Fitting new wheels to NC33 door rollers

[Piers Covill]

Hi – message from Julie Fieldhouse:

Hello – we have ordered some replacement wheels from he NA and are wondering how best to fit them especially as they seem slightly different axle width. Th boat is in Sweden so keen to understand this before heading out to her.
Thanks

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[Roger Sturge]

i Interesting! I’ve just had to refit mine on one door b but that was a problem with the woodwork. The original wheels were ok. I can only suggest shaving down the sides of the sockets.
I suppose the wheels fit the runners? My runners are very worn so the slightly wider wheels would not be a problem. Roger Sturge – Wild Cat NC33 Mk2 1977.

[Julie Fieldhouse]

It is more a case of how is best to get the old wheels off their metal carriage and fit the new ones on. If anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful.

[Eric Purdell]

Where did you order the wheels from? I’m not sure what he NA is.

[Piers Covill]

The NA is the Nauticat Association. The problem is that we have run out of the wheels and I am struggling to buy more as they have been discontinued.

[Eric Purdell]

Ah ok, thank you!

[John Proudlove]

For anyone interested, I’ve had replacement wheels and their brackets fabricated from Delrin and 316 stainless, for £42 ex vat per unit (which I found very reasonable) by a Portsmouth-based company: JWS Marine Services Ltd. What prompted this was a door popping out of its track on my NC331 while underway, because a blocked deck drain had previously submerged the base of the door in a pool of rain water while the boat was being stored awaiting a new owner. Unfortunately Nauticat used ply instead of teak for that part of the door, which became so rotten that the screws attaching the wheel mounts lost their grip. Even without a blocked drain the other door’s base has softened to the point where JWS are having to scarf in a teak section on that side too. They are managing to do this without changing the appearance of the formica exterior or the wood laminate interior which – unsurprisingly – doesn’t come cheap. JWS are a busy company with long lead times – if you engage them I’d be prepared for a wait, but this might be a job you’d prefer to leave to professionals like them rather than take on yourself – I’m certainly glad I did.

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