My track is deteriorating. Raised the sail today and this happened when I dropped it. What’s it cost to replace the track on a Nonsuch 30U and who sells the best track?
Dan Mills
sakina #460
Solomons, MD
You have a tides marine track. I’m not sure there is a competitor.
The stainless steel retainer fitting at the bottom may still have a legible serial number.
Call Tides Marine and talk to them for details.
Ward Woodruff
N33 #8 Margery
Niantic Bay, CT
The track on my boat is from Tides Marine. A PO installed it, and it seems to be the preferred choice of most NonSuch owners.
I’d send your question and photo to them ( HERE ).
Good Luck.
Rob Cohen
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Cedar Point YC
Westport, CT
Thank you Rob and Ward.
Dan
Tides Marine is the manufacturer. You can buy direct from them, or go through several distributors (some of whom also install).
https://www.tidesmarine.com/product-category/track-slide-systems/
The Tides Track slides on to the original track underneath it. Its a semi-flexible plastic, so usually you can remove the old and install the new by sliding it on and off that track.
You didn’t mention your boat model in your sign-off, Dan. This is an example of why it matters, because the advice on this issue depends on your boat model.
Some of the later boats had carbon fiber masts, and for some of them the Tides Track was original equipment, and for some of those the track was fastened directly to the mast via clips at regular intervals going up the mast. There was a long thread about that for Tetu, a N260, not long ago.
However, for most of the boats, the original track underneath the Tides Track is a 7/8" stainless steel and Tides has a specific version of that type of track which you can order as a replacement.
How much this will cost depends on your boat model, but the tracks have very long lives (they say 10+ but many get much more) and I’ve never heard anyone complain about having one.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
I replaced our Tide’s last year - cost about $750 for our 30U. Got about 15 yrs out of the first track. You can do this yourself, mast up or down, not that big a deal. You may need to remove the ring on the mast that the various blocks attach to. That was actually harder to put back on then running the track up the mast - you just pull it up with your halyard. Have some liquid dishwashing soap available as a lube.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U, 1987
Port Washington, NY
Besides the dishwashing liquid, do it on a warm day and feed it through the forward port to get the correct angle for ease of installation.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
While I would agree with Joe V on the warm day (although I did my first installation on a rainy, 40 F day - warm would have been so much more pleasant), if the installation is being done on an upright mast, I personally would not feed it through the front port. Leave it coiled on the deck and you can push it against the mast with a foot as you haul it up the mast with the halyard. Keep clipping the cable ties holding it together as it unspools. If the mast is down, leave it coiled so you don’t have to worry about someone hitting the end bouncing 45 feet past the foot of the mast.
If you use the through the front port method, you end up with a track going out the back end of the cockpit. I did a through the port installation on a 36 where it went across the dock and people were having to step over it.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U 1987
Port Washington, NY
I’ve done it Lloyd’s recommended way on a pre-Nonsuch boat and Joe’s way on a previous Nonsuch 26.
Both are viable. The important thing either way is to avoid the track (whether out loose or coming off a spool) tending to twist just enough to interfere with smoothly feeding it along. Having a helper handling it while the other person does the hoisting/pulling/pushing is the easiest way.
I, of course, did not have a helper. As a result, I can at least testify that it can be done without one. Warm track is key. If the temperature isn’t warm enough, lay it out in the sun for a few hours.
I found on my N26 that the curvature near the top of the mast made the last few feet particularly difficult, so some kind of lubrication is highly advisable. I was pushing from below rather than hauling with the halyard from above. I’ve seen people talking about using the halyard to pull it up. I never figured out how I’d detach the shackle and get retrieve the halyard after reaching the top. So I’ve never tried it that way.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
On Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 2:33:59 PM UTC-8 Julie & Lloyd on Rendezvous wrote:
Sorry, Lloyd, but I can’t even imagine doing it without going through the front port. This way, the track aligns itself as opposed to dealing with that coil of hard plastic. I did mine at the age of 75 without assistance having read something on this listserve previously. Warm temps makes the material much more pliable.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Perhaps the thing to do is to try coiling the old one as you take it down to get a feel for how the new one would go up.
Also, what do you attach the halyard to and how do you detach and retrieve it once the track is in place?
Brian Godfrey
Vela, NS33, San Diego
I agree with Joe. The front port along with warm weather is the easy way to go. Been there, done that.
Cheers,
Butch
Butch Garren
Nonsuch 30 #196 “Whiskers II”
SIYC Slip 12
Solomons, MD
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