Engine Hatch Cover

[62cruiserinc]

Hello:

I have a 81 Sea Ray 260 that we bought last year. It needs a new engine hatch cover and fuel tank cover. The covers are both part of the floor and get walked on (and wet).

The current cover, which looks original, is basically plywood with a thin veneer on top which looks like teak. It is a beaded pattern to look like boards about 2" wide, and between the "boards" there is a 1/8" wide groove that goes deeper than the veneer. The total thickness is about 13/16". Looks like this was a single fabricated plywood item rather than someone laminating veneer over the top of a piece of regular plywood. The engine hatch cover is 3' x 5' and is made of two pieces joined in the middle with a backer board behind the joint. It would be hard to believe the OEM would not have used a single piece, so maybe this is some previous owner's work.

The veneer is peeling off and there is some plywood rot in the corners.

I am a hobby woodworker, so I have a lot of woodworking equipment and can fab most anything, but if there was some prefab sheets like this it would be faster. I have also thought of using regular marine 3/4" plywood and putting some seadek type material on to of it. It doesn't have to look like wood.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Chris1956]

What about some 5/8" texture 1-11 plywood? You can get it with 4" grooves and if you buy fir, and stain or resin it, it should hold up for a while.

 

[ahicks]

I'd be tempted to just do new covers in teak, purposely leaving a small gap between each plank to let the compartment below breath.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would get a teak grate made for both

 

[ahicks]

Who would do those Scott? Would it be an expensive custom job or is there somebody that has that down to a science doing production work in custom sizes? Seems to me the average DIY'er used to working with wood projects could turn out a pretty nice cover, without spending a fortune!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would call Al or the guys at Teak Decking systems. they do it all the time. Teak costs money, no way around it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

here is a place in St Pete http://www.teakmarinewoodwork.com/floor_grating.htm

 

[62cruiserinc]

Thanks for the link, Scott. It gave me some ideas.

I have made complex wood parts before, so I could fab them in my shop.

One of the covers is directly over the aluminum fuel tank and sending unit, the other is over the 5.L V8. You guys really think it's OK to have water from wet feet, etc. dripping through the grate onto the tank and engine?

Steve

 

[JASinIL2006]

I wouldn't want water dripping over my engine...

 

[62cruiserinc]

I decided to use exterior plywood that I will coat with a protectant (CPES, epoxy, etc) and use one of the Seadek imitators on ebay that look like teak. It has decent reviews. I'm sure it won't hold up as well long term as the real Seadek, but its a lot cheaper and will do for now. Since its not part of the boat main structure, I can change my mind later if I want to fab up something different or it doesn't hold up after a few years.

Steve

 

[JASinIL2006]

Be sure to take some pics for us when it's been fabricated!

 

[62cruiserinc]

Will do!

I am going to order a bunch of boat stuff today because (finally) the weather is above freezing and snow has gone away.

Steve