screeching hatch cover

[Ron F]

The sliding hatch of my 1982 C-27 (5110) screeches VERY loudly in the last 6 inches before it is closed. I tried silicone spray with no success. Any ideas or solutions? Thanks.

 

[Rob R.]

Had that too

Hi Ron -I had that too, but it was not horrible. It went away when I took off the hatchrails and varnished them (got the inside of the rails as well). Haven't had the problem since. If you don't want to take off the rails, I would recommend sanding the flat surface on which the hatch rides - smoothing that out may make the vibration a little less profound.Let us know -Rob

 

[Pete Staehling]

Glass on glass?

Is it just screeching at the wood fiberglass contact area or is it glass on glass?Sometimes the fiberglass wears through and the cover drops down letting the hatch rub the cabin top (especially check the lip at the forward edge of the hatch). If that is the case, I would take the hatch off and fix it with resin and fabric.If the wood is worn, allowing the hatch to ride lower and rub on the cabin top I would take the rails off fill the grooves and saw new ones (or just replace the rails). They can be sawed out to a larger more uniform groove filled with a piece of wood and resawn. I have heard of people just filling the grooves with epoxy (probably thickened with micro-balloons) and resawing them. Seems to me that they might be more likely to screech than if you used wood.Pete

 

[Denny Fegan]

done that

Pete,My 1984 C30 had the same problem. The hatch cover and mating part is glass and over time the gel coat wears. Had to remove the sea cowling and teak rails and the hatch. Cleaned both surfaces and cemeted (used goop) two 5/8" wide by 1/8" thick strips of polyethlene on both the hatch and mating surface. You have to be carefull when reinstalling since you have raised the hatch 1/4" and you may have to shim up the teak for the extra clearance.Best