MK-II SCREACHING Starboard Cockpit Hatch

[CaptDon01]

We recently purchased a 2002 MK-II. We really like the boat, with one exception......when ever you sat or stepped on the starboard cockpit hatch it made a terrible screaching noise. I discovered it was caused by the front section bending outward on the mating surface below. I removed the hatch and ground all the paint off along the front lip. After it was all prep'ed down to the fiberglass, I installed multiple layers of 2" and 4" fiberglass tape using WEST epoxy. The original fiberglass was only about 1/8" thick. I built it up until it was about 3/8" thick or maybe a bit more. After it all cured, I block sanded the bottom to match the mating surface, and no more screaching! The hardest part was grinding the paint off. Catalina really put on a heavy coat of enamel!

Don

 

[Ken]

hatch

Mines a 96 no problems with the hatch.

Sailed it for the first time this past week and was pleasantly surprised with it. Still have the bottom to do (micron on it now) but I found it much faster than I was told it would be. Boy does it have room..... after a little more than a week on her I sure hated to see the cruise end.