Forward Skylight Hatch Covers?

[Play'N Hooky Too]

I was wondering if these are the original design for the three forward hatch/skylight covers (1976 46C)? It looks like they were layed up as a single panel/piece of fiberglass with the center area just not painted in order to allow light through. As you can see, they are in pretty bad shape or at least the center skylight parts are. The painted areas around the perimeter are in good shape above and below (although they could use a fresh coat). Ignore the solar exhaust fan in the second picture, it's toast.

What is the solution here? Rehab or replace?

If I was to rehab them what could I use to recoat the skylight area that would be UV resistant w/o paint?

Thanks
-Alan

 

[Scarlett]

On my fwd hatch I cut out the non painted section and inserted acrylic to bring more light into the forward cabin and it really did.

 

[bigbill]

that is original, the problem is that bare fiberglass has noit UV properties so it deteriorates over time. maybe sand that area and brush a coat of resin on and see how it turns out

 

[sgharford]

I was hoping by thread topic you were going to bring up interior covers. My 1976 43dc front over v-berth hatch looks exactly the same as yours. I know this off track and not what you are asking, but I put dark towel folded over between hatch and screen on interior to keep light out when kids up there sleeping. Anybody have more elegant solution? Even smallest gap in towel let’s allot of light thru in morning.

 

[Play'N Hooky Too]

I fixed the un-needed light issue by making some "black-out curtains" using a double layer of dark navy blue Sunbrella fabric sewed into square patterns that match the inside dimensions of the hatch openings and snap to the upper side of the interior screens. With those in place, it's like a cave in my stateroom and the forward berth, even at noon. They come in handy for those afternoon naps or late Sunday mornings.

 

[SEVEN]

I have the same hatch. The area of concern was changed out to a dark smoke plastic panel which still looks great 7 years later.

 

[jmooney]

Sand the unpainted area and try west system with 207 hardener .

 

[cww]

This is the one part of my boat that actually looks it’s age. It’s a little embarrassing because everybody congregates on the bow. I’ve had somebody ask what was wrong with it before. Who has tried sanding it and using an epoxy resin to put a new surface coat on it? Does it look better after or just lipstick on a pig? There is nothing actually *wrong* with it, that hatch cover is 1/2” solid fiberglass, but it looks like crap.

 

[brettportzer]

If you use epoxy it will degrade from the UV, I wonder if you could put new resin on it, sand it smooth and then use some type of clear coat on it, varnish or something more hardy?

 

[jmooney]

West system 207 hardener is made UV resistant.

 

[jim rosenthal]

My Hatteras, a 1971 model, has similar hatches. I had the same problem. What I did was to remove the cover, sand the hatch, and paint it with AwlGrip, by hand, in the color that matches the boat, which for me was Oyster White. Plenty of diffused light comes through the painted hatch, and it looks a great deal better than it did. Cutting the bare fiberglass part and putting a hatch in can be done, but it spoils the looks of it, causes leaks down the line, and is much more expensive.

You could also use a two-part clear like Imron on the bare section, but white works just as well.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I also found that so much light comes through the painted hatch that we added a Sunbrella cover that snaps to the wood of the interior hatch frame, to block it, if someone's trying to sleep down there during the day.

 

[rwaldrop13]

I'm glad someone brought up the subject of these hatches - Has anyone had a mystery leak in the V-berth but no indication of the leak inside the hatch opening? The water shows up around the screws in the wood frame below, but the inside of the hatch coaming is bone dry.

 

[brettportzer]

There are a lot of screws comprising the hatch's attachment to the deck.

 

[jmooney]

I'm glad someone brought up the subject of these hatches - Has anyone had a mystery leak in the V-berth but no indication of the leak inside the hatch opening? The water shows up around the screws in the wood frame below, but the inside of the hatch coaming is bone dry.

Hatches with vents can let rain in when it is windy .