Lubing sailtrack

[wchevron]

what do you use to lube your sail track. i've heard to use sailkote or t-9. also, how do you get the lube up the whole track?

[sailingdog]

use sailcote, not t9, t9 can stain the sails and is gummy and will collect dirt/dust/gunk.

spray it from a bosun's chair,
soak a sponge with it and run the sponge up the mast track,
spray it while the mast is down,

[djodenda]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

use sailcote, not t9, t9 can't stain the sails and is gummy and will collect dirt/dust/gunk.

spray it from a bosun's chair,
soak a sponge with it and run the sponge up the mast track,
spray it while the mast is down,

I agree. Fun first bosun's chair experience for the kids. Expensive, but works very well.

[sailaway21]

team McLube Sailkote
SailKote

[wchevron]

sd,
if i go the sponge route, how do you get it up the mast? and how many times do you have to go up to get the whole track lubed.

[sailingdog]

It depends on how big the mast is, how soaked the sponge is...etc. My friend used a sponge that was jammed into the sailtrack between two sail slugs tht were tied to each other. A loop of line from the top slug went to the halyard, and another went from the lower slug to a downhaul. Sponge was sewn to the line connecting the two slugs.

Originally Posted by wchevron

sd,
if i go the sponge route, how do you get it up the mast? and how many times do you have to go up to get the whole track lubed.

[max-on]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

It depends on how big the mast is, how soaked the sponge is...etc. My friend used a sponge that was jammed into the sailtrack between two sail slugs tht were tied to each other. A loop of line from the top slug went to the halyard, and another went from the lower slug to a downhaul. Sponge was sewn to the line connecting the two slugs.

I would not spend the time rigging anything 'fancy', i think it will be more trouble than it is worth, keep it simple, just go up the mast in a bosun's chair or something similar (I prefer a 'soft' chair/harnes and I use two halyards), and just have a friend haul you up the mast and lube the track as he slowly lowers you down.

[saurav16]

Sailkote is expensive i think all it is, is a silicon lubricant. You can get those cheaper in the same spray can at a hardware store for less.

[craigtoo]

I used Sailkote this past December before I stepped the mast.

In addition to that, about 1x per month or so I apply a couple of drops to the slugs while the sail is down.

Sailkote is not a silicon lubricant. At least... it stays around a heck of alot longer than a Silicon lubricant.

I buy the liquid (not the spray) if you get your own bottle (I just use a hardware store hand squeeze spray bottle..small) it will last a long time because you can drip it where you need it.

It has Heptane, and Alcohol in it so it will evaporate so make sure whatever you keep it in can be sealed. (I think SD uses an Olive Oil Sprayer.. which is probably a better idea than my spray bottle...)

craig

[sailingdog]

Yup, I use an olive oil mister and buy SailCote in the big bottle. Much less expensive that way. Not a silicone spray AFAIK. No one makes a SILICON spray as far as I know.