hatch rubbing thru gel coat

[iredrider1177]

when i bought my 06 i noticed at the top of the cabin at the end of the hatch the front has rubbed thru the gel coat, you can see light thru them if you take the fuse panel out, but they are not completely thru, and i have found a few fixes in here for the hatch rubbing problem, my question is, how should i go about fixing the rubbed thru spots, they are on both sides and about the size of a quarter.

[restless]

Got the same problem, on an original
I'm just going to stick the 'hook' sides of a velcro strip the length of the slider. (I've hear this works pretty well) As for the lack of gel coat... well, it won't leak, or rust, and once the strip is on it'll be out of sight, therefore no worries
I will do it too... one of these days..

[Hamin' X]

I think that you want to use the loop side of the Velcro. It is the soft, fuzzy side. The hook side is stiff and rough.

~Rich

[restless]

That's what I would have thought too.. but apparantly hook side is good.
Not done it yet. I can check with original modder if anyone wants to know

[Hamin' X]

The mod has been discussed a number of times on the forum. It has always used the pile/fuzzy/loop side of the Velcro. I have not done this mod on my , so YMMV.

~Rich

[Hardcrab]

I have done this mod on my M exactly one year ago. I used the sticky backed pile side.
I'd give a hearty yes vote to anyone wanting to try this.
I'm not so sure the hook side would have worked out as good, but that's just a guess.
The hook side is to abrasive, I'd think.

Simple to do, and the results are perfect.
I was worried about the service life to this stuff, but so far, perfect.

If you don't like the thought or sound or the feel of the hatch grating on gel coat to gel coat, do this mod.
Cheap and simple and the results are more than well worth it.

I still grin every time I slide open the hatch and it just whispers along the tracks.

[c130king]

Does anyone have a picture of the problem and the velcro solution?

Thanks,
Jim

[Hardcrab]

c130king,
No pictures from my mod.
The problem is the lips on the sliding hatch just rub on the deck under the rail pieces.
This will rub through both surfaces with enough time, if you don't do something to stop it.
Lube isn't a good solution, it will just catch and hold sand etc. and speed up the process.
The gritty noise and the nasty feel of it finally got to me.
My white gel coat was also worn through pretty much along the whole path.
Did I say the noise and feel got to me?

Remove the electrical panel.
Look inside to see the aft most fastener for the port hatch rail piece.
Remove the next five liner plugs to access the rail fasteners for a total of six fasteners.
The rail material is somewhat soft so it easily bends and moves up out of the way so the hatch can slide aft and up to port and out of the track.
Easy, no need to lift the starboard track at all or the whole port track.

Go to walmart and get the white heavy duty velcro stuff, 2" wide and 60" long, about $7.00.
(Or the 1" wide stuff for a little more $ for two needed).
Get some good scissors and cut the pile side lengthwise the whole 60" to get two pieces 1" by 60" long.
Clean the hatch lip, underneath and on top, with achohol or something to get a good surface for the sticky stuff.
Mark the middle of the velcro strip ( 30"). Mark the middle of the hatch lip.(22" of the 44")
Line up the marks and stick the velcro on the underside of the hatch right at the edge.
This will leave about 6-8" of velcro overhang at both ends of the hatch.
Bend this overhang over to the top of the hatch lip at both ends.
Repeat for the other side.
Clean out the deck side under the rails.
Look at and be sad about the gel coat that has already been ground away.

Reinstall everything and reseal the fasteners with the goop of your choice.
I used a simple plumbers putty because I thought I'll need to replace the velcro once and awhile, so use nothing as aggressive as 5200.
Open and close the hatch and feel and hear the difference.
Try not to grinn so much.

These boats should come from the factory with something better than gel coat scraping on gel coat.
The velcro does that.
Perhaps there might be a better solution, but this works for me.

[c130king]

Thanks for those good instructions. I will give that a look when I get back to the States. Want to take my sliding hatch off anyway...need to clean the mildew growing on the underside.

Cheers,
Jim

[bubba]

Would cleaning the dust out of the track and keeping it waxed help too.

[Hardcrab]

I'd think it's prolly better than nothing, but not by much, IMHO.

Maybe the screeching and grinding does not bother some folks, but it sure got to me.
I was posting here a year ago fishing for better ideas than what I had come up with, and Hamin' X (I think) gave out the velcro answer.
I was on some kind of a "nylon to nylon" approach using thin nylon strips mounted to the hatch and deck, but the velcro idea was easier to do.
Thanks again, Hamin' X.

If the hatch bugs you half as much as it bugged me, try it out.
Phillips screwdriver, 3/8" deep socket, solvent, plumbers type soft set putty, the velcro, and a half day at most.
You will like the feel and sound of opening the hatch.

I was most worried about removing the rail, not knowing how good the factory sealant was going to hold.
I didn't want to break anything trying to get the rail off.
It's not 5200.
More of a softer type sealant.
No real grip at all, which is good in my book.
And then to discover that the whole rail didn't have to come off, just the aft most six screws (out of ten, I believe) was icing on the cake.

[Doug91mac26s]

The gel coat on my boat was worn thru the same as previously described. I removed my hatch completely and installed aluminum strips, 2 inches wide, 1/8" thick, the entire length of the track, covering the worn gel coat, so the damage can't be seen anymore, re-installed everything on top of the aluminum strip. So now the bottom of the hatch, gel coat rubs on the aluminum. That velcro still sounds like a good idea worth trying to make it slide smoother.

[iredrider1177]

what a great idea, velcro it is!!

[Hamin' X]

I'd love to take the credit for the idea, but I was just passing it along. I believe that Frank C. came up with the original, but that is what this forum is all about: Sharing ideas.

~Rich

[c130king]

In addition to cleaning the underside of the hatch when it is removed. I think that would be a good opportunity to "paint" the underside of the hatch with something so that it is easier to keep clean.