Bow Hatch

Corrosion, Paint, Through Hulls, etc.
EWRice
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:37 pm

Bow Hatch

Post by EWRice »

Does anyone else experience severe condensation buildup on the underside of their cast aluminum bow deck hatch? If so, is there a remedy for this? Mine is so bad that I have to lay plastic on the V berth bed to keep it from getting soaked.
Muskegon Lake
1972 32' Express flybridge
"AL13"
Twin 318s
On board air & prime 920
1963 Thompson Super Sea Lancer
Graymarine 327
1961 Alumacraft 12'
'55 10hp Johnson
javalin390
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 408
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:14 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by javalin390 »

Yes, same here. Par for the course I think. M's are like a cold beer can on a hot day, they get wet. Never really thought about a solution, just lay a towel on the v-berth when not in use. Anyone else?
Jim Elias
1974 37' SedanFlybridge
Twin 360 Chryslers.
Marblehead, Ohio
seef158
Aluminum Star
Posts: 125
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 3:49 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by seef158 »

I keep my bow hatch cracked on my boat, the way mine is set up I can open the hatch, put the latches to the closed position and set the hatch down on the latches. This allows for some air movement if you leave the window open in the door to the aft deck. The small air gap has never let any water in since ive started doing this. Of course this isn't a good idea if you don't trust your neighbors.
1972 28' express single 318, working on getting the bugs worked out.
forest lake, mn
Duluth, mn
Washburn, wi
EWRice
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:37 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by EWRice »

I have thought about putting some sort of insulation on the bottom of the hatch. The previous owner had a piece of Styrofoam that he kept tucked in there, but I don't think he ever used the hatch. He never left the dock and always had the ac running. First thing I do when I get to the boat is open that hatch and all the windows.
Muskegon Lake
1972 32' Express flybridge
"AL13"
Twin 318s
On board air & prime 920
1963 Thompson Super Sea Lancer
Graymarine 327
1961 Alumacraft 12'
'55 10hp Johnson
User avatar
BayfieldMarinette
Member
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:47 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by BayfieldMarinette »

Does running the AC help to reduce moisture in the boat?
1978 Marinette 37' Double Cabin.
440 Chrysler's, 6.5kw Onan.
Bayfield WI.
EWRice
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:37 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by EWRice »

Yes, AC pulls alot of moisture from the air.
Muskegon Lake
1972 32' Express flybridge
"AL13"
Twin 318s
On board air & prime 920
1963 Thompson Super Sea Lancer
Graymarine 327
1961 Alumacraft 12'
'55 10hp Johnson
carl
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 355
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:58 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by carl »

BigM
Last edited by carl on Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
carl
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 355
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:58 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by carl »

BigM
Last edited by carl on Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
ddependo
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 292
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:00 am

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by ddependo »

I put a piece of foam covered with sumbrella between hatch & screen. It insulates from heat & cold and I* don't get condensation
Wayne.
1973 32 express fly bridge
Chattanooga
"Southern Lady"
EWRice
Royal Aluminum Star
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:37 pm

Re: Bow Hatch

Post by EWRice »

ddependo wrote:I put a piece of foam covered with sumbrella between hatch & screen. It insulates from heat & cold and I* don't get condensation
Wayne.
Do you have it fastened to the underside of the hatch, or just set on top of the screen? Making a nice looking vinyl covered foam insert and mounting it to the hatch is what I was looking at doing.

I belive my hatch used to have a power vent that was removed and blocked off. I thought about putting one back in, but I regularly run in lake Michigan with waves over the bow. I wasn't sure how well they would keep out water hitting like that.
Muskegon Lake
1972 32' Express flybridge
"AL13"
Twin 318s
On board air & prime 920
1963 Thompson Super Sea Lancer
Graymarine 327
1961 Alumacraft 12'
'55 10hp Johnson
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