Nauti Hooker

The deck hatches that access the bilge areas just forward of the motors on my Gen II 27 Ameracat are far from water tight. When fishing from anchor with the rear live well full and a couple of guys standing in the cockpit , water is constantly lapping over the area where the hatches are located and pouring into the bilge. I've basically got to run my bilges constantly to keep the water out while fishing. I've contacted Ameracat and they suggested a hatch built by Boat Outfitters (same manufacture of the hatch of have) that has multiple compression latches. Sounds like it would work... but Boat Outfitters quoted $600 per hatch to make them.

Just wondering if other Ameracat owners are having similar problems or if they are using another style hatch. Below is a pic of what came on the boat when I bought it.

snookwhaler

That is a horrible place for that type of hatch IMO.

is there a seal and is it compromised? Sometimes with latches of that type, the "opening flange" is the catch. The catch can tear the seal.

You could try turning the hatch around and replacing the seal. Or even better, replace it with Bomar Commercial hatch. Or do some minor glass work and install a couple Armstrong deck plates. or screw down and seal a piece of starboard down and install some quality deck plates into the starboard.

They're are more than a few waterproof options for that area.

scott_gunn

I fixed a similar issue by installing these: Deck Plates - 10x20 rectangular - White - Armstrong Nautical
The existing hole was too big, so I installed the Armstrong hatch in a larger piece of starboard, and then used screws + 5200 to secure the starboard over the old hole. It is 100% watertight.

Nauti Hooker

snookwhaler....there is a seal but the edges of the hatch lid warp slight upwards and don't make good contact. I like both your and Scott's idea of covering the existing openings with starboard and installing a compression type hatch.

kurttruk

I am AMAZED that they put that kind of hatch there. I think I would see if a Bomar type hatch would work. That is a super wet area. WOW!

Nauti Hooker

I agree....not a good spot for that type of hatch. Everything in the bilge, including the fuel water separator housing and filter, gets doused in saltwater constantly. It's a high priority project to come up with a better alternative.

BST24351

my seacat had 8" deck plates the same way and I replaced them with new ones that also leaked. not as bad as your saying but it was still annoying. before I switch them to screw in types they were old pop out types. I got 30 miles off shore and came off plane when I looked back one popped out and was getting sloshed around by water inside the space well. I was very lucky I didnt loose it because I would have had to turn rita back around because they were always covered with water at rest

E.S.H

scott_gunn

Here is a pic of mine.

triggerman

Here is link to a thread showing you how to replace those hatches with armstrongs. Its a little work but a lot less than $1200

Fuel tank corrosion/stabilization Ameracat

Photos at post #132 - theres a lot of noise in that thread

By the way, I also had the lip removed from the transom so water doesnt accumulate over the hatches. Its been 3 or 4 years and 500 hours and no structural problems. The lip seems to serve no structural function.

slickster

Ive got same boat and problem . Home depot has some adhesive backed foam seal stuff...cut and fit it....stopped about 90% of water getting into bilge . Great boat btw

steelcityfishanddive

Great boat with piss poor design flaws???

scott_gunn

The good thing about a hatch on a piece of starboard is that the normal sources of water (rain, washdown, occasional splash from a wave) never even reach the hatch since it is raised above the deck level.

slickster

Design flaw?. As an owner who fishes it far and wide....a little sticky gasket makes a perceived "design flaw" basically a non issue....it is a great boat....goes where the big boys go getting better than 2 mpg, great ride, roomy and stable.