J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Sliding Hatch U channel

Have to replace the U channel for the sliding hatch ... anyone have a lead on that plastic piece?

Vic
#505

PS If you pass through Naples this winter ... you are invited to an afternoon sail on Vee Jay.

Vic - it's available from TPI. There's also an old thread here that discusses using aluminum channel you can buy at Home Depot. https://j30.us/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2374/Companionway_hatch_track.html#Post2374

Bill

This is the second time in the last couple of months that "our old company" has kissed me off looking for our antique parts:

""Mr. Farmer,
Unfortunately we do not carry that part any longer.Regards, Isa Sanchez
Customer Service Representative
Pearson Composites, LLC
Phone: 401-247-1050""

I looked at the aluminium c channel at Home Depot and it just didn't look great ... will have to think about this some more.

Vic
#505

Barbour Plastics, Inc. have the hatch slides. http://www.barbourcorp.com/marine-products.htm

Koos - good info. I looked around the web site and couldn't find it until I download the catalog. Vic - look on the bottom half of page 23 for the hatch slides.
http://www.barbourcorp.com/pdf/marine_catalog.pdf

Just another line on my to-do list for Rhapsody!


Bill

[This message has been edited by Rhapsody #348 (edited 12-03-2007).]

A member of my crew machined some aluminum U channel for me. Looks great, doesn't break or bend like the original plastic.

The PVC channel is about $2.50 a ft in 5 ft lengths ... BUT a $100 minimum order ... They are trying to find out for me who bought them last to see if there is a retailer.

we shall see ... somewhere we need to put together an inventory of parts ... one person with extra this ... one person with extra that.

Vic
#505

Does anyone have a pic of the aluminum on their boat?
Aluminum sounds nicer then plastic to me (as the plastic seems proned to braking) but there was mention of it looking bad.

Contact TPI again, but ask for the J-105 plastic extrusion. It is the same as J-30 but about 3 inches longer. With shipping it is about $50 to your door.

Here is email quote from TPI's Isa Sanchez "We can send you two hatch slide extrusions (#32009)that we use on the J105s; I am not sure what was used on the J30s but you seem to believe it is the same part."

I used some cheap aluminum channel from Home Depot and installed two years ago. Cut it to length and used a grinder/dremel tool to contour the cockpint-end to match the profile of the hatch around it. Looks fine and would send a photo but for the 3-4' of snow in the club's yard.

If you go this route, be careful to match the exact fastener size of the screws holding the aluminum in place - I inadvertently went a wee-bit larger and it cracked the gel-coat.

Also, take some time to *really* countersink the screw heads in to the aluminum - mine stick out slightly and it makes the hatch rattle when it slides.

If you're really keen to see the pics, let me know and I will snap a pic the next time I check on the tarp....