Sliding Hatch Cover Removal

[Hull376]

ebb, Bill, Anyone.....

Have we had a discussion on how to remove the hatch from the track on the cabin top? I can't remember if anyone posted a discussion on how it comes apart--- I can remember lots of discussions on replacements, covers and stuff like that.

My wife and I were coming into Clear Lake yesterday and got caught in a terrific squall with the rain blowing sideways--- I couldn't see! Anyway, it was a great opportunity to see which screws needed re-bedding on Charisma. I also had some water dripping in from the hatch--- its not meant to be water tight, as you all know, but it got me thinking that I should take it off to inspect the condition of the wood to see if any rot is developing. Any tricks I need to know about or should I just start taking out the screws?

[Bill]

Remove the track screws.

[Tony G]

Kent,

Haven't seen anything from you in a while! I was just rereading some of your posts regarding your solar panel and controler. Good stuff.

If I remember correctly (you should start running now ) after you unscrew the trim that surrounds the companionway, you just unscrew the 2"-2 1/4" ovalhead screws from the inside of the cabin overhead. You'll probably have to 'jar' the wood loose from it's bedding. I remember Dream Weaver's were well pretty stuck having had a recent paint and rebed prior to our purchasing her.

This would be a good time to overfill and redrill the mounting holes as I'm sure you're going to put the original hatch back on.

[Bill]

Reviewed the hatch removal procedure while at Maika'i today. It is as I remember from ten years ago ;)

Slide hatch all the way forward and remove track fasteners exposed. Slide the hatch closed and remove the remaining fasteners. Hatch and tracks lift off together (well, sort of . . :) )

[Hull376]

Thanks, guys. Knock on wood (ha yes pun intended) that I don't have to fabricate new tracks! But even teak has a life!

Tony, FYI, my solar system is still running like a champ, and I'm even running 12 V Engel MT-17 refrigerator for multi-day cruises with no problems or undue battery discharge. Oh yea, I also replaced all the running lights and anchor light with LEDs, but that's another thread!

[Hull376]

Well, I knocked on the wood today---- the wooden hatch rails, and.....:mad: there is rot where the screws hold the stainless track to the top side of the rails, and also where the rails meet the lip of fiber glass at the leading edge of the hatch opening. I also noticed that water was able to get into the space between the coach roof and the underlying liner through some small cracks in the fiberglass that I presume are the result of over 40 years of sliding (and sometimes slamming) the hatch into the front lip of the hatch opening.

Anyway, do we have a pattern of the dimensions for the rails anywhere on the board? If not, anyone who fabricated new ones have the dimensions? I'd like to install the new ones when I remove the old. Taking off the existing ones to get the dimensions is a lot of work--- and I'd need to remount them to keep the boat locked up in the marina while making the replacements.