Bronze sail slides

[sgunns]

I have new 1 inch bronze track and bronze slides on my mast. The sail goes up without too much trouble as it is being winched. However we can't get the sail down. It takes 3 men about 20 minutes, including motoring head to wind flat out to try and shake the sail loose. The supplier has already replaced the first set of slides and the same problem has resulted.

The slides are fixed to the sail with leather lashing and quite flexible. The sailmaker has used this system many times before without issue. He recommended against oiling the track as it will cover the sail with "gunk". We can spray track with lubricant, but he said we should not need to.

Please any ideas?????

[Dan McCosh]

Sounds like you need to check first whether the slides are catching from some issue, such as varnish buildup. Another possibility is a gap n the sail track, or a bent section that causes the slides to stick or jam. Tough to do an inspection with the mast up, however. You might try going up in a chair and sliding a single slide along as you go. FWIW, silicone spray lubricates without staining, but from what you describe, it doesn't sound like that's the issue.

[kc8pql]

Misaligned joints in the sail track? It doesn't take much of a bump to make it stick.

[dstreck]

If the slides are too loose on the track they may rack as they are pulled, which jams them between the track and the mast. Telltale signs of this are shallow gouges in the varnish and/or the wood on either side of the track. If thats what is happening, the sail track may need to be mounted it on a "feather", a thin (1/8"-1/4") strip of wood that holds it away from the surface of the mast. I'm currenty adding a feather to a 40' mast that I built last year because of a similar probem. If youre interested I can try to post some pics.

[CharlieCobra]

Does anybody know where I can get new bronze track? My Mizzen track is cracked in a couple of places, courtesy of Hugo.

[StevenBauer]

We had a little trouble and ended up using some spray on sailtrack lubricant. Works great for a month or so. So about 3 times a season. Just a quick shot of the spray when all the slides are together, it doesn't take much.


Steven

[johngsandusky]

When I had such a rig, I'd spray the slides once in the spring, and the track as high as I could reach, with silicone spray. Then hoist quickly, hoping to spread it. Worked fine. It's the easiest solution, try it first.

[ahp]

First check the track. It may be dinged somewhere and/or the track is in several lengths and the ends are not lined up. Next take a file to the slides and chamfer the undersides of the slide ends, so they won't dig into the track.