Hatch Slides

[smithy]

One of my companionway hatch slides has the internal part missing, it was like that when I bought the boat. Its a dovetail/"T" shaped aluminium extrusion. Anyone know where I can source the missing bit or buy similar type slides?

 

[Rigger Mortice]

My chart table slides out of the way into the quarter berth on similar(ish) track. I made new slides out of a bit of delrin or polyethylene (can't remember which I used, but delrin would probably be preferable).

 

[Poignard]

It's probably a length of mast track. If you google 'mast track' you might find some, eg:

http://www.allenbrothers.co.uk/item.asp?prod_id=98&cat_id=10

 

[smithy]

Have checked out the link and it does indeed look like mast track. What I need is a profile the length of the hatch that will fit inside this.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Years ago there was a brass 'T' shaped mast track on which external sliders were fitted on the sail, which was screwed to a wooden mast. Would a section like that be suitable - you may have to add a spacer to allow it to slide easily.
Or could you adapt several plastic sail slides to slide in the track?
OR remove the track on the other side and try a supplier of aluminium extrusions?

 

[ianat182]

I'd guess that the 'tee' extrusion is probably only a short length for your hatch. An email to Trafalgar Yachts chandlery at Fareham who stock spares for most of the Westerly range could prove useful, else a call to the Chandlery Barge at Bursledon may have some in stock possibly in Tufnol, but you'll need the dimensions of the slot to quote them. They may even have originals in their aladdin's cave of old and new stock. Both on the 'net for contact details.

ianat182

 

[smithy]

Thanks for the replies, have tried some of the extrusion suppliers but no luck. I think
PetiteFleur's idea of using the sail slides might be an idea. If I can get the right size I could attach several of them to the underside, probably less friction than the original.

 

[alahol2]

I think I had something similar on a previous boat. I'm sure the slide on the hatch was just a piece of brass strip, which slid inside the track, screwed to a square sectioned strip of tufnol that spaced it from the actual hatch. Does that make sense?

 

[estarzinger]

If I can get the right size I could attach several of them to the underside, probably less friction than the original.

It will be more watertight, when hit by a wave, if you use one continuous length . . . but it may not matter depending on the type of sailing you do.

 

[smithy]

It will be more watertight, when hit by a wave, if you use one continuous length . . . but it may not matter depending on the type of sailing you do.

Jeez don't usually heel it over that far Will make something up out of tufnol If I have to, was just looking for an easier way out, but then when does that ever happen on a boat!