: Dave g:

: How do you know it was your bulkheads that leak? Could it be your
: hatches? What kind did you put in?

: Even rubber hatches can leak if you do not vent them properly. The
: water cools the inside of the boat and begins to suck air back
: in - notice how hatches suddenly become convex when the water is
: cooler than the surrounding air?? . Even very tight rubber
: hatches can suck air in around the seals and if there's water
: sitting around the rim (which there often is) it will get sucked
: in with the air. The best thing to do is drill a small hole in
: each bulkhead to help equalize the pressure.

: Worked for me when my deckplates were leaking like crazy!!!

: Sean

After the incident I filled the cockpit with water at home and peering through the hatches saw water running along through the bottom edge of the bulkheads. When I in stalled them ( one is walnut veneered ply and the front one is clear glass ) I laminated them in with one layer of six oz but did not do any fill coats over the laminate so I believe the water is going through the weave. After another hose test on the hatches it seems that they also leak a bit ( under deck bungees ) this is because my finish work on the underside of the hatch lids Is not very smooth and I believe water is flowing through the uneven surface Along the foam seal.
the bulkheads both have a 1/8 hole drilled in them near the top for venting.
Both first timer lessons and pretty easy fixes I believe.

Dave g