My solution to the front hatchcover
problem is these 1/4" thick smoked acrylic covers secured with machine
screws, cup washers, and nyloc nuts. The 6" ports are
needed for access to the nuts and also allow storage of paddles
etc. I used 3/16" closed cell weather stripping as a gasket. I didn't want
to drill through the rubber gasket so the screws are outside the gasket and each
nut is on a rubber and a steel washer to stop water leaking down
the bolt holes. With the bolts tight, the gasket is pressed flat so I am hoping
this is a watertight arrangement.
Note the new ports to replace the rubber bungs for chainplate access. All the
ports have the outer ring bolted in place with flat head machine screws and
sealed with 4200.