Hatch runners - best replacement

dgadee

dgadee

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I have just got the hatch garage off through a combination of intelligence and brute force (it was screwed and glued with mastic) and now the next step is to replace the tufnol sliders which the hatch runs on. What is the current thinking on this - nylon or what?
 
I replaced the nylon ones, which had disintegrated, on my boat with tufnol. I only changed because that's what I had to hand at the time. Ten years later it's still fine.
 
Tufnol it'll be then. The present ones are well worn (with a curved top now) so need replacing. What kind of supplier would do tufnol strip? I did a quick look online and can really only see sheet, rod etc.
 
My original runners were Tufnol but needed replacing. They were 3mm thick and each was in two lengths butted together. The join didn't seem to cause any problems.

I bought a 3mm thick sheet from Direct Plastics http://www.directplastics.co.uk/tufnol-sheet/ and cut it myself. There are various grades of Tufnol. I believe I chose Whale grade because of its wear resistant properties (it's cloth based rather than paper).
 
nigelmercier said:
I need to do the same, but I was thinking that a 45° join would be better? I want white ones though, any thoughts?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I think the OP got his answer.
Click to expand...

I used white acetyl runners once, it was a disaster, not enough friction, hatch kept slamming back and forth in the slightest chop.

Plank
 
Last edited:
nigelmercier said:
I need to do the same, but I was thinking that a 45° join would be better? I want white ones though, any thoughts?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I think the OP got his answer.
Click to expand...


I replaced mine with white low friction sliders form Axminster Tools

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminste...onid=e1a83d7524e73df4c6f3255506353f66fdb93d57

Fixed them on hatch and installed 3mm S/S on coachroof, created and incorparated some friction, so when hatch is open so stays open no problems, but it slides like a dream with no screeching as before, Fibre glass on fibre glass e-e-e-k.
 
xeitosaphil said:
I replaced mine with white low friction sliders form Axminster Tools

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminste...onid=e1a83d7524e73df4c6f3255506353f66fdb93d57

Fixed them on hatch and installed 3mm S/S on coachroof, created and incorparated some friction, so when hatch is open so stays open no problems, but it slides like a dream with no screeching as before, Fibre glass on fibre glass e-e-e-k.
Click to expand...

?PTFE? - expensive to source, distorts easily, but superb low friction.

I'd hesitate to use as hatch-track, one good wrench with a lever and it'd pull off (and have you ever had a hatch caught by a loop of mainsheet on a gybe?).
 
charles_reed said:
?PTFE? - expensive to source, distorts easily, but superb low friction.

I'd hesitate to use as hatch-track, one good wrench with a lever and it'd pull off (and have you ever had a hatch caught by a loop of mainsheet on a gybe?).
Click to expand...

At £6.65inc vat + postage- see link, I don't see that as expensive and I found it easier to source than Tufnol.

" have you ever had a hatch caught by a loop of mainsheet on a gybe?).[/QUOTE] "

No I haven't - perhaps I have been lucky?

" I'd hesitate to use as hatch-track, one good wrench with a lever and it'd pull off "

My hatch is held on with rebated iroko strips bolted to coach ,also hatch is well recessed under sprayhood roof so not very likely!
 
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