What to use on a Fiberglass Hatch?

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:44 am

Those of you who have the original fiberglass hatches-- you know, the ones that are semi translucent yellow, but look like hell after 30+ years...

Can anyone recommend something relatively uncomplicated to coat them with? As the resin starts to break down in the sun after 30 years, the glass strands are starting to show more and more. I'd like to cover them with a clear coat of something... Epoxy would be great, but the UV will be a problem. Don't know about Polyeurathane varnish... any ideas?

Triton106 · Post by **Triton106** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:37 pm

I cut out the bare fiberglass portion in the middle of the hatch and bolted on a 1/4 in Lexan glass similar to how Don Cassey described in "This Old Boat". I got a lot of complements from people passing by and my kids love bright the forepeak (their bedroom) is.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:03 pm

Bomar :-)

Adding a lexan top would be pretty nice and a lot cheaper though.
Nathan's website has some pictures of a custom hatch like that.

Or, for the really cheap and easy, forego the translucence and just epoxy coat and paint.

-Britton

Hirilondë · Post by **Hirilondë** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:12 pm

Triton106 wrote:I cut out the bare fiberglass portion in the middle of the hatch and bolted on a 1/4 in Lexan glass similar to how Don Cassey described in "This Old Boat". I got a lot of complements from people passing by and my kids love bright the forepeak (their bedroom) is.

Hmmm, I came across this pretty cool site that has a picture of a Renegade with a hatch like that...........
http://www.renegade27.org/33/IMG_0018.html

Check it out Mike :)

jollyboat · Post by **jollyboat** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:37 pm

same posting posted twice - sorry

jollyboat · Post by **jollyboat** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:37 pm

CC - don't over think the obvious if your goal is keep this quick and dirty. Look at how long the bare polyester lasted exposed to the suns rays. If you are happy with the cover as is, and just want to preserve and maintain what you have, simply tape off the gel coated areas with masking tape, sand the uncoated area with 220 grit by hand - first one way, then 90 degrees the other - keep it nice and neat. Re-mask where needed, mix up some regular old polyester resin and apply with a bristle brush. Sand between applications and repeat at least once more, but three times is a charm. Ok- with two or three good coats of resign applied- sand smooth with 100, 150, 180, 220, then get into your wet paper - keep sanding - get up up to about 600 wet, go higher if you have it. OK - now bust out the rubbing compound and start rubbing in small circles - keep going and going. All right, check the high gloss on that buff job - sweet! Ok now throw down two or three coats of carnuba wax - nice - OK your done - keep the wax on every month or so - repeat this whole process every ten years or so. OK - go sailing.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:17 pm

Thanks all. My goal is to keep this quick and dirty.
I'm not partial to replacing with lexan etc. because frankly, I'm looking for some privacy. That and I actually don't want more sunlight. Not to mention the fact that the new hinges I sourced for these hatches are SWEET... and so I'm not looking to replace the two hatches I have.

Gee Dave, that site looks oddly familiar. :)

I was hoping for something more quick and dirty than the method you suggested Jollyboat... but that is more along the lines I was thinking.

Post by **Tim** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:28 am

The quickest and dirtiest approach is to do nothing to that hatch and accept it for what it is!