Deck Hatch Seal

[fisherofman]

My 2004 Albin 28 TE hatch leaks. The seal looks good but it seems like the hatch doesn't batten down tight enough.
I made some small shims for the latches and it seemed better but it still leaks slightly. I read some of the other posts and tried
tightening the screws etc. Without the shims I have about 1/8th inch of movement between the handle and the striker when I lift the hatch.
My question is will a new hatch seal be thick enough to take up that gap and make a tight seal? Or is it possible to move the striker plates lower to make a tighter fit? Or should I just have a snap on canvas cover made to keep out the rain? The rest of the hatch fitting looks ok, I think.
Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks. JP

[Mike Ebert]

Mine drove me crazy for a long time. I finally took the hatch off completely. The cutout for the hatch was sloppy and that's where the water was entering. I used a good sealant and it has been fine ever since.

[fisherofman]

OK, thanks. I ordered a new seal and hopefully it will be enough to tighten up the hatch.