Sliding Hatch Cover Security
After towing Minke home from the Gippsland Lakes on Tuesday in Gail Force North West Winds, we discovered that our sliding hacth had been torn off the cabin roof in transit. We had no idea it had happened until we went to unpack the boat some 30 minutes after arriving home and unhitching the trailer.
I had noticed that the screws on the front track Starboard side were loose because the holes were stripped out and a mental note to repair the holes and fit new screws had been made. I got quite a suprise when I climbed into th cockpit to unpack and was staring at a large square opening where my hatch used to be. The two screws mentioned were missing and the track still holding by its center screw was at right angles. I can only imagine the screws falling out and the wind pressure lifting the track upwards and sidewards. This owuld have allowed the hatch to lift on one side at the front and the wind blasting in from this side of the highway would have literally torn the hatch from the cabin roof.
If there was a vehicle behind me whose driver and occupants experienced my hatch cover bouncing off their bonnet and windscreen I humbly apologise. No accidenst were reported and no one that overtook me indicated anything was amiss. Hopefull no one was injured.
I guess this is a warning that if your track screws are not secure this is what can happen in extremely high winds.
Paul Jenkins.
|
Re: Sliding Hatch Cover Security
I am pleased to report that a new sliding hatch has been produced and purchased and after a fair bit of trimming (grinding and cutting) to fit, the tracks have been refitted more securely and the finished job is as new as you can get. One thing that you need to realise is that even though every job pulled out of a the same mold is the same, the hardware and how it is fitted to each boat is different. Also moulds have flanges and the job when pulled has a fair amount of excess GRP that must be carefully cut off and then trimmed very carefully and fitted to ensure it fits the boat and hardware correctly. It would be easy for the novice to cut too much off and ruin the whole job and be forced to have a new one made again. Its easy to cut GRP off but a bit difficult to put it back if you take too much off.
A job best left to someone that knows how to do it!
Paul Jenkins.
|
Back to thread list •
Go to previous thread •
Go to next thread
|
