[dmkey]

Hi Gang

One of the little edges that holds the cabin top into the sliding slot has broken off, and I’m trying to think about how to repair it.

I see that Jim of Jim’s Little Boat has a video on YouTube about repairing a little piece missing from his.Aside from the fact that the edge on mine is complete separated from the cabin top, it’s not in bad shape.
I see that Jim fixed his using some fiberglass and epoxy. I think I’ll give that a try. I see that he used wax paper to line his work surface. Does epoxy not stick to wax paper? I’ll Google that.

We brought the boat to our marina for seasonal haul out this past weekend, maybe I’ll mosey on back there and replace the cabin top with a tarp, and then I can work on the top during the off season.

I’ll try to post pictures. Your encouragement and advice would be appreciated.
Regards
Dmkey

 

[Sailormon6]

As they age, the C25s have the same problem. Here are two links to discussions that you might find helpful.
Association Forum - Main hatch slides repair?
Association Forum - Here's a repair for you sliding hatch

 

[AWT2_Sail]

Is it a fiberglass edge? Should be a simple repair.

 

[Sailormon6]

Is it a fiberglass edge? Should be a simple repair.

You'd think so, but it's a thin structure with an approximately right angle that has to be able to support weight and there isn't much surface area to bond the new glass to. It's do-able, but not simple.

 

[mal5033]

I've not yet tried it, but I keep reading about super glue and baking soda for some repairs. I know you can use it on a guitar nut and it builds up pretty bulletproof.

 

[dmkey]

Thanks, Sailormon I like those links. I think the first one is more instructive, and I'm looking forward to doing that job. As I mentioned, Jim's video is instructive as well. I may try adding the chair slides... I'll do something preventative for sure. I guess another option is to replace the weather board at the aft end. I presume that's what's worn down, but there must be something missing from the forward end too. When the cabin top is closed, there may be a little give in the shape of the hatch, particularly when standing on it, that puts pressure on those flanges, unless there's something at the forward end holding the hole top up off the flanges. My cabin top has four or five screws in a line about 2 inches or so from the forward edge of the cabin top that don't appear to be holding anything. Is something supposed to be there?

 

[dmkey]

I’ve pulled the cabin top and brought it home to work on this over the off-season. Here are some pictures. You can see from the second photo that there is some edge left there. I found a good link from Stingy that I think I’m going to try to follow.

Does any one have any idea what those screws along the forward hedge were formerly attached to? Is there supposed to be a piece of teek there?

 

[AWT2_Sail]

I’ve pulled the cabin top and brought it home to work on this over the off-season. Here are some pictures. You can see from the second photo that there is some edge left there. I found a good link from Stingy that I think I’m going to try to follow.

Does any one have any idea what those screws along the forward hedge were formerly attached to? Is there supposed to be a piece of teek there?

View attachment 145319
View attachment 145320

might they attach a handle or forward wood trim piece? Wait, forward edge? Maybe some sort of trim?

 

[dmkey]

Update on this thread… I followed the stingy guy’s post and created a mold out of green tape and poured some apoxy in there to reattach that flange. It looks good. Sanding today, but it just might work.

 

[dmkey]

Follow upon this: I’ll post a picture today, but I’m not 100% satisfied with this fix.

When I reattached the edge that slides in the slot, it did’t cure flat, it’s on a little angle… Still works, but the OCD in me doesn’t like it.

The epoxy dripped outside the mold that I made out of the painters tape onto the top of the cabin top and of course that cured to a beautiful puke yellow, which I don’t love.

Then to lock it all in, I used 5200 to re-seat the rail at the cabin top, probably should have used something less permanent. Good news is I can still take the top off by removing the other rail which I didn’t not remove or re-seat this time.

What’s next: I’m thinking of taking the edge off and replacing it with an aluminum angle piece. I’ve seen a picture of that somewhere on the internet. I think I would need to attach that in a way that it would widen the cabin top. Don’t know if I can attach that with epoxy. Maybe one of you guys know. Hopefully that would still fit in the space for it…. Otherwise, I’ll probably try to find another way to make marginal improvements.

I also read that I can soften epoxy with a heat gun or hairdryer and pick it off the cabin top. I’m going to give that a shot, unless someone here warns me not to.

Thanks a lot guys

Picture to follow