I have a 1984 Catalina 22, fixed keel, with a pop top. I pushed up to hard one day on the pop top and cracked the fiberglass edges( or runners) on the top. Now the top doesn't close properly or slide properly. Is there a way to repair the runners or edges of the top? I saw at one time the Catalina 22 store would sell new tops, but I haven't seen it listed anymore.
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Hi, I think that you are referring to the fiberglass companionway sliding hatch
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=703
You may try fixing the runners with epoxy and fiberglass. as you can see from the link that a replacement isn't cheap.
~bilbo
N.E. Ohio
http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=703
You may try fixing the runners with epoxy and fiberglass. as you can see from the link that a replacement isn't cheap.
~bilbo
N.E. Ohio
if you are talking about the sliding rails that the hatch rides on here are the photos that show how my boat was done in aluminum Chanel bent at 100 degrees. this works great i spry it down with sail coat once or twice a year hope that helps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nibblet78
don
catalina 22 78
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nibblet78
don
catalina 22 78
Thanks Don and Billbo. I couldn't remember the terminology. I will attempt replacing with aluminum rails. Pictures were a big help. Thanks again.
repair
Bondo, the long fiber stuff, may be easier to work with, becaus eit is like putty, to create an edge like that. I'm not sure how well it will adhere to the fiberglass. It's probably worth a try. If you try epoxy resin, like West Systems, buy and use alot of the fiberglass powder thickener, and make it super thick, using the fast curing agent. You still would need some type of mold or material to give it its shape. The area does not sound big enough to use fiberglass matting, but you could use that as your base layer and wrap it around the edge.
Bondo, the long fiber stuff, may be easier to work with, becaus eit is like putty, to create an edge like that. I'm not sure how well it will adhere to the fiberglass. It's probably worth a try. If you try epoxy resin, like West Systems, buy and use alot of the fiberglass powder thickener, and make it super thick, using the fast curing agent. You still would need some type of mold or material to give it its shape. The area does not sound big enough to use fiberglass matting, but you could use that as your base layer and wrap it around the edge.
The flanges on my hatch were worn badly on both sides, port side had more than half missing. When I repaired it I used blue masking tape for the mold and West system epoxy for the build up. After the first layer kicked the tape was removed and layer of fiberglass tape were used to build up the flange. Once satisfied with the thickness of the flange it was sanded to size painted and reinstalled. The rails can also be filled and the grove re-cut on a table saw. A trick we learned, add graphite to the epoxy making sliding the hatch open and shut much easier.
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