MODERATOR’S NOTE: this is a Nonsuch forum. This post skirts the edges of Nonsuch topics. It is being allowed because (a) we Nonsuchers are by nature helpful; (b) the primary focus is carbon fiber masts and Tides sail track, both of which are of interest to Nonsuch sailors. Please keep it within b…

Wylie cats are very nice boats… we had one at CPYC that did well in club races years ago. Nonsuch boats with aluminum masts use 3 stainless bands with durable isolation material to isolate the aluminum from the stainless. ( HERE ) is a link to the replacement process I used on my Aluminum mast l…

I had a Newick trimaran with a freestanding carbon mast. The sail track was a piece of pvc pipe with a slot cut out of the back side. The pipe was 1/2” id. This was bonded and taped to the mast tube, no fastners. I put a tides track on for the new sail that used slugs instead of a bolt rope. The ent…

Thank you for the info. I’m on the west coast (SF Bay). Catboats are not common over here, but they are very popular at my Yacht Club in particular (Richmond Yacht Club), we have I think 3 nonsuch 30s which are usually pretty rare on the west coast, and about half of the Wyliecats ever made just at …

Hi, You’ve got my sympathies on the carbon fiber mast problem. Nonsuches went out of production in the early-90’s after having switched to carbon fiber masts towards the end of the run. There are a few people who’ve gotten them recently. The Composite Engineering carbon fiber mast on mine was i…

Thank you, I have reached out Ted Van Dusen, and the company responded saying this is a topic Ted will want to provide advice on, but he hasn’t done so yet. Good to know that Moore Brothers is now making the masts and may be worth talking to also. I do like the idea of a fully epoxy bonded track as …

[image] marlinspike: I wonder about the possibility of epoxying the stainless track directly to the mast, so that the Tides track can then run over it and be easily replaced in the future. In my case, it was a 7/8" anodized aluminum track rather than the Schafer stainless (which is what I thi…

I don’t think direct surface galvanic corrosion should be an issue with the track, because there will be paint between the track and the mast. Plus, these seem to be filament wound masts with a thick layer of filler on the outside of the carbon to make it smooth, so the carbon itself should be prett…

[image] marlinspike: resistant? (2) I was thinking I could use small insulating sleeves for where each bolt passes through the mast, perhaps cut from a thin walled PTFE tubing. Maybe a plastic washer on the My ten cents. I believe any hole in a carbon mast significantly reduces it’s stress …

I may have a useful data point for you, since my Nonsuch 36 has an aftermarket carbon mast built and supplied by Ted Van Dusen. I have the original quote and invoice for the mast. It was supplied as a complete mast assembly, including the hardware and sail track, so this is not a later owner modifi…

How to attach sail track to carbon mast?

Questions & Answers

NS233_Bob_Neches (Bob Neches, Me Gusta, Nonsuch e26U #233) August 10, 2026, 5:35pm 6

Take a look also at: RE: unknown track for our NS260

This was the saga of a replacement pretty much identical to your problem.

-- Bob

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How to attach sail track to carbon mast?

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