Solution for a leaking splash well hatch

[Deleted]

In my Sea Pro 186DC a Innovative Products 11"x15" was installed by the factory to gain access to the bilge components. I noticed that every time I went out there was water accumulating in the bilge. I did a test by plugging the splash well drains and filling the well with water. After about a minute or two I noticed the water level was not going up. I turned off the hose and you could hear the water running down into the bilge from the hatch. Pressing on the corners of the hatch and the water stopped going into the bilge. It was clear the hatch leaking was the source of the water getting into the bilge.

I looked at simply replacing the hatch with a new one of the same type thinking this one was defective. However, I found that this particular hatch is not water tight it is water resistant. Also, I happened across a new Scout 185 in a show room and it had the same hatch. The corners on this hatch also bowed up.



As a result a new water tight solution for the splash well was needed.
So I have replaced the Innovative Products hatch with a piece of 1/4" Starboard and a Viking Marine deck plate. There is nothing special about the Viking Marine deck plate I just happen to have access to one so I used that. Any appropriate sized deck plate can be used. This one is 6" ID.


Here is the process:

Splash Well with Innovative Products Hatch



Splash Well with hatch removed



Created a template using the trim of the Innovative hatch and Viking Marine deck plate






Cut out the starboard and drilled



It's good to have a friend with a router



Mounted the Viking Marine deck plate using 4200.



Installed assembly with 4200 in the splash well



Rob

[ejstenger]

rtg, thanks for the pictures. That looks like a good fix to me. It is a lot smaller but water tight. I haven't had any trouble with mine but it has two ( one on each corner) latches and it may leak but I would never know it as I get some water in the bilge on every run anyway. I probably have a leak around one of the fittings too but I really don't get enough water to worry about. Just when I pull the plug I get some. <`)>((((< ED

[Deleted]

That is a real pretty job. I just use a bilge pump. I think I could spray the entire boat with epoxy and it would still leak water into the bilge.

[Deleted]

My philosophy is, "a dry bilge is a happy bilge". ;D Plus the bilge rats won't move in if there's nothing to drink......

Rob

[Deleted]

its looks great, thanks for the pictures. you never know when one of us will need to follow your lead.

[Simple Man]

RTG,
You must be an engineer for there was some heavy engineering went into that!
You also win the cleanest splash well award! I use mine for a garbage can half the time and it looks it!

[Deleted]

As it turns out I am an engineer, of the electrical kind. I will be taking it later today to give a trial run.

[Simple Man]

Aug 16, 2009 6:09:13 GMT -6 @rtg said:

As it turns out I am an engineer....

I figured as much. Only an engineer would be bothered by it in the first place. ;D


Most of the rest of us would handle the situation like slightlydangerous

Aug 11, 2009 20:35:14 GMT -6 @slightlydangerous said:

.... I just use a bilge pump.....

It is one fine piece of engineering though.

[Deleted]

Aug 16, 2009 22:53:07 GMT -6 Simple Man said:

Aug 16, 2009 6:09:13 GMT -6 @rtg said:

As it turns out I am an engineer....

I figured as much. Only an engineer would be bothered by it in the first place. ;D

Yeah, I hear that alot .

The good news is that there was almost no water in yesterdays outing. I am thinking that the small amount of water that came out of the plug was water trapped around the gas tank and stringer system.

So if this is true a couple of more outings and the bilge should be dry.....

Now on the the Smartcraft guage install!

RTG

[Deleted]

That's a really great job, but (theres allways a but) TH Marine has a watertight hatch (at least that what they say) that you can buy from west marine or any other vendor for less than a $90. TH Marine Part number HAT-1115-2

[Deleted]

Aug 18, 2009 8:02:00 GMT -6 @tonyramos said:

That's a really great job, but (theres allways a but) TH Marine has a watertight hatch (at least that what they say) that you can buy from west marine or any other vendor for less than a $90. TH Marine Part number HAT-1115-2

Yes, but the cut out for the TH Maine is smaller than the Innovative Products hatch. Therefore, it would not fit for the 11"x15" size.

The next size up is too large for it to open as it would hit the steering piston.

FWIW,

Rob