RobertB wrote:I have used the sticky back Velcro solution for two years now with no problems. To me, the key is to use a good product and prepare the surfaces correctly.
Even the good stuff will relent in the Arizona heat and then an adhesive slime captures all of the nearby crud.
I love the stuff but, hard-mounted Velcro is best in the desert Southwest.
RobertB wrote:I have used the sticky back Velcro solution for two years now with no problems. To me, the key is to use a good product and prepare the surfaces correctly.
Even the good stuff will relent in the Arizona heat and then an adhesive slime captures all of the nearby crud.
I love the stuff but, hard-mounted Velcro is best in the desert Southwest.
Agreed - and NEVER use the stuff near a window that gets direct sun or that "slime" stuff will actually drip! Yuk! And try to clean that stuff off vinyl! Impossible! It melts in Arizona, in Utah, in Texas, in New Mexico heck - the stuff even melted in New York a summer ago because it was 90 degrees - I just can't dodge all the hot places enough to relay on sticky back velcro so I just don't use it. Great stuff, but not in the heat.
The tats have the have hatch covers. And after 36 hours of ownership we are already planning that mod.
(Found this thread while looking for crock pot meals, by the way, and only BOAT's fondu had a hit. But sure glad it did for the design of the hatch covers.)
Another option, which was simple, quick and cheap.
I just glued and screwed some Pine battens across them which means they can no longer slide around, and don't collapse in as they can handle enough weight.
Mac26Mpaul wrote:Another option, which was simple, quick and cheap.
I just glued and screwed some Pine battens across them which means they can no longer slide around, and don't collapse in as they can handle enough weight.
And I suppose the cross pieces cut to the right length will actually make the covers fit in place properly. It doesn't seems like a one of them sits perfectly in the grooves.
And, nearly every one has a piece of velco that has come off the hatch or boat and is attached to its partner instead.
I cut some out of Mahogany plywood and replaced the two that are nearest the ladder and seem to take the most load. Works well. The pine batten idea I might pirate for the remainder.
Ix.
Mac26Mpaul wrote:Another option, which was simple, quick and cheap.
I just glued and screwed some Pine battens across them which means they can no longer slide around, and don't collapse in as they can handle enough weight.
Way better than the bolt and hole setup the factory uses....
The bolt and hole stops forward/aft movement and the battens are cut to just fit in so they stop sideways movement. I have a piece of outdoor carpet over the lot. It works fine and took about half an hour and then a lick of white paint to match the hatch covers. Was well worth it.
Of course you could add a forward/aft batten for even more support and then you wouldn't need the bolt and hole deal at all, but I find it works just fine like that.
For the rear berth covers, I cut some plywood the size of the opening and screwed it to the bottom of the covers. They can now take my weight as I move around back there. I will steal the batten idea for the remainder of the hatches. Also, I lined the edges of all the openings (downward facing edges) on all the compartments with a press on door guard to prevent the rough edges from cutting up hands/bags and equipment as they get pulled out. The door guard is a black u-channel oversized truck product that just fits over the edge and stays in place with a built in adhesive in the channel. No more compartment rash
