>From SailNet: *RE: Atkins & Hoyle Hatch Repairs* Hello,
Brian Atkins, Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. Seems like there is some good debate of which glue to use when re-sealing a new lens in our hatches and ports. From the factory our hatches typically hold a seal for anywhere from 15-30 years. After which, re-installing a fresh piece of acrylic and gasket can often make the hatch look, and function like new. Follow this up with new parts which are almost all still available, and you won't be able to tell the difference between your old hatch, and a new one. We use a silicone type product here at the factory. To get our factory quality seal, it is very important to use a cast acrylic as opposed to any other kind of Lexan or Polycarbonate. While the latter two are great at repelling bullets, they don't seem to hold up as well to UV, scratches, or the typical thermal expansion and contraction. When installing a new piece of acrylic, we make sure to not only clean both contact surfaces (hatch frame, and new acrylic), but also prime them them using a series of chemicals we keep here at the shop. One of our secrets is to leave the newly 'refurbished' hatch alone for at least 5 days. While the 'skin' of the silicone may have set, the silicone underneath where the bond actually occurs can still be fresh. Moving the hatch around before the silicone has a chance to harden will result in another leaky hatch. -- Joel 35/3 Annapolis 301 541 8551
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