Rebuilding the Companionway Hatch?

H

hathawayr@theleeco.com

.
Aug 8, 2011
14
Catalina 30 Old Saybrook
Folks,

Our companionway hatch slides fine when our mast is detuned or unstepped. But when the mast is up and tuned, the companionway hatch slider sticks as it approaches the bulkhead. It seems to sit lower in its tracks, as if it's in tension between the them, thereby increasing the friction on the bottom and the sides.

This condition arose when we upgraded our mainsail traveler from curved to straight.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have used a rig tuning gauge to insure I'm not overloading the rig. Is the hull changing shape that much from standing rig load?

Has anyone rebuild the hatch slide rails to include stainless or Delrin rails?

Thanks for any insight.

Rob
 
C

Calif. Ted

.
Jun 8, 2004
2,919
Catalina 320 Dana Point
Rob, I usually apply some sort of "glide tape" to the bottom rail the hatch slides on, the link below is just one that turned up in a quick search. They can vary in thickness from about like Teflon plumbers tape to a thicker more rigid material.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=214
However, kinda sounds like it's getting pinched by compression of the cabin top when stressed by the rigging. This could make one worry about the compression block or cabin top at the step.You may want to investigate further as to the cause for binding when tuned.
 
R

ritsim01

.
Oct 1, 2008
1
- - -
I removed my hatch and glued UHMW strips into the grooves and also attached strips to the underside of the sliding hatch. Used 3M 777 spray glue. However this ended up raising the hatch and it rubbed on the teak trim and the fiberglass. Try marking the top teak trim. If you are only going to need a little trim, you can lay sandpaper on the hatch and rub it back and forth with the hatch. The alternative is to mark the trim and remove it for sanding and refinishing. The fiberglass behind may be rubbing also. This all assumes that he deck flexing is correct and normal - no input there.
 
dive7mmwet

dive7mmwet

.
Jan 12, 2013
114
Catalina C27 - Tall Rig Door County, Wis
As said Id look at the mast step area for compression or rot under the glass,next down to the post rot ahead of keel under sole. something has to give.
 
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Likes: DaveJ
Team118

Team118

.
Jan 22, 2008
404
Catalina 380 16 Rochester NY
When I originally bought my boat, I removed the cover over the sliding hatch. I did this to reseal the screws holding it in. When I did this and set the cover back on before screwing it down, the hatch slid perfectly.

I always thought that the cover was pinching the hatch somewhere and would (one day) disassemble it and make any needed adaptations to make it glide nicely. Which would also include glide tape or some type of permanent Teflon runners on the hatch...

I never thought that compression rot or a related issue would be a factor.

Good luck and let us know, it's going to be a project sooner or later!
Chris
 
longterm

longterm

.
Feb 5, 2012
183
Catalina 1990 Catalina 30 Mark II Harbor Island Yacht Club, Old Hickory Lake, Nashville, TN
I replaced my hatch boards with a beautiful custom-made pair of doors from Cruising Concepts (http://www.cruisingconcepts.com); Mike Powell built my doors, which have screens and then plexiglass that slides out so that you can have either closed doors or screen doors; the doors sit on pins and can be removed and stowed.

Here's a photo; this is the best thing I've done for my boat--except for the ProFurl furler, which is a dream.

hatch.jpg

Bob

hathawayr@theleeco.com said:
Folks,

Our companionway hatch slides fine when our mast is detuned or unstepped. But when the mast is up and tuned, the companionway hatch slider sticks as it approaches the bulkhead. It seems to sit lower in its tracks, as if it's in tension between the them, thereby increasing the friction on the bottom and the sides.

This condition arose when we upgraded our mainsail traveler from curved to straight.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have used a rig tuning gauge to insure I'm not overloading the rig. Is the hull changing shape that much from standing rig load?

Has anyone rebuild the hatch slide rails to include stainless or Delrin rails?

Thanks for any insight.

Rob
Click to expand
 
S

ScottNeely

.
Nov 21, 2012
16
Catalina 30 Beaufort NC
Re Hinged companion way doors

Bob
Do your new doors leak ? I really like those and have thought about getting them myself but am worried they may leak more than my standard hatch boards.
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
hathawayr@theleeco.com said:
Folks,

Our companionway hatch slides fine when our mast is detuned or unstepped. But when the mast is up and tuned, the companionway hatch slider sticks as it approaches the bulkhead. It seems to sit lower in its tracks, as if it's in tension between the them, thereby increasing the friction on the bottom and the sides.

This condition arose when we upgraded our mainsail traveler from curved to straight.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have used a rig tuning gauge to insure I'm not overloading the rig. Is the hull changing shape that much from standing rig load?

Has anyone rebuild the hatch slide rails to include stainless or Delrin rails?

Thanks for any insight.

Rob
Click to expand
loosen off on your traveler to the point of slack and see if that still happens....if it does not then i would say the transfer of load on the traveler has changed some what ...whitch means that the pulling pressure has made the cabin top flex upward at the mounting points and clamping the sliding hatch in its tracks......

regards

woody
 
D

DaveEJ1

.
Mar 8, 2025
1
MARIEHOLM IF International Folkboat Smiling Cove Marina Saipan
I have been sailing Marieholm IF Hull # 365 in Saipan, CNMI for 16 years I am not aware of her previous name, however it has been named S/V OFFICIAL BUSINESS here about the year 2000. In 2012, I performed an initial refit repairing years of neglect for hull, rigging and cabin. The Philippine Sea and Western Pacific Ocean is not very forgiving, but the boat performs very well here between Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. I am interested in refitting the companionway hatch cover which has been missing since before I owned the boat. I would like to be as close to the stock design as possible with the foundation for the dodger included. I have heard that Jachtwerf Kuiper in Sneek, Netherlands is performing refits for these boats. I will be reaching out to them too. Any suggestions for doing the rebuild for this, or mold for having that part recast here in Saipan are greatly appreciated.
 

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