What to use on sail sliders?

brak · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

My mainsail sliders (in particular 4 carets that are installed on the end of battens) started getting stuck in the mast track, and sail is becoming pretty tough to pull down.

I am guessing some sort of a wax would help them move, but what is the best type of product to use?

tager · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

I don't think that beeswax would hurt. Would be hard to apply though, try some silicone spray, or spray lube.

T37SOLARE · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Quote:

McLube Sailkote is the easy to apply high-tech, high performance dry lubricant that makes sails, hulls, rigging, deck hardware, and anything that moves on your boat run smoother, work more efficiently and last longer than you ever thought possible. Sailkote is the only dry lubricant currently available that has been specifically designed for marine use.

Sailkote is a translucent liquid that sprays or wipes on and completely dries in seconds. So, unlike oils, silicones, and waxes, it will never attract dirt, water and contaminants that eventually degrade lubrication performance. The same dry lubricant technology that has been developed for, and race proven by America's Cup Teams, Olympics Medalists, and One Design World Champions.

tager · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

So it is teflon dry lube then!

Maine Sail · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Yep McLube !!!!!! This stuff is GREAT !! You should not use soaps, waxes, grease, WD-40 or anything other than McLube or you'll wind up sorry you did..

brak · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

One bottle of McLube Sailkote going into the next order.

I also called Mack Sails who made my main, and they will send me a bunch of different bases for track slides to see if other bases will work better. These guys are really excellent to deal with

brak · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

wow, Sailkote is at this point a little cheaper on West Marine website than it is on Defender. The sky is falling!

I guess I'll check the store tomorrow.

nk235 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

I'll chime in here as well and say that stuff works awesome. A can of it came on my new to me boat when I bought her 2 years ago and just last month when I took her out for the first sail, I sprayed this on the sail track and all the sail slides. Even now a month later when I release that halyard to drop the main - it falls down as if it isn't even connected to the mast. That coupled with my Dutchman system makes dropping the main a pleasure. On my friends boat he has to literally pull the main down when he releases the halyard. So this stuff is def great to get.

pdqaltair · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by brak

My mainsail sliders (in particular 4 carets that are installed on the end of battens) started getting stuck in the mast track, and sail is becoming pretty tough to pull down.

I am guessing some sort of a wax would help them move, but what is the best type of product to use?

Early in the year that is a common problem, and it is commonly wasps, spiders, and cocoons. I have had that problem a few times, and the cure was a trip up the mast with a bottle brush and hose.

The reason Sailcote is best, or one of the reasons, is that it does not atracct dirt, which is the main problem in a track.

Freesail99 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009

I agree with all the people above McLube Sailkote is great stuff.