Sail Track Replacement

[JChorlton]

Hmmm ...now there's an option I hadn't considered. I guess I'd have to use the intermediate slides since my main does not use full battens.

That still doesn't address the issue of track removal prior to painting but it looks like the existing track was painted in place anyway. It might be possible to strip and repaint it in place. If too much paint gets in the track I could just jam the slugs in there since they wouldn't have to move after mounting.

I'm not sure how much this would move the tack aft. I don't think the headboard would hit my triatic but this might still require a new sail. The existing main is pretty old and needs to be replaced but I've been trying to address my antiquated rigging in stages.

I guess there's also that UHMWPE Strong Track system. Didn't think that I wanted my sail hanging off of plastic but that's what the existing slides are (probably not UHMW-anything). In either system there's still the luff setback issue.

Another couple of boat units added to the total isn't really an issue for a system that works well but I might have to talk to my sail-maker about this one...

[JChorlton]

So ...I've pulled the mast and most bits look good (aside from the crusty mast step). I'm thinking that I'll have to drill the rivets on the sail track, have it stripped separately and re-use it. To reduce the friction I might have to install either the Battcar system or the Strong Track system.

My sail-maker likes the Strong Track system https://www.tidesmarine.com/?page_id=61 and seems to think it would work best (no joints, less of an offset from the mast and reduced stack height of the slides). Does anyone here have any experience with the working life of the Strong Track UHMW-PE track? Would these have a lifespan similar to my black Delrin sheaves?

[Stumble]

I have never used the strong track (that I am aware of), but the reviews on it are very good. When I priced it out for my boat though it was more than half the price of the harken system. So I went with the harken for a few reasons.

1) I knew it was good because we use it on a 50' Colombia I race on, and it is amazing
2) harken is a major company with exallent customer support
3) the price was only about 50% more
4) while I trust slides, I have never seen one that worked as well as ball bearings to reduce friction


That being said I have no feeling that the strong track is a bad unit, I just didn't feel the price was enough less to justify it.

[Jim Fulton]

I installed the Strong Track on my Bristol 34 in, I think, 2001. It appears to be virtually indestructible and is practically friction-free in operation. Far from having to pull the sail down, I hold the halyard with one hand to control the sail's descent and do a preliminary flake with the other hand. And no ball bearings to bind up!

Jim Fulton