Very Tight Main Hatch

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The sliding part of our main hatch is getting very difficult to move in the current hot weather in the south of the UK. In fact it only needs a hint of sun to make it very tight. 
Is removing it as simple as removing the screws/bolts that hold down the hatch garage, lifting that off, and then lifting out the hatch itself? I guess it only needs a couple of mm removing from one side. Is that easy with a normal sander at low speed or would it be better to take it to a specialist? If the latter, any suggestions around the Portsmouth area?
Thanks,
Andrew   

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BlueMan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 22 October 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 58	Post Options Post Reply Quote BlueMan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Very Tight Main Hatch Posted: 03 July 2006 at 16:08
	The sliding part of our main hatch is getting very difficult to move in the current hot weather in the south of the UK. In fact it only needs a hint of sun to make it very tight. Is removing it as simple as removing the screws/bolts that hold down the hatch garage, lifting that off, and then lifting out the hatch itself? I guess it only needs a couple of mm removing from one side. Is that easy with a normal sander at low speed or would it be better to take it to a specialist? If the latter, any suggestions around the Portsmouth area? Thanks, Andrew

Muscadet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 05 July 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 173	Post Options Post Reply Quote Muscadet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 July 2006 at 11:55
	Andrew, Undo the screws securing the garage and the hatch lifts out. I have had problems with the washboard jamming when it is hot but not the hatch. I did have a problem with the hatch sticking and making sqeaky noises when opening but this turned out to be sticky deposits on the grp under the hatch within the garage. I washed and polished the surface and now the hatch slides smoothly and silently again. If your problem is thermal expansion you will only need to remove a tiny amount of material from the sides - a fraction of a millimetre. You could sand it with a sanding block by hand which would avoid any possibility of heat building up. It's what I intend to do with my washboard (when I finally get around to it!) Regards Alan

Popeye Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 12 September 2005 Location: Mongolia Status: Offline Points: 322	Post Options Post Reply Quote Popeye Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 July 2006 at 11:04
	Power sanding with a belt sander is not a problem at all, with regard to heat. I know this from my work. When first sanding I would knock off a couple of millimeters, so you know it will be free from jamming for the next decade. Be aware that the plastic also absorbs moisture, so humid summers will further expand the plastic, as well as of course the temperature. Then on a dry cold winter it will shrink again. Basically the plastic is "alive" in the same manner as wood. Believe it or not !
	Popeye the sailorman

BlueMan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 22 October 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 58	Post Options Post Reply Quote BlueMan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 July 2006 at 22:25
	Thanks guys. Your advice is much appreciated. Regards, Andrew



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