Removing Companionway Cover and Hatch

[Dreaming]

Hello again everyone,

Yep, me again. I do search this and other forums for answers to my problems and I do read my manuals I promise. However it is difficult to find #1.) Pictures and #2) answers that relate specifically to my boat, so here goes:

I want to get under the copmpanionway cover for two reasons:

- To clean out the gunk and algae that has built up

- To lube up the companionway hatch because it sticks about 3/4 of the way closed and is a bear to close from the inside.


I removed the obvious screws but failed to take into account the caulking or whatever it is that is joining the cover to the cabin top. I have attached a picture with a red arrow indicating what Im talking about.

- What is that? Is it caulking or some other kind of sealant?

- How do I remove the cover? I have heard some people use a piano wire for jobs like this. to separate the piece from the caulk on windows and such. Is that what you would suggest? Or something else?

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I haven't tried to remove that piece but I would guess it is sealant. Like 4200 or equivalent. The piano wire method should work, but they you have a lot of cleanup and resealing ahead of you. I also think that might be one solid piece going forward under the traveler.

When mine was getting a little stiff, I took a garden spray bottle with a soap and water solution and sprayed that track area with the tip shoved in there. I then had to wash it out several times with fresh water, again using the garden sprayer. A lot of built up crap came out of there doing this. When I was done, I let it dry and then sprayed the area with McLube. I haven't had any problems since.

Hope this works for you.

Fair winds,

Jesse

 

[gpd955]

When I was done, I let it dry and then sprayed the area with McLube. I haven't had any problems since.

Same here. It probably should be taken apart and cleaned but the solution of spraying it is much simpler than that so I just spray about twice a season. Eventually I will probably give it a whirl but other jobs end up taking priority for now.