lubricant for top hatch sliding

[rpasca02]

Before experimenting with oil or anything, I thought I would ask - does anyone have any suggestions on how they stop their top hatch from squealing when you push it back and forth on the tracks on each side? I usually adjust it when loading/unloading things before a sail and sometime during to get privacy. It gives a hearty 'screach'. Thanks.

[raycarlson]

velcro loop

[chuck]

I use Dry Lub. I also use it on my Sail Slot in the mast and boom, all my blocks, galley slides, rotating mast etc.

Chuck

[opie]

Hi,
I had the terrible sound on my slider with fiberglass being worn away each time. After reading here about using 6 1/2 feet per side of Wal-Mart Velcro, 2" cut to one inch, I tackled the project yesterday. All done in two hours and what a sweet sound! Lubrication, I tried last year and that collected sand and dirt has made things worse.
Some suggestions:
1. I only took out 1/2 the bolts on port side starting on the aft end. That included loosening only the bolt that held the grab cleat near the aft end.. In other words I did removed bolts up to the bolt that exists just aft of the first jib track larger bolt. Just the bolts aft of that one. Then with the slider fully closed I pulled the cover strip back and tilted the entire slider hatch up and out without having to do anything to the starboard cover strip at all.
2. Note that to get to the port side last bolts you have to put your whole hand into the fuse box opening.
3. Use a 3/8" deep socket on the under nuts and a Phillips screwdriver on the top head of the bolt.
4. Check very carefully for holes in the damaged hull where the slider may have worn thru. Use a magnifying glass and flashlight. I did not have holes (yet). But if you find holes, you will have to go all the way and remove the whole strip by removing all bolts.
5. I cleaned all surfaces with acetone (actually fingernail polish remover).
6. I cut the 2 inch Velcro in half with a razor blade. Do not use scissors as they will clog and mess up the backing paper. In my case I used 5 feet of hook and 1 1/2 feet of loop since I bought a five foot box by mistake.
7. I carefully applied the Velcro by laying it down and removing he backing a very little bit at a time.
8. Done.
9. Replaced the hatch and stood on it on all points of movement so as to bed the glue.
10. Replaced the cover strip and all bolts using putty at screw holes.

Ps... While hatch was off I turned it upsidedown and scrubbed it with 50% bleach and water. LOOKS BRAND NEW!

Thank you very much to the originators of this Velcro idea. I never would have thought of it. There are nice pictures on those detailed threads in the archives.
(On edit, fixed length typo)

[bradhill]

Like many others, I tried various lubes to rid my of the dinosaur roar everytime I opend the sliding hatch. My final solution, the one that has worked for three years, was a $2.00 purchase from Harbor Freight. They have oblong felt pads with pre-applied adhesive tape on one side. Two pads on each side a few inches apart have worked well for three years. These were placed in the valley on the boat for the hatch to ride on. I only needed to place them towards the aft-end of the hatch area. I will probably have to use a few more from the original puchase next year to replace the now worn felt.

My wife now gets to sleep in and those in nearby slips don't get to complain anymore.

[Wind Chime]

bradhill,

Did you put the felt on the hatch itself, or on the deck?

For those people that have put velcro it on the deck,
I have been wondering, why have you not just put it on the underside of the hatch cover?

[Wbarchard]

I did this a few years ago--using the velcro
You do not have to undo the bolts--just pull the hatch back sharply and it will jump off the end
Apply a velco strip on each side on the boat with the loop side up facsing the hatch
replace the hatch the same way!!

[MAC-A-TAC]

Hello rpasca02,

I addressed the same problem on MAC-A-TAC by removing the sliding hatch as described in the previous post, but what I used was a form of "slick tape". The following link will show you exactly what I purchased and have been using problem free for over two years. I applied the product to the deck not the hatch.

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Slick_ ... esive-Tape

MAC Out.

[Ormonddude]

OK maybe I am just a simple guy but I was going to suggest rubbing some parrafin wax on the slides but you guys really take it to the next level and then outer space lol happy sailing