New sliders

Just to prove that I have been doing something constructive, rather than just watching sunsets and poking around washed up boats, here are my new sliders.

In the end I made them from the aluminium plate that I had in the garage. It was 10mm thick so, using a hacksaw, I cut some strips a bit wider than required. I then cut the strips to length and then carefully  cut the edges out. A massive amount of filing and fettling followed. It took about five hours to make these four so quite a lot of time for someting that won't be seen but that's just the way it goes. :~))

All I need to do now is drill and tap the screw holes and refit the hatch.

I have an ever growing list of things to do.

• Finish sail cover (Need Zip and fastenings)
• Make dodgers
• Fit rope clutch
• Fit winches (I bought them at a boat jumble about 4 years ago and they are still in the garage).
• Fit downhaul for jib and lead back to cockpit.
• Sort out better Anchor stowage on foredeck.
• Fit access hatch in cockpit to access quarter berths. (Store Warps and fenders)
• Possibly fit boarding ladder (Might just get a step fender)
• Possibly fit work light to mast to aid picking up mooring bouy at night (Saw this on washed up Hurley).
• Find easier way to reef main.
• Make lazy jacks system

Some need to be done, some would be just nice to do and some will never get mentioned again ;~))

Slider drawings

These are the drawings for the forward sliders. The rear sliders a 53mm in length but have the same pitch for the screw holes.  I have found a 10mm ali plate in the garage, that I used to repair my mast foot, so I will probably make some out of that. I have included a recess at the end of each screw hole for the nut to fit into but if I am going to use the Ali plate then I will just tap a tread into the plate. I'll let you know how I get on... otherwise I'll go back to Steves plan, which is probably better.

Hatch sliders

During the summer, every time I looked across the companion way hatch the rusty screw heads on the hatch would wind me up. Any fastener on a boat should be stainless as all other metals will just disolve or go furry.Fortunately I had the good sense to leave well alone until the end of the season.


It was a real struggle to get these apart without damaging the fibre glass. The sliders are a mixture of what looks like perspex and Tufnol so have probably been replaced at some time in the past. Also bourne out by the saw marks on the GRP around the screw heads.
What I need to know now is, is there an off the self replacement for these or do I need to fabricate new ones.
And if so what out off? Tufnol, Acetal, Aluminium or something else. The runners are aluminium so I'm assuming they will need to be made of something softer. The bolts will certainly have to be A4 Stainless.

Any suggestions gratefully accepted.