Sealing cockpit locker
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:19 pmHas anyone had any success sealing the cockput locker, and if so how. Any luck with anchor locker?
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Sealing cockpit locker
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:19 pmRe: Sealing cockpit locker
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:50 amThe anchor locker has a drain hole and was never meant to be sealed. As to cockpit lockers- run a 1-2cm wide ribbon of rubber (you can buy rubber strip with adhesive backing at Clark Rubber or get the hatch seal from Whitworths) around the top. If you get the right thickness you just need to push the locker down with a little pressure to close it.
Re: Sealing cockpit locker
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:13 amHey all, love this forum......the knowledge available is just fantastic. When I get a good (not rainy) day on board will try to seal the 2 water access points. The first is the vee berth hatch. It opens at an angle. Is my boat unique or is this a TH quirk? I checked it out and the port side hinge projects further forward than the Starboard side one. However, for the hatch to clear the deck, this hinge must be in this position. Moreover the hinges appear to be well fitted (secure) and it looks like this might be the original fitting position, so I would prefer not to fiddle. Also once the hatch is closed, it sits neatly within the opening.
What I don't know is whethe the gap that needs to be filled by rubber etc is or equal height all around the circumference of the hatch or whether is varies. There is a lot of sealing tape on the deck part and also some on the hatch itself. Any thoughts, please let me know.
I can't see how the cockpit hatch leaks but it does. Just like the vee berth hatch, the cover sits over the opening and there is a lip, that in theory should keep water out of the hole and channel it away (forward in the case of the vee berth hatch and into the cockpit in the case of the cockpit locker. The cockpit locker has no seal on it and I don't think getting it water tight will be as big a challenge as getting the vee berth hatch sealed.
Noticed another TH has forward hinge of cockpiit locker broke, just like mine (is this a common occurrence?). I have found a similair loooking hinge, so will replace the broken hinge before trying to seal the cockpit locker. Grippy Rubber are very helpful and have a great range of products and are also the cheapest. I will probably use 6X18 Neoprene (good bounce back and good UV stability). For both hatches thinking of putting the sealing stript on the cover rather than on the body. The ridge on the body is not very wide and the tape will overlap it, so might come undone, whereas covers have wide flat areas for tape to sit on. Probably less likely to hook strip if it is on cover.
What I don't know is whethe the gap that needs to be filled by rubber etc is or equal height all around the circumference of the hatch or whether is varies. There is a lot of sealing tape on the deck part and also some on the hatch itself. Any thoughts, please let me know.
I can't see how the cockpit hatch leaks but it does. Just like the vee berth hatch, the cover sits over the opening and there is a lip, that in theory should keep water out of the hole and channel it away (forward in the case of the vee berth hatch and into the cockpit in the case of the cockpit locker. The cockpit locker has no seal on it and I don't think getting it water tight will be as big a challenge as getting the vee berth hatch sealed.
Noticed another TH has forward hinge of cockpiit locker broke, just like mine (is this a common occurrence?). I have found a similair loooking hinge, so will replace the broken hinge before trying to seal the cockpit locker. Grippy Rubber are very helpful and have a great range of products and are also the cheapest. I will probably use 6X18 Neoprene (good bounce back and good UV stability). For both hatches thinking of putting the sealing stript on the cover rather than on the body. The ridge on the body is not very wide and the tape will overlap it, so might come undone, whereas covers have wide flat areas for tape to sit on. Probably less likely to hook strip if it is on cover.