Sliding hatch sticking

[NigelBirch]

my acrylic hatch (in aluminium runners) seems to be getting more difficult to slide. What's the best stuff to use to grease it with?

cheers

 

[Achilles]

I use silicon grease which works well.

 

[lw395]

Any wax polish should be ok.
You may find that the hatch should actually slide on sort of brush strip or fabric inserts, does any one know where these can be got from?
Cheers,

 

[Jonny_H]

Any grease works well, but beware this is where we normally put our hands when climbing down the compaionway and the result is nice dirty lines across the palm of your hand and on anything you subsequently touch.

We found WD40 run it back and forth to get rid of the grit etc and then clean thoroughly afterwards works ok.

Jonny

 

[sarabande]

Lakeland Plastics have a small stick of silicone which is used to help drawers slide easily.

Failing that - candle wax - just rub a candle along the slide. Non-greasy too !

 

[wongaero]

silicone spray works on mine, the good thing is that unlike grease there's no solid residue to get everywhere...

 

[Alfie168]

Candle wax gets my vote. Just rub a candle up and down the track/ hatch edge. Its cheap, stays put, doesn't attract dirt/grit, doesn't mark your clothes unless you are really determined with them.

Tim

 

[Amulet]

By far the best in my opinion: dry lubricant spray - ptfe or teflon. Absolutely clean. Use it on your mast track too - don't even think it harms your sails. Mine is usually bought for lubricating router cutters and turning tools from places like www.axminster.co.uk or good tool shops.

 

[sailorman]

my hatch gets "tight" when the ambiant temp drops
when it runs free you know its warm /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif