Access / Utility Hatches & Hinges

Access Hatches, Utility Hatches & Hinges - Resources & Information

When it comes to storage, ease of movement, and ventilation, Access Hatches, Utility Hatches & Hinges enable boaters to customize their boat as they see fit. PartsVu offers a complete selection of Access Hatches, Utility Hatches & Hinges from OEM manufacturers and trusted aftermarket suppliers. Whether you need a complete boat hatch installation kit, hinges, or hardware, PartsVu has what you need to get the job done. 

Need help servicing your outboard engine? PartsVu regularly publishes helpful how-to guides and other valuable maintenance information to help boaters service their outboard engines. Browse our outboard maintenance blog for a wide range of relevant topics and see the FAQ section below, covering everything you need to know about maintaining your boat in confidence.

Access / Utility Hatches & Hinges FAQ

What should I know about Access Hatches, Utility Hatches & Hinges?

Here’s some info you need to know about Access Hatches, Utility Hatches & Hinges:

• A boat hatch seal tends to be the most vulnerable part of your boat - especially if you’ve performed some DIY repairs and aren’t too sure of your handy work. Always look for signs of moisture infiltration like staining and mold growth. It’s for this reason that you should only use quality products like a Bomar hatch seal instead of bespoke designs, as even microscopic holes can lead to big issues down the road. 
• Be aware that boat hatches and doors that are used frequently will begin to wear down the boat hatch hinge over time. Only use boat hinges made from corrosion-resistant materials, like brass and stainless steel, as these materials won’t breakdown from continual exposure to moisture, vibrations, or slamming,  nor will these types of marine hatches leave rust marks on your boat’s hull and other surfaces. This is especially important for boat engine cover hinges, where exhaust gasses can accelerate corrosion and create an unsafe environment for your passengers. Similarly, a marine storage latch can break over time and put your items in jeopardy while the boat is in motion. 
• As part of your winterization and annual storage regiment, it’s important to visually inspect and test all hatches, particularly the seals around them. A boat hatch seal replacement will prevent moisture intrustion leading to mold and other issues, but it can also prevent insects and other pests from entering your boat. 
• There are plenty of boat hatch sizes to choose from. However, consider what the purpose of the hatch will be. If it is for venting your cabin, a smaller hatch may be ideal. For easy storage of larger items or to enable passengers to pass through (such as a deck hatches for boats), you’ll need to accommodate larger boat hatch sizes. 
• Although a flush mounting of hatch hinges and doors is ideal, it’s still important to reinforce any marine hatch seal with a silicone-based sealant. Bear in mind, however, that silicone doesn’t make for a very good adhesive, so if you’ve routed a larger space than needed or drilled a few deck hinges off center, apply an adhesive and THEN use a silicone sealant to make the connections waterproof. 

Is winterizing my outboard important?

While it’s always a bit more fun to pull out your boat than to put it away, properly winterizing your outboard engine should be mandatory for all experienced boaters. Winterizing helps avoid engine damage and will facilitate a smoother start to the beginning of next season - after all, no one wants to wait to get back on the water!

There are several important steps you should take when storing your MerCruiser outboard lower unit to ensure that it’s properly winterized.

1. Flush Your Engine - Thoroughly flush your MerCruiser engine to remove any salt buildup if you are a saltwater boater, or accumulated mud and grime if you are a freshwater boater. Failure to remove this debris from your MerCruiser lower unit leads to corrosion in the engine. And if you’re a saltwater boater, leftover salt crystals in the lower unit can act like sandpaper to your internal engine components.
2. Stabilize Your Fuel System - Fuel starts to go bad within 30 days of sitting in your fuel system. It is vital to use a fuel stabilizer when your boat will be sitting unused for more than two or three months. Adding the amount of fuel stabilizer directed on the product’s packaging to your fuel—for instance, 1 ounce of Mercury Quickstor Fuel Stabilizer for every 5 gallons of marine fuel ensures proper winterization for more than 3 months. 
3. Fog Your Engine - Fogging oil is a wax-based oil that coats the engine to prevent corrosion.
4. Change Out the Lower Unit Oil - It’s recommended by marine mechanics to change your gear lube before storage to make sure that there is no water in the lower unit’s oil. Any water in the oil could freeze, expand, and crack your lower unit. Additionally, old oil is more likely to gum up oil passages and corrode components due to changes in its chemical composition through regular use. Last, consult your owners manual for which oil is appropriate for your engine.
5. Disconnect Your Battery - Disconnect your battery and spray CRC Marine Battery Terminal Cleaner on your battery terminals.

How do I perform a 100-hour service on my outboard engine?

To ensure proper engine function, it’s always best to service your outboard engine every 100 hours after the initial break-in period (first 10 hours) and after the first maintenance interval (at 20 hours). 

As an example, the following is a Suzuki outboard 100-hour service checklist to help you service your engine properly. Refer to your owner’s manual for your particular engine make and model for an exact list of 100-hour maintenance tasks:

What outboard engine tools should I have onboard?

Even if you don’t do your own maintenance, all boaters need some basic boat tools in their marine tool kits to help them out of a jam. Of course, if you plan to do your own maintenance or a portion of your own maintenance, you’ll need to be a bit better equipped.

So which boat tools should you have onboard? The following are our recommendations and the reasons behind them. Of course, the tools you should have onboard are significantly dictated by the type of boating you do. As a practical matter, a near-shore, freshwater boater needs fewer tools than an off-shore boater. While a problem close to the shore can be an annoyance, a problem off-shore might be a whole different matter.

• Fuel filter wrench—good idea to have on board if you get enough water or debris in your fuel system that a fuel filter change becomes necessary.
• Adjustable band filter wrench—you may need to change your fuel/water separating filter if you have water in your system or if you got some bad gas at the marina. US marinas nearly always sell high-quality filtered gasoline, but marinas in the Bahamas are notorious for selling contaminated gasoline.
• Prop nut wrench—carrying this wrench only makes sense if you carry a spare prop. Many boaters carry a spare inexpensive aluminum prop in case they spin a hub or bend a blade so severely that it wobbles.
• Deck fill key/deck plate key/spanner wrench—these universal tools are designed to open all types and sizes of deck fill lids and shackles. Many of these tools also include bonus tools like bottle openers. Perfect for a cold one after fishing.
• Toolkit—if you have room on your boat, all-purpose toolkits can come in handy. 
• Pliers—channel lock, standard, and needle nose
• Leatherman–a very helpful all-purpose tool.
• Rigging knife
• Serrated knife—for cutting rope, your all-purpose tool might include a serrated blade.
• Flashlight
• Emergency plug set—in case a leak manifests while you are out on the water.
• Battery booster pack
• Battery terminal cleaner
• Zip ties—because we all know that you can fix almost everything with zip ties and duct tape.
• Duct tape