Resealing Deck Hatches + Gaskets

** NOTE ** This is NOT a 'How-To' video, but a 'How I Didi It', as I am just showing the procedure and techniques UI used both there with this boat, as well as our two prior Sea Ray's. If you have a system you prefer, have at it!
After having owned two previous Sea Ray boats of the late 1990's vintage, I knew it was just a matter of time before the deck hatches would leak (one already was when we bought the boat), so I decided to pull all four on our 1998 370 Sundancer to repair them before she was even launched.
Beyond replacing the factory frame to deck seal with a good bead of SikaFlex 291, I also replaced the foam rubber gasket with a new one, using the OEM 'Taylor Made Hatch Gasket' part #1725. And before anyone starts yelling at me that I should have used a 3M sealer, that is also an option (along with others), but I have been using SikaFlex for numerous repairs on our past boats with great success, so I have no reason to change.
To follow along with the entire journey, please check out my 'Buying A Boat - The Good, Bad & Ugly' playlist here: • Buying A Boat - Sea Ra...
Filmed May, 2022.
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For a look at nearly 100 DIY boat repairs videos, check out my 'How I Did It - Boat Repairs and Upgrades' playlist; • How I Did It - Boat Re...
Boat Specs;
- Model: 1998 Sea Ray 370 Sundancer
- Length (bow to transom): 37-6", LOA (with factory swim platform): 40'-1"
- Beam: 12'-7"
- Dry Weight: 17,000 lbs
- Fuel Capacity: 275 U.S. gallons, 1,040 litres
- Draft: 32”
- Dead Rise: 20 degrees
- Engines: 2 x 7.4 litre Mercruiser Bluewater, Multi-Port fuel injection, gasoline,
raw water cooled, rated at 310 HP
- Transmissions: 2 x Borg Warner Velvet Drives, in Vee-Drive configuration
- Generator: Westerbeke 7.2 Kw BCGTC @ 60 Hz, gasoline powered & carburated, 3,600 RPM continuous engine speed
- 18,000 (total) BTU (12 + 8), reverse cycle heating/air conditioning
- Shore Power: 2 x 30 Amp, 120 V connections
- Freshwater Holding Tank: Single 70 U.S. Gallon tank
- Waste (black-water) Holding Tank: Single 40 U.S. Gallon
Video/Photo Equipment Used (Updated list, 2022)
- DJI Pocket 2 (For more info on that compact, 4K camera + help support the channel, please click here; click.dji.com/...)
- GoPro Hero 7 Black, on GoPro suction cup mount
- Google Pixel 6 Pro + iPhone 12 for still photos + supplemental video
- DJI Mavic Mini for Aerial Drone Shots ( For more info on that great, compact drone + help support the channel, please click here: click.dji.com/...)
- Editing done with Vegas Movie Studio 11

[@patrickmcevoy4460]

Great video and definitely a good format. I appreciated not having to sit through a long introduction nor having to listen to a running commentary. This was very informative, thank you!

[@monoskier2112]

I did not realize it was that easy, others on you tube make it look much harder😎🇨🇦🍺

[@HonicBlue]

great job on that. One of the things I really like about these videos, is that when it comes to boats (or a lot of other things too), things can seem so daunting and difficult but when you get into it, it's really not that bad. It might seem at first that the only option is to pay someone else to fix something that needs attention, but you're showing that there are lots of things that people can do themselves. Thanks for these videos.

[@airman6822]

Nice work! There is always a lot of satisfaction doing your own repairs!

[@eternitysshore]

Timely for me! Thanks again for showing us how it ought to be done or as you say….”how I did it!”

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Glad you found it helpful, Jeff. I'll be sharing more, including replacing the gaskets and screens on the portlight windows - as soon as I get a chance 😉 In the meantime, feel free to follow my Instagram account, as I regularly post short video clips from these projects.

[@jeffmartin3223]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo Thanks but I'm the guy with an Instagram account that he never uses! I do following you on FB though. Love the black!!! Looks awesome!!

[@markwinslow6644]

Simple easy to follow to the point. Well done how to video.

[@mikestiles8284]

Thanks for the response Paul. Liked the portlight gasket "How I Did It" video as well. That's next on my list. Just gotta track down the right seals for my 97. Used Sil Glide as a stop gap to soften them up and stop the leaking for now, which seems to be working so far

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

You might be able to send the latches in a little bit to make a tighter seal, as a short term solution. Unfortunately, the one in our washroom/head had been leaking for an extended period of time before we bought her and ruined the mirrors on the vanity. So lesson is don't let it go for too long....

[@mikestiles8284]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo LOL - same situation with the cabinet mirrors in our head. Thanks for the input.

[@parishrickert2462]

Thank you! that was a great video, loved the format.

[@johnmplias]

Perfect timing. I need to replace the hatch lifters on my Sundancer 340 this season and was looking for a video on this. The arm is riveted on from the backside of the frame need to remove the hatch to get access to the rivets. Thanks.

[@matthickmott6143]

Perfect timing. Need to do the same to mine.

[@cpwatching5647]

Looks like a job well done. Take care!

[@mikeleahy244]

Nice work, mine were harder to take off had to do what u did, put tongue blades in move to other spot and repeat until seal broke about half way around. Looks like you really needed to do that job!

[@tomgarofalo4449]

Thanks, we just picked up a 340.

[@jayswitzer9871]

the perfect video to watch to help me sleep

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Ya, kinda boring, but only so much drama I can fit into a simple repair video 😉

[@mmanut]

NICE JOB‼️👍👍. Vinny 🇺🇸

[@johnfelts9465]

Great video Paul, I hope you do the porthole windows as well, I need instruction!

[@jeffcee9457]

Thanks for sharing it help me out

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Glad it helped!

[@ampegor]

I don't have any leaks - YET! But I might just get around to this sometime this summer for peace of mind.

[@BikeBoatandTravel]

I am getting ready to do this project. I was checking Taylormade’s site and there is note on the 1725 gasket that it is for 1990 to 1993 only. It probably doesn’t make a difference but I just thought I would bounce this off you.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

I'm guessing that their site needs to be updated, as I've used that same seal 🦭 on seven hatches (on our last two boats) and they all worked perfectly - even in the rain 😆 In my years, I've discovered that most corporate websites tend to be less than helpful, sometimes containing erroneous or out of date information. My suspicion is that those sites were built by techies, and not the folks who have either first hand experience with the products, nor a good understanding of what the application might be. Case in point, Home Depot and the like. . . Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but am satisfied with both the end results of this project (and the one before on our 330 Dancer kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4nbn52Eiah-ppo), as well as the fact that I haven't gotten in trouble from Anchor Girl due to water infiltration inside the boat(s) 🤣

[@BikeBoatandTravel]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo Thanks Paul!!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Have fun! And don't forget to reseal the hatches to the decks. Otherwise, it's not a matter of 'if' they will leak, but 'when'. And the last thing you want is to wake up at 3:00 AM while at anchor on Georgian Bay with water dripping onto the bed. Ask me how I know 😒 And no, I wasn't taping my toes to that jaunty tune by B.J. Thomas from back in the seventies. . . 🎶

[@BikeBoatandTravel]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo Will do.... I have just ordered all the stuff for this project after that we have the port light job to do also. The STBD 3 I don't believe have been opened in years and are stuck shut..... fun fun.... but we are loving every minute of it.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

@CanukSpyder That's great 😃 Now, when are we gonna see some fabulous Sea Ray content on your channel?? 🧐

[@ryan_1014]

dicor sealant is very good also

[@spydernutz]

Hi Paul have you ever replaced the screw cover window gaskets that fit in the bottom channel of the windshield? Love your vids. They have really helped me out. Thank you

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

No. I've searched for one, but didn't have any luck in locating one. If recall, it's a 1" x 1" semi rigid foam piece...

[@matthewcassidy1486]

Nice

[@OutdoorRob]

Perfect timing as I will be doing mine shortly. Where did you buy the gasket? Thanks!

[@jakerichards2931]

Paul how do you feel about using butyl tape for this? I’ve had so many ppl recommended using it.

[@Bierdaddy1]

I noticed you ran the Sikaflex over rather than around the outside of the screw holes. Why? Thank you for the video! 🍻

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Just trying to build something of a dam to encourage water to stay to the outside of the opening & mounting points.

[@paulotis3233]

Another great instructional video. Question about when you screw the hatch back in place. It looks like you screwed it down tight while the Sikaflex was still fresh. I’ve seen some other videos of how to attach hardware to the deck of a boat and seen installer only snug the screws or bolts when the sealant is fresh and then only after 24 - 48 hours when it is fully cured, they have tightened the screw or bolt all the way down. Thoughts!!

[@shaneroper5470]

And..... Bobs your uncle. Well done!

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

And Fanny's your aunt! 😂

[@johncarpenter1476]

Respectfully, I'm currently replacing a Boston whaler 305 Conquest escape hatch made by Taylor Made. The challenge I have is sealing the flat bottom of the escape hatch to flat fiberglass without squeezing out MOST of the caulking when screwing it down. BW only used the caulking (like you) and it leaked because of the lack of a consistent true seal. Wouldn't some type of gasket-like material WITH caulking on the outside & in screw holes work better? Perhaps Taco like hatch tape or Bed-It marine grade Buytl tape WITH the caulking work better and serve as an actual seal? Many escape hatch leaks are due to a lack of effective seal (just a thin coat of caulking) from the manufacturer - which doesn't last long...

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

These Sea Ray boats came with 2-way tape type sealants, but they failed. I had to redo them on three of our Sea Rays and found that the Sikaflex sealant worked best for my purposes.

[@davemurphy1289]

When you removed the hatch cover there's was a gasket sealing the hatch to boat but I didn't see a gasket put back on when it was replaced just the Sikflex? Is the sealant good enough for a watertight seal?

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

The Sikaflex is better than any foam seal that Sea Ray ever used! This is the third boat I've done this on since 2011 and has always performed perfectly 👌

[@davemurphy1289]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo Great to know. Thanks 👍

[@SCFoster]

Good "how I did it" video. Taking delivery of a 380 next week (hopefully). Planning on the hatch re-sealing. Noticed the deck appears to have been painted with Awlgrip or something like that. Is that the case?

[@germanlopez4134]

Great video poul we learn about sealing hatches but can you send a link where to purchase the hatch gasket please

[@mazi302]

when you put the seal on the glass part, would it have been better to put the joint at the unhinged side, the bottom, or not much difference?

[@mikestiles8284]

Great "How I did it" Paul. How many of the Taylor Made #1725 seal packs did you need for all 4 hatch seals? Found after a recent "monsoon" here in the Sun Parlour of Canada that our '97 370 needs 2 of the frames and hatches resealed right now, but will obviously do all.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

I used one set per hatch, so four in total. And yes, ya gotta do them all while you're at it 👍

[@thomasbeckering1114]

Hi Paul, I noticed that the hatch gasket you used was "Taylor" Brand. Was it specifically for Sea Ray or generic? I have a Doral that I am resealing and the hatches are Taylor, would the same gasket work? If so where did you purchase yours from. Great video, takes some of the guess work out.

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Taylor Made is the OEM manufacturer fir the hatches on our boat.

[@justsell01]

Great video, Captain. How do you like the new boat? Did you get a chance to take it for a decent ride yet?

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Just launched yesterday! Going for the inaugural run to our home port marina today. Should be a roughly 1-1/2 voyage, so will give me a good feel for her. Watch for the video coming soon!!

[@justsell01]

​@@BoatingWithBoogaboo Paul, all the best in your successful run for today. I, along with your other subscribers, look forward to your video. Congrats on your new boat as it looks like a beauty. Glenn

[@JG-wr1sl]

How long did the job take?

[@luisgcasiquet]

How your back ended up??

[@gusarmenakis6344]

How do you order the glass taped gasket ?

[@BoatingWithBoogaboo]

Glass taped gasket???

[@gusarmenakis6344]

@@BoatingWithBoogaboo yes

[@michaelroberts5644]

Not as easy as you show it to be