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Removing this Hatch Did NOT go According to Plan!
November 30, 2025 · 21 min · 9K views
What this video covers
John, the owner of a 1989 Liberty 458 named Antidote, continues a deck restoration project by removing a stubborn, corroded hatch and addressing water-damaged balsa core.▶ 0:07 After consulting with Andy from Boatworks Today, John decides to cut out the entire raised hatch lip rather than attempting a difficult repair from below.▶ 8:18 He uses an impact driver to remove the hatch fasteners and a heat gun and pry bar to break the adhesive seal.▶ 12:49 The removal process proves difficult due to thick layers of polyester resin and fiberglass, confirming that attempting the job from the cabin ceiling would have been impractical.▶ 17:14 Upon removal, he discovers significant rot in the underlying balsa core and a fiberglass layer extending under the coach roof.▶ 19:57 John plans to rebuild the entire area with new core material and a custom-fabricated rim. He uses Divinycell foam for core replacement and secures his work area with Dr. Shrink preservation tape.▶ 6:34
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