate" the process.
We used butyl sealant - LOTS of it! He also counter sunk (?) the screw holes in the fiberglass to allow the sealant to ooze into those recesses and also left it over the screw heads when all was said and done.
As for the exposed core, our main concern of the morning was to get the hatch in so I could get at the stern tube to try and apply a temporary patch. He commented on me "properly" sealing the exposed core in the off-season and in the mean time completely slathered the the core areas with yet more butyl sealant. He used an entire tube.
Here he is with a zealous blob around the lip and slathering the exposed core...
Last edited by mbd; 07-18-2005 at 05:16 AM.
Mike
Totoro (Sea Sprite 23 #626)
from the pic , I would say your sealant was 'liberally' applied !! Let us know how it all fairs out after some sun,rain and waves.Looks good