Tides Strong Track

[lloyd & julie]

Planning on adding the Tides marine Strong Track or similar to the boat this winter/spring.  Was planning on leaving the mast up for the winter.  Am I correct that it is possible to install the Strong Track with the mast up by feeding it through the front porthole in the cabin of a 30U?  Has anyone actually done this?

 

Lloyd Herman

Rendezvous, 30U

Port Washington, NY

[Bob McPeek]

I did it this summer with a 30C.  Only problem I had was the tack padeye that was bolted to the mast just below the track. I don't think the 30U has this padeye.  If it does, let's talk about it.
     Bob McPeek, Pau Hana, NS30C

[TedsDad]

Yes, I did it about 4 years ago. One tip is to do it on a warm sunny day, since a warmed-up track becomes more flexible, and so easier to handle. Another tip is that it's basically a two-person job, wherein one can hoist the  track upward using the halyard, while the other one can feed the track onto the existing track and push it upward from below in the cabin at the same time. Just remember to tie a retriever line onto your halyard shackle so you can retrieve the halyard and headboard slide you use to hoist the track . Soapy water lubrication helps too.

 

I see you have advice from others about interference from padeyes, so I'll let them weigh in on that.

 

Ed Cook

"Chat-eau" N26C #173 on the Chesapeake

[Ed Botterell]

I think this depends on how your mast is set up.  Send pictures.

 

Ed

[GHP]

I installed a Tides Strong Track last week with no problems at all other than removing pad eye below the existing track. I simple pushed the new track up the mast w/o the need of a lubricant or use of the halyard, and did the job from the fore deck. Total time to install the track was less than 15 minutes and the existing screw that held on the gate at the bottom of the old track, fit perfectly into the pre drilled hole on the Strong Track.

 

I now can pull the sail up 2/3 of the way by hand from the cockpit and the balance is cranked up using half the strength required in the past and, as reported: It does “drop like a rock”.

 

Regards, George Pacharis

NS30U  #343  West River, MD

[Mike Quill]

Hi Lloyd

 

It can be done but best on hot days. I have a short piece of the track ( 12 inches)  that I lend to folks contemplating this adventure. When hoisted up the track it will indicate if problems exist with alignment or loose rivets or bent track. It sure saves a lot of aggravation rather then being committed with a 40 foot plus piece of black plastic doing whatever in the cabin.

Cheers

 

Mike Quill
 
Need Mast and Rigging repairs or replacement?
Go To http://www.mqyr.com 

----- Original Message -----

From: lloyd & julie

To: NONS...@LISTSERV.AOL.COM

Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 9:59 AM

Subject: Tides Strong Track

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[GHP]

PS; I forgot to mention that the installation was a one man job and that the key to simplicity was keeping the Strong Track in the roll/coil as it came from the factory. The factory coils the Strong Track and ships it in a 3’coil with numerous wire ties at various intervals in the coil. So, you begin feeding the top of the track onto the old track and snip the next tie as you proceed to feed the new track up the mast. The ties are located at about every 6’ on the coil so there is never a need to uncoil 43’ of track and have it hanging about your boat. One person – 15 minutes – could not have been easier!

[Joel White]

I fed mine up the mast. The last few feet took 2 people but it was relatively easy.

 

Joel

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nonsuch Yacht Owners Discussion List [mailto:NONS...@LISTSERV.AOL.COM] On Behalf Of TedsDad
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:56 AM
To: NONS...@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Tides Strong Track

 

Yes, I did it about 4 years ago. One tip is to do it on a warm sunny day, since a warmed-up track becomes more flexible, and so easier to handle. Another tip is that it's basically a two-person job, wherein one can hoist the  track upward using the halyard, while the other one can feed the track onto the existing track and push it upward from below in the cabin at the same time. Just remember to tie a retriever line onto your halyard shackle so you can retrieve the halyard and headboard slide you use to hoist the track . Soapy water lubrication helps too.

[Win Sanford]

Lloyd........Used the front porthole trick on our 33 KittyHawk.  Trick was to use 2nd main halyard to winch it to the top...retrieved halyard in Spring by going to the top of the mast....no way to push feed from bottom....too much friction.....Had to remove strong track last year......winched it down in reverse.  replaced mast screws at mast joint as they had pulled out/ sheared off during Bermuda race.  Ran dilute West System epoxy in mast through bolts to stop all movement at mast section...this caused the screws to shear off. Let epoxy set a week and hauled strong track back up.  It was not an easy job, but definitely do able....as long as you have 2 halyards.

[John Foster]

I am puzzle by your need for halyards and winches. perhaps I was fortunate in that I first thoroughly cleaned all surfaces of the track. Although it is easier to do with the mast down, one person can clean the track comfortably using an ATN Top Climber.

http://www.atninc.com/topclimber.html

I also made sure the track was tightly held to the mast with all fasteners and without deformations that might hang up the process.

Finally, just before the installation I slathered a generous amount of MacLube on that nice clean track.

http://www.mclubemarine.com/

I had a second person available just in case it was harder than I thought. On the hot sunny afternoon we installed this new track, it t was a simple task to push the Strong Track of the existing sail track.

John Foster
Blueberry 22 48

[R. D. Young]

I have always  been puzzled by owners who need such things as Strong Track or powered winches to assist with sail handling on their 30 foot or smaller Nonsuches. On our 30, I can raise the main at the mast by hand to the point that I only need to tension it with the winch when I return to the cockpit. I will be 60 next month and weigh 175 pounds so this does not require a lot of brute strength. Our sail has bronze slides and does not have full length battens but as long as the choker is slacked, the topping lift is taking the weight of the boom and the boat is head to wind, our sail goes up and down quite easily, remarkably so, it would appear. Every couple weeks I also put a little Joy detergent on the sail track. Guess we should consider ourselves fortunate.

David Young
Bay Cat
30U #402

[Jack Lombard]

Hi RD,       I for one don't believe in unnecesary things on a boat, and yes you can hoist, and drop a sail on a Nonsuch 30 with just the standard track.        .The Joy probably helps, but you should find somebody who has a strong track, and try it, I believe you will find that the Joy you will find doesn't come in a bottle.  Jack lombard 3/15/35, 198 lbs...............

----- Original Message -----
From: "R. D. Young" <rdyo...@ME.COM>
To: NONS...@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:59:20 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: Tides Strong Track

[Marion Gropen]

On Sep 23, 2009, at 9:59 AM, R. D. Young wrote:

> I have always been puzzled by owners who need such things as Strong
> Track or powered winches to assist with sail handling on their 30
> foot or smaller Nonsuches.

We have a 36, so this isn't quite on point, but I have come to
understand that the trouble points on our track are:

--where the bands cross under the track to fasten things such as our
radome onto the mast. The bumps are miniscule, but any bump is enough.
--the top batten, which butts into a slide, but which always seems to
back out just enough to fold the whole mess forward against the mast
as the weight of the sail pulls it out of shape on the way down.
--anywhere that dirt, grime or salt has collected under the track or
on the slides. And it will collect eventually.

And, of course, you have a real mess when one of the screws backs out
while the sail is up.

Marion Gropen
Meander, NS36 #41, 1986
North Shore YC
Port Washington, NY

[John Foster]

When I was 60 raising sails was no problem on any of the various boats I used in sailing schools, I still weight 175 pounds, but now, at 73, adding the strong track makes perfect sense.

What are my alternatives? Well just down the dock, a friend, about the same age and build as I am, was bemoaning the fact that he was having trouble getting people to sail with him so he could get he sail up on his Wyliecat 30. At last he accepted that the alternative was to install an electric winch conversion kit. The Wyliecat came with all the wiring already in place for such a conversion.

So perhaps if I an still racing Blueberry at 83 and 175 lbs, I will install an Anderson 28 electric winch ..... (grin) .... (the smallest electric on the market today).

For now, I take comfort in the knowledge that if you ever catch up to the same age as I am, I will be late..... (as in the late John Foster, ....grin)

Enjoy your good health and fitness, as I do, knowing here are a couple of strategies available for you to extend that enjoyment.

John Foster
Blueberry, 22 48

[R. D. Young]

Thanks for the life advice John. With any luck I will live and sail long enough to rue my words and end up with both a Strong Track and an electric winch on my boat.

On 9/23/09 10:43 AM, "John Foster" <jfo...@PACIFIER.COM> wrote:

When I was 60 raising sails was no problem on any of the various boats I used in sailing schools, I still weight 175 pounds, but now, at 73, adding the strong track makes perfect sense.

What are my alternatives? Well just down the dock, a friend, about the same age and build as I am, was bemoaning the fact that he was having trouble getting people to sail with him so he could get he sail up on his Wyliecat 30. At last he accepted that the alternative was to install an electric winch conversion kit. The Wyliecat came with all the wiring already in place for such a conversion.

So perhaps if I an still racing Blueberry at 83 and 175 lbs, I will install an Anderson 28 electric winch ..... (grin) .... (the smallest electric on the market today).

For now, I take comfort in the knowledge that if you ever catch up to the same age as I am, I will be late..... (as in the late John Foster, ....grin)

Enjoy your good health and fitness, as I do, knowing here are a couple of strategies available for you to extend that enjoyment.

John Foster
Blueberry, 22 48

R. D. Young wrote:

Re: Tides Strong Track I have always  been puzzled by owners who need such things as Strong Track or powered winches to assist with sail handling on their 30 foot or smaller Nonsuches. On our 30, I can raise the main at the mast by hand to the point that I only need to tension it with the winch when I return to the cockpit. I will be 60 next month and weigh 175 pounds so this does not require a lot of brute strength. Our sail has bronze slides and does not have full length battens but as long as the choker is slacked, the topping lift is taking the weight of the boom and the boat is head to wind, our sail goes up and down quite easily, remarkably so, it would appear. Every couple weeks I also put a little Joy detergent on the sail track. Guess we should consider ourselves fortunate.

 
David Young
Bay Cat
30U #402
 
 
On 9/22/09 7:55 PM, "John Foster" <jfo...@PACIFIER.COM> wrote:
 
  

[Bob McPeek]

I too can raise the sail as you describe, but I often sail alone.  I prefer raising the sail from the cockpit when I'm alone.  The Strong Track makes it a more enjoyable experience. 

     Bob McPeek, Pau Hana, NS30C

PS: I'm 67 and in very good physical condition. 

[Joe Valinoti]

That's probably, the best reason, raising it from the cockpit when you're single handing.  Bless the Strong Track and my electric winch!

Joe
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----- Original Message -----

From: Bob McPeek

To: NONS...@LISTSERV.AOL.COM

Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:44 PM

Subject: Re: Tides Strong Track