Bomar Hatches

[rockborn]

hi all, ive got these great Bomar 19in x 19 in series 100 cast aluminum hatches but the dogs and adjustment rods are shot . Any suggestions on where to find them would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[skipmac]

Parts just about anywhere. I think West, Jamestown, Defender or direct from Bomar Bomar - Spare Parts - Extruded Hatches

[RainDog]

You actually want these:

Bomar - Spare Parts - Cast Hatch Parts

They are crazy expensive. I just had my hatches machined, sand blasted, powder coated, new lenses, new gaskets, new risers, and new dogs. The bill for machine shop, sand blasting, powder coating, and plastic shop combined was far less the the cost of just the risers. Ouch.

Still way cheaper than a new hatch. Just make sure you use lots of Tefgel when you put the new parts on. They are stainless and the hatch is aluminum.

[delmarrey]

I've got one of the 34" cast hatches. They wanted $4k for it 8 years ago. So I sand blasted and had it powder coated. One problem though! Cast aluminum gasses when it heated to 350 degrees for powder coating, so it has to be baked first to dry it out. Otherwise the powder coat will have bubbles in it. Even at that mine still gassed. So afterwords I scotchbrite the thing and painted it with a bootstripe paint (tough stuff) to seal the pours, and it lasted these past 8 years.

The powder coating cost me $160.

[UNCIVILIZED]

delmarrey, thanks for the tip... on the pitfalls & perks of various aluminum coatings. BTW, Vinegar aka Acetic Acid, works in a pinch, in lieu of more hazardous & corrosive acids, prior to priming aluminum BTW. Assuming you're using a good, self-etching primer that is.
It ain't as tough as anodizing... but then, you have to go to exotic coatings to do better than that.

Also, thanks for the Bomar parts tips gents :-) If memory serves, Bomar is now Pompanette.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

I've got one of the 34" cast hatches. They wanted $4k for it 8 years ago. So I sand blasted and had it powder coated. One problem though! Cast aluminum gasses when it heated to 350 degrees for powder coating, so it has to be baked first to dry it out. Otherwise the powder coat will have bubbles in it. Even at that mine still gassed. So afterwords I scotchbrite the thing and painted it with a bootstripe paint (tough stuff) to seal the pours, and it lasted these past 8 years.

The powder coating cost me $160.

Had the same thing with my cast aluminum Bomar ports. Sandblasted, dried and powder coated but several of them had bubbles and a pitted look. The people at the shop told me it always happens with boat stuff. I know them well so assumed they were telling the truth but nice to hear independent confirmation.

On my aluminum body windlass I stripped it and primed with a two part etching Al primer, Alumiprotect from Petit. More work but cheaper. So far that's doing well. I did a hatch that way 30 years ago and the last time I saw it the finish looked like new.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by RainDog

You actually want these:

Bomar - Spare Parts - Cast Hatch Parts

They are crazy expensive. I just had my hatches machined, sand blasted, powder coated, new lenses, new gaskets, new risers, and new dogs. The bill for machine shop, sand blasting, powder coating, and plastic shop combined was far less the the cost of just the risers. Ouch.

Still way cheaper than a new hatch. Just make sure you use lots of Tefgel when you put the new parts on. They are stainless and the hatch is aluminum.

Oh yes, that's the right page. I copied the wrong link. Thanks for correcting my stupidity careless mistake.

Good point to mention the Tefgel. I have a couple of SS bolts I will have to drill out of the hatch frame because 30 years of salt welded them together (figuratively speaking). Everything going back together will be liberally coated.