Bomar Hatch lens replacement

Half/Pint

New member
Last February I replaced the acrylic lens in my Bomar hatch using GE ultra glaze silicone. At the Hontoon get together last year it came loose, I taped it back together with some of Dr. Bob's duct tape. Reset it again in December, and now it loose again. I got in touch with Bomar and they informed me that since I cleaned up everything with acetone the silicone will not adhere to anything cleaned with Acetone. Any advice on what to use to reset the acrylic lens. A new hatch from Bomar is $745.00.
 
I have always used isopropyl alcohol to clean the lens. (Sorry the duct tape left the residue).

You may be able to get it to adhere by very lightly sanding. I would start with some 300 wet and dry (wet) and go all around the edges, and maybe 1/4" in on the under side.

What bedding did they suggest?

Back in the 90's we redid the Cal 46 widows with a sealant which would not let go. The first one we used apparently was wrong, and with salt water it loosened up. We had to re-do these 7 windows about 2' high and average 3' long. We did the sanding and had 100% adherence over a period of many years and many miles...I would have to do the research for the sealant, but it was a structural silicone adhesive used on the Mega Yacht windows. Nasty stuff. We got a little dab on the SS rigging, and after 40,000 miles it was still there! Gloves essential.
 
Half/Pint,
I’ve successfully done over 20 hatches and portlights of the same materials. The correct caulk is Dow Corning 795. This is the same caulk used to hold windows in place on high rise buildings. Take a look at the repair in my photos and feel free to call, if you want me to walk you through the process. I recently provided trading two several folks, for their yachts, that had multiple hatches...
757-477-1453
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php
 
Concur with Steve on sealant type. For printed instructions, contact Pompanette at 603/826-5791 and ask them to email you a copy of their publication titled Installing Replacement Lenses In Bomar Hatches. I suggest using a plastic, rather than metal spoon to tool the sealant.

As to exposure to acetone, just use a sanding block on the edge of the lens, and you'll have fresh material at the point of seal.
 
Jennykatz,
My go to shop is http://norvaplastics.com and they have the material in stock and will cut and drill it to your specs. There must be a local plastic shop closer to you, but if not Norva is wonderful. They provided the King Starboard for my trailer and composting head projects and they are currently making a molded sliding hatch for my friends trimaran.
_________________
Steve Baum
Homeport of Portsmouth, VA
OSPREY (Ex Mister Sea) 2000 22 C-Dory 2010 - Sold 3/19
OSPREY (Ex ADITI) 2007 26 Cape Cruiser 2018
 
Back
Top