[czarcone]

WANTED: hatch that covers the large aft deck box in my '95 3100 Open. Mine is delaminating & spongy due to cracks around latch hardware. Tiara rep says they no longer have molds. Hatch dimensions (measured across bottom edges): 26 1/8

[Uhehner]

If the top gelcoat is in decent shape I would just repair the one you have. Any good fiberglass guy could do it. I did it myself and am no expert. Just cut out the bottom glass layer, remove the rotten core and refill the cover. I used foam board with glass cloth to finish it off, not balsa. When Tiara makes these hatches they cut through the glass into the balsa core to mount the latches and fail to seal the wood. That's what causes the soft spots. As good as they are this is an area they have not mastered. When ever you cut into the core you MUST seal it. Goes for rod holders, horns, cable holes, through bolts etc. A coat of Awlgrip will make it look better than new. Capt. George

[outrigger]

George, excellent reply.

[czarcone]

Thanks, unfortunately, the non-skid gel coat is cracked around both latches. While I'm sure someone could replace the core & re-glass, I don't know how durable a repair to the gel coat would be. Haven't had time to have it looked at yet.

[trit21]

I had the same type of issue around my rod holders. Did at the other post mentioned and cut the bottom layer of glass out, remove old wood, put new core in (composite material ) and then reglassed the under side. I also used a bit of epoxy filler to fill the voids where the new core material was as it will not fill every single void. I put the filler in as much as possible in the corners, edges, forced the new core in the void and this did push out some filler but at least I got as much of the void filled as I could. The glassed over the bottom are with cloth and epoxy. I also had gelcoat cracks and am in the process of fixing them right now. You can either use spray on gel coat or the paste gel coat. I choose the paste as this will also fill in the crack a little more than the spray would (at least that is what I think anyway). I cut the small cracks out with a round end mill on my dremel and used the paste to patch the cracks and then sanded, rebuffed, polished. I would not replace the deck as I don't think it will ever look factory. I would try this method and if that didn't work, then replace but I think it will work out perfectly. ANd if you didn't want to do it, I am sure if you go to a fiberglass shop you can find someone that will do it.

[trit21]

Oh almost forgot, I bought the paste gel from minicraft.com here in FL and it matched pretty well. They sell both paste and spray. Just tell them year and they should be able to help you.

[czarcone]

Thanks Tom, the top of mine is grooved non-skid pattern. I've ordered from minicraft in the past. Have to wait & see what glass guy thinks.

[trit21]

My gunwales are also grooved non skid and you can cut the pattern with any variety of tools. I used a hacksaw and files to recut the non skid in area that needed it. If using the paste you can also seal the cracks in the non skid by placing some paste gel on your gloved fingers and pressing it into the non skid. The gel works its way into the grooves and still seals the non skid with having to do any cutting. Hard to explain but I have done this and it does work.