It is difficult to make the hatch come out exactly flush. However, it helps if you inset the hatch cover about 1/8" when you tape it in place prior to laying the fiberglass for the lip. This will let 1/4" weatherstripping get compressed 50%.

The number of layers of glass to make the lip depends somewhat on the weight of glass you are using. Five or six layers of 6oz is usually enough.

> In Nicks book he talks about putting a 1" strip of glass around the
> edge of the hatch cover to create a seal, how many layers would be
> required to have the hatch flush when the rubber seal is in place. Would
> you have a layer of rubber on both the hatch cover and the deck ? Phill