I've used the paper towel stuff that Tod mentioned, probably got the idea from him. I noticed that another source of mosquito entry is the forward end of the hatch. Whether open or closed those persistent little guys find a way in through the gaps under the slide. I tried taking off the sliding hatch and putting a piece of stick on foam between the hatch flange and the hatch stop (on cabin top). This was moderately successful, but not 100% effective and made it difficult to close the hatch all the way to cover the drop boards. On my new boat I installed stick on Velcro on the interior all around the hatch (13 feet). Then we made screen with Velcro around the perimeter. Laboratory (my back yard) trials look promising. The cabin interior is completely sealed off from outside regardless of the position of the hatch slide. One downside to this method is you have to buy two sets of whatever length of Velcro you need. You see, you can't use "Stick On Velcro" to sew on to fabric. My wife developed a major attitude when the glue started to gum up the needle and bobbin of her quilting machine. I almost lost my labor force. So you must use one side that is sewable and the other side stick-on. I found a place that sold separate strips of either hook or loop in either sewable or stick-on, but you needed to buy it large quantities. rick Suncat #387 "Seaweed" M15 #337 "Bluebird" (I know she's sold, but she still feels like my boat) From: "Tod" <htmills@zoominternet.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Gaps in hatch cover Message-ID: <000b01cc32f9$c900f370$5b02da50$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" When sailing, I stuff a piece of paper towel in the opening to keep out mosquitoes. I suppose you could use a bit of plastic (stuff a paper towel in a baggie?) Tod

-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tom and Susan Wilkinson Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2011 12:38 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Gaps in hatch cover

Does anyone have ways to close the gaps in the hatch cover at the ends of the cover runners. Critters and weather like to get in through these gaps. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

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------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:30:37 -0400 From: Michael Murphy <mikeandpaula48@gmail.com> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Gaps in hatch cover Message-ID: <BANLkTimVU-rpAw67biJZ+Xe_k-AqDmXLCg@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I've cut off about 3 " from the end of a foam pool noodle. Next I quartered it into a piece that stuffs into the gaps on the sides. Stays for for about 10 launches or 300 miles. Other pieces of the noodle are used for lightweight anchor floats. On 6/25/11, Tod <htmills@zoominternet.net> wrote:

When sailing, I stuff a piece of paper towel in the opening to keep out mosquitoes. I suppose you could use a bit of plastic (stuff a paper towel in a baggie?)

Tod

...

-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tom and Susan Wilkinson Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2011 12:38 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Gaps in hatch cover

Does anyone have ways to close the gaps in the hatch cover at the ends of the cover runners. Critters and weather like to get in through these gaps. _______________________________________________ h