Sliding hatch removal

[Lance Jones]

Ok, I've tried Teflon  tape, strips of aluminum in the tracks and our hatch not only squeeeeeks -- it screams! I want to pull the hatch, clean the tracks and start all over again. Ron, did you suggest a plastic/lexan type liner? Now for the question, I looked through the posts for sliding hatch and companion way hatch and can't find info on how to remove the hatch. I know that Stu or Ron will immediately respond with the correct info from a previously posted comment or article. 

[Jim Hardesty]

Lance,
I did mine a couple of winters ago.  It was a real pain, but pretty simple.  I removed the traveler, a job in itself, then all the screws ( be sure mark positions  mine were different lengths), then cut the sealer around the seahood, then gently pried the seahood up. 
My hatch rubbed on the seahood and where it slides over the cabin top.  I sanded so it cleared both and only contacted on the tracks.   Reapplied Teflon tape.  Reassembled, then caulked.  Just caulk the seam when assembled, if you bed the seahood in to much it will be real difficult to remove next time.
The good news......it's worked great.....slides quietly and effortlessly.
Jim

[Wayne]

While I have a MKII, same problem and same solution.  The dealer pulled the seahood (twice!) and sanded to gain clearance.  It still isn't perfect, but at least very workable.

[Ken Krawford]

Lance, UHMW tape works great to facilitate sliding.  http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2000902/2000902.aspx

[lazybone]

Lance,  you won't have to remove the traveller.  Drill out the wood bungs, remove screws and the wood should pop off by sliding a putty knife under it.   There's a few screws around the edge of the spray cover and that's it.

[Ron Hill]

Lance : You don't have to remove anything. 
I first tried strips of Aluminum and they worked for a period of time before the squealing returned.
 
Then I cut 1" x 60" strips of Lexan(polycarbonate) and that did the job.  Just slip them under the MKI sliding hatch cover, screw them in at the cockpit end and the noise is gone.  Did that 10?15? years ago and they are still doing their job today.
Do not try acrylic as I'm afraid it will crack like acrylic does and then you'll really have to take the hatch apart to solve that mess.

[Lance Jones]

Thanks all! Ron, I thought it was lexan. Thanks.