Sliding hatch is rubbing

[Captain Gary]

Hi all,
The sliding cabin companionway hatch on my 1999 260 Sundancer is rubbing on the cutout it slides into behind the steering and instrument panel. It's only the nose of the bottom step that has started to rub. Tt's scratching the fiberglass nose of the step and leaving a black streak (probably due to the aluminum trim on the cutout). It looks like hell and is leaving scratches but it also makes it very hard to slide it open and closed. In fact my wife can't budge it.

Sorry if I'm not explaining this well, I will try to get some pictures tonight, but if you have a Sundancer around this model year or later with a sliding hatch you will know what I mean.

Has anyone else had this problem and is there anyway to fix? The slide track looks fine and everything is tight and in it's proper place. There is no damage that would have caused this that I can see. It just looks like the clearance was too tight and now is rubbing.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Either something is jammed in one of the tracks (or the space it slides into) or the trucks ("rollers") are damaged/broken. Take a better look at the track - clean them - and open the access panel to look at the "space". I think you can see the upper space/track by removing the gauge panel... but I'm not positive.

 

[Siboatguy]

The door can also be warped theres anther foam on here about this.. Thats has pictures and everything.. We talk about 320 and 340 but more or less same door.. But def check your rollers first...

 

[techmitch]

Remove helm assembly, remove door, replace trucks/rollers, clean or replace worn tracks, reinstall all in reverse order resealing helm assembly and lube tracks and trucks/rollers with Dri-Slide. Afternoon job, Git-er-done!

 

[Captain Gary]

I was afraid someone would say that techmitch, LOL.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The door can also be warped theres anther foam on here about this.. Thats has pictures and everything.. We talk about 320 and 340 but more or less same door.. But def check your rollers first...

The 260DA uses a solid fiberglass door. It's actually quite heavy and solid.

 

[Siboatguy]

The 260DA uses a solid fiberglass door. It's actually quite heavy and solid.

Yes so does the 320 and the 340 its a sold door and heavy thats why ours sags in the middle I hope for you its just the tracks and rollers they sell the tracks and rollers now in stainless steel..... Look at this tread....

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/cabin-door-warped-can-it-be-fixed.89257/

Also heres a pic of our door...

 

[techmitch]

Yes so does the 320 and the 340 its a sold door and heavy thats why ours sags in the middle I hope for you its just the tracks and rollers they sell the tracks and rollers now in stainless steel..... Look at this tread....

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/cabin-door-warped-can-it-be-fixed.89257/

Also heres a pic of our door...

View attachment 59173

I think what Dennis means is the 320 340 doors are acrylic or the like, but I could be mistaken.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I think what Dennis means is the 320 340 doors are acrylic or the like, but I could be mistaken.

Correct. The 260DA door is a completely different door.

 

[Captain Gary]

Thanks all. Yes it is a different door. It is acrylic and very heavy but it's in the shape of two steps going up to the walk through windshield when closed, so kind of zig zag in profile and slides into a matching cutout behind the helm assembly and in front of the head, almost like 2 puzzle pieces but with about 1/4 clearance all around, at least until it started rubbing on the nose of the bottom step. Also there are no rollers. It's more of a rubber like or silicone slide material that fits into the track.
The door could be a little it's warped, that seems to be the only explanation since the tracks and slides (top and bottom)and everything else seem to be clean, in good shape and working as designed. It wouldn't have to be out of shape by much to start rubbing with the small clearance. I will have pictures this weekend.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Fiberglass, not acrylic. See my first post. Trucks (plastic) wear out over time which can change the alignment.

 

[Captain Gary]

Got it LazyDaze, not looking forward to disassembling the helm to replace trucks and balls. For the record here are some pictures. I see some wear but nothing that would move the bottom of the door outward so much. Doesn't look like enough clearance behind it to move it back and create the clearance needed in front either but I will give it a try unless anyone sees anything in the pics (beside the dirty tracks) that might change the approach. Hoping the door isn't warped.

I love Sea Rays, top of the line vessels, but this seems like p*ss poor design for parts that routinely wear out and need service or replacement.

See the bottom step that is rubbing and the lower track close up in the pics.

 

[Lazy Daze]

There is no way that door is warped. The "warped" idea is in regards to a totally different type of door. If you look into that other thread, you'll see the door they're talking about and understand.

What does the upper track/door look like (from both the left and right sides? What does the right side of the lower track/door look like? Something is obviously out of alignment - but it is also clear it hasn't been that way since 1999.

 

[Captain Gary]

Here you go Lazy Daze. I can't see anything out of alignment but I agree that there must be. I'm not looking forward to disassembling the helm station but I don't see an alternative.

 

[techmitch]

Remove helm assembly, remove door, replace trucks/rollers, clean or replace worn tracks, reinstall all in reverse order resealing helm assembly and lube tracks and trucks/rollers with Dri-Slide. Afternoon job, Git-er-done!

It's really not that bad of a job. Like anything else, Ya gotta want!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Gary, can you get pictures of the starboard side of the door (top and bottom), as well (see my post, above, about that)? Does the door jiggle at all when opening/closing?

Removing the dash pod is a bit daunting if you've never done it before. But as Mitch said, it's really not all that bad. Sometimes you do need to remove the stbd windshield, as well. But that also isn't really all that hard.

 

[tdschafer]

Gary, can you get pictures of the starboard side of the door (top and bottom), as well (see my post, above, about that)? Does the door jiggle at all when opening/closing?

Removing the dash pod is a bit daunting if you've never done it before. But as Mitch said, it's really not all that bad. Sometimes you do need to remove the stbd windshield, as well. But that also isn't really all that hard.

You guys are gonna scare him right out of this boat!! Lol
I dont know if it's at all similar but I think PMC, Paul, was able to replace his rollers/glides on his former 280 DA with a couple of strategically drilled holes without removing the helm. He posted up about it here but it was years ago. Just a thought.