: this may apply to strip hatches as well, curious to know what you folks to do
: protect the edges of hatches that are made from 4mm ply. The flush hatch I
: made has swivel dogs(?) that hold the hatch on but it gets dinged
: sometimes with water stains shooting straight into that endgrain. I've
: rounded and applied three coats of epoxy but it really doesn't help when a
: hatch gets dinged. Are strippers any different?

ideas only:

I guess it'd depend on the building process:

1/if you cut out the hatch after applying glass, what about dribbling super thin CA in the end grain when only it is bare, to seal all those little tubules as much as possible. that stuff seems to soak in a certain amount. maybe even thinned varnish. the idea is the thinnest stuff possible. then coat the edge w/ the multiple epoxy fill coats.

2/ or if possible, seal the ply before making the yak, and cut the hatch before glassing. that way you can use continuous glass dropping down to lock in the flange. and use the same glass for the hatch but wrap the edge for protection.

3/maybe also look to the cutout area to see if it is giving impact edge damage to the hatch when you do so many practice sessions. It would be that the mushed sealant approach will protect the edges in these situations. like does the hatch centre when you drop it in place or do the edges sorta catch when you snap them up.

4/ the other idea is similar to the posts way way back to grant, where you cut the hatch in the usual preglassed sequence, but now as it is fairy well protected on the top w/ the glass, turn over and sand off the 2 bottom layers of crap veneer. then lay on a few layers of 6 or 10oz and end up w/ a super tough hatch.

5/ a combo of above where you turn the hatch upside down, feather 2 in of the edge right thru the 2 1/2(if you're bold) layers of wood and thicken the edges only of the hatch. (using the ca first for the possibility of watermigration)
would get one an edge as tough as you wish depending on how thick you go.

6/ as there is a dark shadow line around the hatch already, there is an aesthetic possibility of thin wrapping the edge(assuming thin groove all around) w/ some contrasting material(carbon, coloured glass?)

7/ often in plywood millwork, the edge is covered w/solid material in a cove and bead type manner, could maybe do something like that here in the manner that some protect the edge of paddles(nylon, dynel cord, or roving) in a cove

-mick