Hatch Scratch Fever

[mholzmann]

Outbreaks of Hatch Scratch Fever are now being reported. This inevitability happens every spring and seem to last primarily through the Summer months. Symptoms are shrugging of shoulders and facial cringe when sliding the companionway sliding hatch on various Catalina Sailboats made prior to 1995. This can be quite insidious as it affects crew members and dock neighbors almost as seriously. There is a cure and 150 case studies so far have shown treatment  has shown to have 99% efficacy.

https://youtu.be/1AOsPGluaDs

[mark_53]

Thanks Mark.  Mine are working fine.  The only thing I would add is the strips need be secured with short flathead screws.  Some reported the strips staying put without screws but if do slide, you will have to remove the hatch to retrieve.  Also, the latch to lock the hatch no longer lined up vertically requiring a slight lift of the hatch in order to close.  All in all, this is an excellent upgrade.  That squealing sound was horrible.

[Ron Hill]

Guys : There are a number of "Squeaky Hatch" solutions on this site as well as in the Mainsheet tech notes.
I first added an Al 5' strips 25 years ago and then changed to a Lexan strips later - anything to keep the fiberglass from sliding over fiberglass!!

I would not recommend any kind of "slippery" strip in that track that is NOT secured with a small flat head screw!!

A few thoughts