Aft deck hatch removal

[Pascal]

We owners of early 53s have been cursed with an emergency hatch on the aft deck instead of having two large hatches on the transom. Mine has been leaking, corroding, flaking for years and I finally got to the point where I couldn't stand it anymore ...

Ripped it out, cut the top skin an extra 3" to 4" around, removed the core which surprisingly was in pretty decent shape.

Cut a piece of 1" divinicel, glasses a layer of biaxial underneath, glued it in place with thickened epoxy, epoxy another layer on top followed by another one extending 3" on to the top skin of the deck, previously ground to glass.

Not bad in one afternoon! Tomorrow I ll fair it and till a coat of white epoxy. Later on I have to strip the old paint and cracking fairing on the test of deck but for now... no leaks and no tripping!

Eventually I ll cut out the portholes and install three hatches for emergency exit.

[Pascal]

More pics

[Fanfare]

Can I have your old hatch? Mine has lost one of its upright supports. Yours looks like the same make so it might fit.

Thanks,

[Pascal]

Lucky you. The marina takes out the trash in the morning I pulled it out of the trash can.

[SEVEN]

One mans trash is another mans treasure.

[Walter P]

Pascal, Nice job and I agree that it's a great idea. Make sure you install large enough port lites on the stern to be able to fit through easily in an emergency. About 15 years ago I lost a life long friend in a boat fire because he couldn't get through the escape hatch. And give it a high priority...we need you to keep posting for a long time to come...


Walt