[alanl]

Chris

How hard or easy was it to install the ''strong track'' system from Tides Marine? Sounds like a good inexpensive fix for the same problem on my 30' catamaran, where the mast groove is fairly worn and the pressure from the full battens is high.

Regards

AlanL

 

[alanl]

Last weekend I usee JohnR's trick of cleaning out the track and was amazed at the difference it made. It was not quite as simple as it sounded, because getting into the track would have meant removing all the slugs first, so I cut the binding off the top slug and resewed it after doing the job

It was not easy to get the cloth patch inside the track but persistence paid off. A local product called "Gumption" comes in a damp paste and by wetting the patch before liberally coating on one side, it was possible to "stick" it to the inside of the groove and still get the slug over it. Some whipping twine kept it in place while being raised and lowered. This was repeated several times with fresh patches, then every slug was coated with "zipper" grease and the main raised. Wow - what a difference!

Thanks John. Also thanks to Sailing Dog for comments about the plastic insert

Regards

AlanL