MacGregorSailors.com

Thanks for info that my SKU at Home Depot for the hatch slide material was incorrect and needed a 7 in front and a 4 in the back. I have corrected my mod.
To tell the truth, why did Macgregor put 2 F/G materials together like that? One has to wear away and it is the softer gel coat. All it needed was a small piece of plastic between the 2. I would like to tell roger about this problem and the solution.

Simple. It's all about the $$.

$3.00 for each set of slides + $5.00 to install x 600 boats per year x 35 years of production = $315,000

It all adds up.

To quote the late eminient Senator Everett Dirkson, “A billion here and a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."

kmclemore wrote:Simple. It's all about the $$.

$3.00 for each set of slides + $5.00 to install x 600 boats per year x 35 years of production = $315,000

It all adds up

That's also short sighted thinking. Of course when Roger can sell every boat he builds this thinking doesn't hurt him.

A hatch is like the front door of your home. Every real estate agent worth their salt will tell you about first impressions and your front door.
In 1975 My father bought a new Hunter 30, but almost didn't because the hatches were garbage and turned him off about the boat. This was a Cherubini designed boat and one of my favorite boats of all time that handled so well. But the hatches rubbed on fiberglass like the Mac and were the first impression when you climbed below. The Mac hatch is much better quality, I was afraid I'd step right through those old Hunter hatches. Later, Hunter moved to Florida and greatly improved their craftsmanship.

The nice thing about a Mac is it's easy to upgrade simple things like sliders on the hatch. But as a new boat, it is pretty bare. Another good reason to buy a used on that has been "fixed".

--Russ

Group 1: Members have "Disposable society syndrome" ... easily recognised by the compulsion that "Things must wear our to buy a new one, they update cars, games consoles, partners, etc when they get bored with the previous model, Group 1 members also overlap into the "Look at me" group.

Group 2: Members of this forum ... recognised as people who strive to improve what they have by modifying built in redundancies in the products they own ... eg: we're not members of group 1

Glenn

could not find the part at HD...
733213004304

did not work...

The bar code number you listed is the correct number. The individual who inserted this number into their computer system obviously mistyped a digit.

I think you can buy white Teflon tape from your aviation shop to put on the deck slides. Ill check it out and let you know.
Cheers DAZ.

BrazDaz wrote:I think you can buy white Teflon tape from your aviation shop to put on the deck slides. Ill check it out and let you know.
Cheers DAZ.

Yes you can, I have done that. (OK I did not buy it, it was some tape that had expired its "Shelf Life" so we could not use it on an aircraft)

Here is probably the best place to get some.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cs/tape.html

I watched the fellow put the number in (I had wrote it down) - and we checked it.

I do wonder if it was just "not available" at that store. I suspect that may be a part of the story...

It's a good idea - and the tape it too...

Well... back to the boat and more mods!!!!

thanks for posting!!

--jr

I tried looking up that part number on the Home Depot website and it doesn't come up with a match. Searched for the Jeld-Wen skin strip - nothing. Will have to go look for it at the store myself.

..................
Went to Home Depot tonite with part number & description. The door salesman could not find the 733213004304 number in the HD computer, nor was he aware of any Jeld-Wen product by the description of 12' x 1.5" 'plastic door siding' or 'trim'. As an alternative, I surveyed the vinyl siding products as well as the drywall corner beads (plastic). These products look promising for this application too.

Couldn't find the product in the UPC Database either.

A soft velcro dot in each corner does the trick, installed with a butter knife on the front edge, just pull the hatch back for the rear.
Cheers Daz

I used the pile side of 1" velcro sticky back. I was able to slide the velcro under the hatch, fully opened, enough to get a good lead, then just press in place with butter knife. Then closed the hatch fully and did the same thing until the 2 pieces of pile came together. Seems to work quite well and is very quiet to open and close the hatch..

I have been thinking of something for this too - but doesn't just putting dots on it and raising the hatch up slightly open up a leak path that is at least "sort of" closed when the hatch is riding right on the top? I'm looking at this hard because I'm looking at the whole "weatherproofing the companionway and hatch" part of the boat right now...

Don't think there is a problem with leaks. The superstructure of the cabin raises up underneath the sliding hatch a few inches. Dont think there's a way rain water would overtake that lip in the superstructure.

Several rain storms, and even some tornadoes close by,, and the bilge is still dry.

On anchor, on our , we find that opening the slider about 4 inches makes a nice dorade, directing fresh air down into cabin salon. I put Velcro under the sliders to stop the screeching