Bill is the Blu Tack you are referring to the same as this shown?

Key details regarding Blu Tack and water:
Water-Resistant Properties: It is a non-soluble, synthetic rubber compound that can withstand exposure to moisture without breaking down immediately.
Best Use Case: While water-resistant, it is designed for, and performs best on, clean, dry surfaces.
Limitations: While it resists water, it is not designed to be a permanent, fully submersible waterproof sealant, but rather a reusable adhesive for holding items in place, even in damp environments.
Composition: It is denser than water and is non-toxic.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
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Note: Some product listings may specify it is not for high-moisture/submerged applications, but for general, daily, non-porous applications.

Bostik

I use Blutac which seems to work well on all surfaces

Very nice this is my kind of boat .
Have you thought about magnets you can buy very small ones o ebay depending how well you hatches fit depends how big magnets you can buy , i have used for many different things from hatches to fitting people on board
Philuk👍

I use Gary Webb’s instructions seen here:

https://youtu.be/wHejDiI-1ys?si=r7UA-PluQB9t8K4f

Bruce1946, I suggest you try ShoeGoo. I get mine at WalMart, in the shoe dept, on the rack where you find shoelaces and shoe polish. Or there is GOOP household cement.

If you attach with double-sided tape you may find the magnets so strong that they pull off the tape. There are vastly difference double-sided tapes out there.

To decrease the strength of magnets just put a disk of clear plastic on the mating surface. I use the plastic, clear, from the sandwich boxes from the deli.

Another option is velcro and it's great becuz you can vary the strength of the join just be using smaller or larger pieces of self-adhesive velcro from the dollar store (white or black, quite inexpensive)

These are not my own original thoughts, I've been in our hobby intensively for only 4yr and I learned these things from the cluster of mentors I hav encountered. Great hobby for us retired folk, for the friendship & camaraderie.

Rod of MMM in Toronto, Canada

Hi Bruce,
Would double sided tape work for securing the magnets?
Trev

The problem I'm having is adhering the magnets to Styrene. CA glue and epoxy do not adhere to the surface of the magnets! GRR

Zooma:

I used magnets on my fireboat too, but my hatch was made from a piece of galvanized sheet. What material did you use for yours?
😎

Hi bruced,

I would suggest the use of small high power magnets.

These were used on my scratch built TID Tug and they worked very well.

Thunder Tiger used them to hold the hatches down on the Avanti fast power boats that I enjoy running so much, and they secure the hatch perfectly even during high speed racing .......and allow the hatch to be lifted off so easily when changing a battery in-between runs.

I also use these same small round magnets to secure the top-deck on my various r/c model tanks as I much prefer them to the number of screws the manufacturers tend to use as this make's changing the batteries and making any repairs a lot longer than they need to be.

Bob.

What's a good way of securing access hatches on a 39 inch tug. for easy access? This is my BC Sea Hawk I have been working on for about 8 months now. I'm Almost done, ( 2 large access hatches in aft deck for Z drive Access)
Also suggests on securing cabin.