You are right Kurt, in that building up some thickeness on the edges of the hatches takes some extra application of epoxy layers and care and attention. If one can get hold of the right cloth it may well be easier.

My current oldest strip PWC is about 20 years old, I revarnished it for the first and only time about five years ago. There was no water ingress anywhere, apart from the odd deep score in the hull fabric here and there.

Some of the PWCs seen on this forum are such works of art, and dedication to craft and detail (I do not include my own in that company because my glassing is never done at optimum temperatures), that I think we can sometimes forget that we are building utilitarian PWCs and that they are going to get battered around over time. The wince factor on a brand new PWC in the hands of a clumsy friend is huge. Many of our PWCs will be paddled by our great grand children who will be able to say, "My great grand father/mother built this." They will be old and battered, but still have their proper shape and behave as intended on the water.

I like the idea that I may be remembered for something that is bringing fun and pleasure to the future.

My God, I'm rambling!

Et