Finding internal sail track

[Garry]

As Graham and I discussed the mast design for P28, he mentioned that internal sail tracks are no longer available. He prefers internal track because the slides can be a low friction delrin material for ease in dropping sail under adverse conditions. Most mast extrusions now include an internal track but for custom built masts the only option readily available is external sail track with metal slides (cost about $200-250). I searched for alternatives and found two possibilities. One is a brass internal sail track available from Great Britain which would total about $500 with shipping (see the email exchange below).

The other option is to purchase aluminum (6063-T5) rectangle tube

[Rune Forsberg]

Hi!

I'm currently building a CS-17, and begun thinking about the sailtracks too. Not that my build has developed that far but anyway...

Sailtracks are not easy to find here in Sweden either where I'm building but Iwas thinking perhaps to use a luffrope(?) and a track from a camperwagon(?)

you know where they connect tents to the wagon. Could this work? Or perhaps a guiding profile for hanging/gliding closet-doors could do?

/rune

[Garry]

I think its overkill... and over-expensive - $25.00 per FOOT

[Antony Harvey]

Hi Garry, I am using a nice streamlined looking track that is screwed on with silicone adhesive that is suitable for luff slugs for my P22, see attached. I am not sure about the attachment, but it is an aluminium extrusion by Spunspar and it comes in 2 sizes for 9 mm and 12 mm diam. slugs. There may be something similar in the US.

[attachment=1]

regards,

Antony

[Peter HK]

Garry

Here in Australia Ronstan still makes C track which is I think what you want- see

http://www.ronstan.com/marine/range.asp?RnID=058#related.

According to their website they have distributors in the US.

Aluminium extrusions are also available- usually called sail track here. They are designed for a bolt rope but there are plastic slides available.

Peter HK

[Garry]

This could be what I'm looking for!

This is Schaeffer's replacement mainsail track for worn or damaged tracks but it sure looks like it could be attached to a custom mast. They say it accepts 7/8" flat slides. It looks a little stiff so the stiffness would have to be accounted for in a self-standing mast design. They sell a kit for a 47' mast but the individual parts can be purchased separately. This track would allow the option of using standard flat slides or upgrading to the Schaeffer Battslide system. This could be purchased for around $500 for a P28.

Here's one supplier's page but I have seen cheaper prices.

http://www.pyacht.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/h-schaefer_battslide_track.htm?E+scstore

Here's the Battslide track info page:

http://www.schaefermarine.com/battslide/track.html

And here's Schaeffer's sales pitch for the advantages of the complete Battslide System:

http://www.schaefermarine.com/battslide/advantages.html

And here's a link to a catalog sheet that shows the Allslip slide; model A109 would be the one to work with this track:

http://www.sail-making.com/dbimgs/Track%20Slides%20US.pdf

[Garry]

Antony, Peter HK - I haven't found any bolt rope extrusions available here.

Peter HK - The c-section track you mentioned is not sail track, it is used for travellers for jib cars, etc. for sailing dinghys.

I think the Schaeffer track above is the closest thing I can find. Its a little big for the P28 and probably much too big for smaller designs.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[PAR]

At the prices I'm seeing, I'd think a bolt rope groove could be reasonably fabricated at a machine shop from tubing stock, possibly with a flat bar stock welded to the back, if desired.

I also think a thick walled tube could be drilled for counter sunk fasteners and be reasonably flexible on a bendy mast.

[Garry]

At the prices I'm seeing, I'd think a bolt rope groove could be reasonably fabricated at a machine shop from tubing stock, possibly with a flat bar stock welded to the back, if desired.

I also think a thick walled tube could be drilled for counter sunk fasteners and be reasonably flexible on a bendy mast.

That's a great idea. I found 3/4" OD 316 SS tubing with .56" ID at $22.00 per 12' length which would work with 1/2" OD sail slugs. There is a great variety of tubing sizes available to make a good combination between the tubing size and the appropriate sail slug size. Cutting the slot and drilling the countersunk holes would be easy for a machine shop and doable for some amateur metalworkers.

After carefully fastening on centerline on the mast, an epoxy fillet on each side would provide tremendous support. This could work very well. If you have to pay for a machine shop though, I'm guessing it could get close to $500 pretty quickly. Might want to get some quotes before ordering any material.

Woops - just had a thought it might be hard to c'sink screw holes through a 1/8 to 3/16" slot. I'll have to give that some thought.

[PAR]

Drawn actual size (3/4" OD), with a 1/2" slug inside the left one.

Fastener easily fits through opening (about 1/4").

[Tom Lathrop]

In 1988, I was part of a team building a 20" trimaran to race in the World 1000 race from Ft Lauderdale to Virginia Beach.  Graham was the designer and skipper.  We built a 40' wingmast that was 15" fore-aft and 5" side width.  Yep, that is a forty foot mast on a 20 foot boat.  One of my first tasks with Graham was to scarf forty feet of 3mm ply for the mast.  My first time to scarf plywood and I guess that is why I am not afraid of scarfs ever again.  Had to roll up the finished scarfs in order to have room in the shop to make the next ones. 

For a sail track Graham found some of the track that is used to support awnings on motorhomes, campers, etc.  It was just as PAR shows in the drawing except that it had a flange for attaching to the vehicle or whatever the awning was for.  We sawed the flange off leaving the slotted tubing.  The remaining slotted tubing was fiberglassed to the aft edge of the wingmast.  Later the fiberglass covering the slot was sawed out.  There were joints in the tubing but they were not a problem.

We used a boltrope for the main but slides would work as well.  No problem with strength since it lasted through some big wind around the Carolina Capes. 

I have thought of doing the same thing on my boat.  Cost is negligible compared to the prices given above.

[Garry]

Thanks for the good ideas. This will all shake out as the design develops. It may come down to a trade-off: time and effort and potential difficulties vs. money and a proven design.