Leaking hatch 2022 Ranger Tug 29-S

[Webwright]

The good news is that it doesn’t look like water was getting into when the boat is flat (it’s been hanging out just fine in the PNW winter). I keep the boat heated and have desiccants keeping things dry inside— everything looks and smells great…. No condensation or moisture. When I took it out today and got it up to speed, the tilt of the boat caused a bunch of water to fall directly on my head as I was driving the boat. The water came from outside the frame versus. The foam on the hatch itself appears dry and in good condition.

Is there any good guidance on how to reseal a hatch? Should I just run some sikiflex where the frame meets the deck to see if that does the trick?

 

[Jared Dunning]

The best approach would be to remove the hatch and reseal the opening. Be sure to also seal each screw hole.

 

[Webwright]

The best approach would be to remove the hatch and reseal the opening. Be sure to also seal each screw hole.

Seems pretty straightforward. What sealant would you recommend? The boat is outside in the PNW… I can probably find a few dry days in a row but it’s plenty cool for the next few months if it matters.

And do you know what product was used when the hatch was installed at the factory? Just curious what sort of cleanup I should be expecting before applying a new sealant.

 

[Jared Dunning]

We use white Sikaflex 291 sealant along with a gasket. Cleanup shouldn’t be too difficult—using a plastic scraper will make it easy to remove the dried sealant.