I am in Québec City, not far from you ! I may be interested to see pictures and maybe do the same.
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I too changed the sliding hatch cover by simply painting it the same nonskid as the rest of the deck. Looks great and safer too. Since the teak trim piece was the only remaining piece of teak on the boat, I painted it too, Awlgrip, Off White like the rest of the topsides and cabin sides. On the interior I painted it, the hatch cover, with the Pettit Off White interior paint along with the rest of the headliner. I also have clear lexan hatch boards to allow for plenty of light.
+1. I'm quite interested in how you did the acrylic sliding hatch. In the Pacific Northwest, there are more days than not where LOTS of light is very desirable... ;-)
What have you guys been replacing the sliders on either side of the hatch with? Mine is broke on one side. Also, other than painting the hatch, what have other sailors been doing with the orangish colored plexiglass?
had break in at city dock a few years ago ... damaged one track toward the bulkhead.
dremel/knife cut square end ... got one length of extrusion [~ 6 ft.] used for J105, if I remember right. this was when TPI was still marginally in the J business.
somewhere there is a post on this site.
butted up the new piece to the old piece ... now three years later no problem ... I'm thinking taking the cover off is just going to get to be a real hassle.
I now have spare piece ... but that's staying in my inventory.