> I read about using saran wrap and vasaline to make a perfect seal around
> the hatch cover along with marine grade caulk. First off, I was laughed at
> at the drug store when I walked out with just saran wrap and vasaline,
> next time I will buy them separately! Second, the saran wrap was
> impossible to get to lay perfectly flat so I just coated the whole lip
> with vasaline and put the caulk on the lip of the hatch then I sealed the
> hatch. The caulk doesn't stick to vasaline so the saran wrap isn't needed
> and the excess caulk ooses out the edges filling in the gap between the
> hatch and the deck making the hatch even more water tight. What I really
> like about this method is that I only had to build a lip for the hatch to
> sit flush, I didn't have to recess the lip then build it up with foam
> sealer. Anyone else try this, was yours water tight?

I believe this approach is the simplest dumbass approach to making perfectly sealed hatches, perfectly flush and I don't think it'll be long till most are done this way.

Some thoughts:

Try a light mist of spray glue to set down the saran wrap, but the vasaline sounds like a better approach.

I think that dropping the flange a bit to achieve 1/8" to 1/4" of gasket depth would better account for hull flexure in the chuck. This all depends on how many attachment points around the hatch you have. The more attachments, the thinner the gasket - thats what I would guess.

I am going to make my hatches this way for sure.

-mike