rain thru main hatch

Having some terrible rain storms this week- my 1988 IP31 is leaking thru the main hatch- when the sliding top is closed there is still a gap at the corners and water is getting into the cabin. am i missing something about the way the hatch and hatch boards should overlap?
thanks
Don

Photo please. Some leak in hard blowing rain is normal there. That area takes water well, or perhaps better said, is water tolerant.

i will try to get a picture- however the water leaks down the back of the hatch boards and down the cabin steps.

Each hatch board should have the top and bottom edges cut at an angle with the low edge on the outside. If they are installed backward or there is no angle to the top edge, water will drip between each board and into the boat. Also, the top slider should have a slot cut into the underside of the forward piece of wood that lines up with the hatch boards to create a drip edge, sending any water onto the sloped angle of the top board and then to the outside.

The hatch boards are designed correctly but my top slider does not overlap the hatch boards- and creates a space when closed that allows the water to run down the back of the hatch board into the boat- i have to get a better look at it tonite.
thanks

I agree it sounds like your hatch does not slide all the way aft. Maybe something is caught under the sliding hatch cover? I have not removed that (yet haha). If you can include a picture I will compare it with mine when I get back to the boat tomorrow. Double check to be sure your hatch boards are put in correctly. But of course it would be too easy of a fix for that to be the case. Boats are never that accommodating.

Thanks- i should be at the boat tonite and get a picture- and try to see why it won't close more or better.
darn boats!

here is a photo i found, and can see that the trim on the hatch slides past the top of the topmost hatch board, to become flush with the side trim. You may can see that there is a small spacer on the lock hasp that shims the hasp out, so i would guess that your hatch should slid about a 3/4 of an inch past the top of your hatch board. if it is not, the you should not be able to lock it.
let me try to load the picture...

The trim on my sliding hatch is not flush with the side trim when closed- maybe 1/8" or 1/4" space. no problem locking the hatch. i'll have to take a better look at it. i've only had the boat about a week. lots of new stuff to look at.

Here is what I have. Note the side trim.
[attachment:1]image.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment:1]image.jpg[/attachment]

Sorry you didn't get that attachment attached

Hmmmm

This site does not like my iPad photos!

arrow is pointing to space behind side and in front of slider that has about 1/8 to 1/4 space that allows rain inside.
i'm able to put a lock in the hasp.

cat30 wrote: arrow is pointing to space behind side and in front of slider that has about 1/8 to 1/4 space that allows rain inside.
i'm able to put a lock in the hasp.

Yes, mine is that way too. Theoretically the water should run down the channel just behind the hatch boards then out from underneath the hatch board to the exterior. So it seems that you're sliding hatch is functioning properly. I think what you'll find is that in a hard rainstorm with the wind blowing from the stern of the boat, you are going to get some leakage around those areas since, technically, it is not sealed but simply blocked with hatch boards. You will have the opportunity to be on the boat during some hard rains and that is the best time to figure out what leaks inappropriately and what does not. That area is designed to tolerate water. That is why it is has a molded floor instead of holly and teak with a drain to the bilge.