Phew!

Managed to sort the miscreant hatch cover before dad arrived. Would never have heard the end of it...son of an engineer and can't solve a simple problem like a jammed hatch cover. It would have kept him amused for days!!

Managed to prise it off mm by mm with a screwdriver and a metal boat building clamp (just don't ask!!!) without damaging the thread. It had crossed over several threads ......no idea how.  Cleaned all the threads and it seems to have gone back on fine. Pumped out all the water but most of the day is gone. Weather has turned very wet, not like the forecast predicted...so in someways this has been a blessing.

Hey no hum!  He comes the rain.....again

Steve