Stop Screeching Companion Way Hatch Available Now

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mholzmann's picture
mholzmann
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Stop Screeching Companion Way Hatch Available Now

Screeching Companion Way Hatch?  Many years back Graham Mackay posted a solution to a screeching companionway hatch sliding against the cabin top.  I followed his instructions to the letter and it solved my problem.
New problem is I needed to buy a huge sheet of plastic 48" x 92" to get (2) 1"x 72" x 1/16.  So needless to say I have the ability to make a lot of strips.  If you have a screeching hatch  $15.00 paid to paypal will deliver a set of pre cut strips to your door.  These really work they install in minutes with no removal or alteration to the hatch assembly.  Please include your mailing address and email address.  www.paypal.me/markholzmann/15  Questions? email me at holzie at gmail dot com. https://youtu.be/1AOsPGluaDs 

https://youtu.be/ekbxBGqnxgI

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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bfissel
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I use "Japanese glide tape" from APS. Works great for last 8 years

Bill
2000 MKII
#1896 Sweet Caroline
Chesapeake Bay

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mholzmann
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There are lots of solutions out there!  The strips are easy because you just slide them in.  You don't even have to clean or take the old tape out.

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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Gsmith
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Posts: 117

Another source is McMaster Carr. Strips of UHMW sized at 1" x 1/16" are sold at less than $1 per ft

Gary Smith
93 MK I, Hull #1231
Std rig; wing keel
M35A Oberdorfer conversion
 

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mholzmann
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For what its worth the product you mention is not for outdoor use.  I think HDPE is better suited.

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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mholzmann
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Glenn McKay's post verbatum:

Simple.

I sourced two strips of polypropylene from a local plastics supplier. The dimensions were 1" wide by 72" long each. IIRC, the thickness was 1/16".

I slid the strips into the two grooves where the hatch bears on the coachroof - 30 seconds and no disassembly required. Sqeals gone 100%.

Two notes:
1. If you are extrememly anal, the length could be a little longer to exactly fit the groove, trim to fit but this will have no impact on performance.
2. Don't make the plastic strip any thicker, you are raising the hatch fractionally and may move the padlock hasp out of alignment.

In a perfect world, HDPE might be a better choice and a UV resistant variety of either plastic would be good but I don't think it really matters.

Cheers,
Graham
 

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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mholzmann
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So I now have streamlined the process if you want me to mail you a set of HDPE strips to stop the Companionway Screech.  Send me your physical address to holzie-at-gmail dot com and click the link below to my paypal account.   .  The crew at the C34.org crowd has been snapping these up.

http://paypal.me/markholzmann/15
 

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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Parsons
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Posts: 95

So what holds the plastic strips onto the coach roof slides so they don't just fall off or slide back when you open the companionway? Do you glue them or something?  Personally, I just put a little (a smear) of Marelon grease on the slide tapes a couple times a year, and remember not to put my hands on them while sailing.  Seems to eliminate any squeak.

John Parsons
"Water Music" 1999 Catalina 36 Mk II - Hull 1771
Tall Rig, Fin Keel
Bay City, MI, USA

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mholzmann
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I know on older Cat 36 that thetop hatch can slide beyond the bulkhead and hatch boards a few inches.  In 93 or later C36 Mk I and the Mk II the bulk head raises to create a stop to the slide channel and sea water is diverted to the side of the cabin roof rather than spilling backward to the cockpit and down the hatch.  The sliding hatch can't move forward beyond bulkhead and hatchboards.
This makes no adhesive required, but in earlier C36 I have seen friction hold strips in place but you could also use a 1.5" piece of double side adhesive foam tape, a dab of glue or a small shoulder screw with washer. 
Yeah, grease in the channel can work but A. Do it before the factory tape wears off or curls B. You don't mind the grease you get on your hands or perhaps clothing.  Like I have said before the strips just lay in and that's it.  No more maintenance other that rinse the channel from future sand or grit that inevitably gets in the channel.

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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Chachere
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I just installed a pair of the strips that Mark mailed to me and they work great. Instant relief from that horrid screech. I secured them from sliding by putting about an inch of butyl tape on the underside, so they stay in place but could easily be removed.

Thanks for taking this little project on, Mark!

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

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mholzmann
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Great to hear!! Glad to hear success!

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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Haro
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I put Lana-cote couple of years ago, it still works. Yes you have avoid putting your hand on it - you will get used to it fast...

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mholzmann
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Lana-cote shmana-cote! 
Clean your track and spend 15 bucks and no more greasy hands, LOL!!
Shipping included!!! 
Seriously its been a fun little project and I have talked with some nice people.  Between the C34 organization and C36 Assoc I have sent off about 10 sets so far in about 5 days. 

paypal.me/markholzmann/15
 

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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JAS
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Hi, I sent you an email, sent you paypal payment, and pm'd you on this site asking for confirmation, but have not heard back. Did you get my order ok?

Thanks, Joel Schwartz

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

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mholzmann
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Joel got it and will send on Monday. Weekends I'm out sailing. 

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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JAS
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Thank you, sir. Glad to hear you are out enjoying your boat, I know I am!

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

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mholzmann
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Bump

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

Pelican
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Posts: 34

Hi Mark,

My hatch has never made a sound until this week. Oh my, what a noise! Happy to have found this thread. PM'ed you and sent money. Thank you for going to the trouble to make this easy.

Cheers,
PO

Paul O,
S/V Pelican
1989 Catalina 36  Mk I  #894
Oceanside, California
 

BuddyJim
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Posts: 8

Got mine last week and installed them this weekend. Worked great. My wife says thanks! Best $12 I've ever spent.

Jim

Jim Peter
Rambler
Douglas Mi. (Lake Michigan)
1985 Hull#486

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mholzmann
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Glad to hear it worked for you as well.  It is so funny that such a chronic problem in most of the Catalina Sailboat line has such a simple fix.  I have delivered over 20 sets to C34 and C36 owners and have one set remaining.  Its been really fun helping folks out there with an annoying problem!!

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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Glad to hear it worked for you as well.  It is so funny that such a chronic problem in most of the Catalina Sailboat line has such a simple fix.  I have delivered over 20 sets to C34 and C36 owners and have one set remaining.  Its been really fun helping folks out there with an annoying problem!!

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

jhenderson
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Posts: 81

Oh man, simple and easy. My wife and the people in the boats near us thank you! 

Hummina
1987 Catalina 36 MKI
#741
Bayfield, WI. Usually. 

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mholzmann
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Due to requests I re cut another 22 sets click link for payment and send address to Holzie at gmail dot com

www.paypal.me/markholzmann/15

 

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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mholzmann
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[quote=jhenderson]Oh man, simple and easy. My wife and the people in the boats near us thank you! [/quote]

I know, right? Way to simple. People want to
take apart, redo tape, lubricate every year. Fahgetabowdit!!

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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JAS
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Just put mine in...and I love them! Easiest imaginable installation, perfect glide (just the right amount of resistance), and the screech is gone! Thank you!

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

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mholzmann
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[quote=JAS]Just put mine in...and I love them! Easiest imaginable installation, perfect glide (just the right amount of resistance), and the screech is gone! Thank you![/quote]

This is great to hear.  Thanks for the testimonial!!   LOL

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

William Miller
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Posts: 294

Went sailing wife went with me she asked why we had not done this before

Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1

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mholzmann
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Tell her you were waiting for some nut to buy a 4'x8' sheet of plastic and cut it into 42 strips 1" wide. LOL

Mark Holzmann
"Hawkwind"
Sail #1246
Rose City Yacht Club-Portland OR

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