I have had pretty good success...

Posted By: Mark N, Nimble Arctic, Jax FL
Date: 6/23/07 6:27a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Hatch slides (Jim Bailey, Mobile, Alabama)

Like both of you, the nylon slides under my hatch have started to break down. This has manifested itself with the nylon breaking at the location of the screw holes leaving me with approx 6" pieces coming loose. As an interim measure, I started using a little silicon to hold the loose pieces in place. Initially, this was going to be a temporary measure until I had the time to take the teak off so I could repair it to factory original, but two years later the silicon is still holding. Given how successful the silicon has been, my plan is now to remove the old slide material and leave the original screws in place. I will then cut the replacement material in lengths so that it just fits between the screw heads (I will actually make a countersunk slot on one end so that the pieces will slide under the screws) and use silicon to hold them in place. This approach will mean that I do not have to remove the teak parts of the slide and avoids all of the associated work/problems. I have not yet found the replacement material but I have not really been looking. If anybody finds it, please le me know. OBTW, the same material is used on the sides (inside) of my tabenackle. I will probably replace that at the same time.