"Hatch will not slide rearward since forward lip of hatch will contact forward companionway opening curb." Woops, that's what I was missing. So cut-outs will stay. Thanks. -----Original Message----- From: Thomas Buzzi Sent: Monday, May 30, 2016 12:48 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: M17 hatch slides Stan, I made mine out of 3/4 inch kingboard. Hatch will not slide rearward since forward lip of hatch will contact forward companionway opening curb. I plan to glue some ensolite (back packer) foam to the inside of the forward "wall" of the hatch so when it is closed there will be a gasket of sorts to stop some of a wave which finds its way over the bows. The kingboard is tough, you can stand on those little slide tongues and not break them off ( I did that repeatedly) and you will have one less maintenance project down the line. Definitely worth doing. Kingboard works with wood tools and drills and cuts easily. Also used some scraps of kingboard left over to use as bases for turning blocks for the halyards when leading stuff back to the cockpit. I like being able to lift off the hatch in good weather so left the "notches" in the slides. Otherwise it is a crawl to get below. Another thing I did which helps MUCHO is install a hatch sliding support arm so I could hold open the forward hatch to catch wind or just air out the cabin. Works instantly. Another project well worth the couple hours effort. Fair winds, Tom B <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link> <#DDB4FAA8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Mon, May 30, 2016 at 11:01 AM, Stanley Wheatley <swwheatley@comcast.net> wrote:
Forty year old hatch slides suffered some damage during removal for refinishing (round head bolts in countersunk holes, go figure). Easier just to fab new ones. Questioning whether to omit cut-outs for hatch removal (see attachment). Can still slide hatch out the rear, pieces will be stronger and fab will be easier. What am I missing?