I’m having a new sail made and apparently external bronze slides for 7/8” SS track are hard to find these days. I’m just wondering if someone out there who has switched over to Strong track might have a set of used ones I could acquire.
... or a source for new ones.
Thanks
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Paul,
Mike Quill at Mike Quill Rigging sells new ones.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
Thanks Mark,
I sourced some used ones out of Florida. They are on their way. They are the same formed ones as I have on my current sail. The ones Mike has are the cast version.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Hi Paul,
FWIW: I sent my sailmaker my old bronze slides and was irritated to find they dropped the ball and I ended up with SS slides for my NS22. Once I switched halyard size to the spec 3/8" the sail is now “dropping like a rock”. I can’t remember last time I used my Elmer’s Slide All on the slides but it may have been last year. So, I guess I’m not sure how much it matters. I’m not sure what my track is made of and I’m 400 miles away right now. It is NOT a Strong track.
Signature:
Brooks Bridges
NS22OB #24 “An B’ad”
Cambridge, MD
As I understand it the issue with SS slides is that under pressure they are hard enough to gall the SS track leading to sticky spots when raising / lowering the sail. Bronze is not as hard as the SS track so does not create the problem ..... apparently.
Disclaimer: All my previous boats have been gaff rigged so I’m going on hearsay when it comes to sail slides. I’ve always used lacing!
Anyway I have bronze slides now and my sail will be supplied with shackles.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Sounds like a safe bet.
Got my slides today. All the way from Florida (just like Sandpiper) to B.C.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Curious how much they cost?
Bob G
NS30U #122
Baltimore, MD
They were $2 each USD. They had the cast ones too but they were $42 each and these ones are identical to the ones on my old sail which drops perfectly.
They actually cost me more by half because they sent me 34 instead of the 23 I ordered. I’m thinking they were a set from an old sail and they didn’t want to break them up.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Holy Crow, Paul -
At 42 smackers USD per, I better hang on to my cast bronze slides. I do love them !!
Ernie A. in Toronto
FWIW, back in May, Mike Quill quoted me $16.29 USD per for cast bronze slides.
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26C #143
Maybe they aren’t the same cast slides. Don’t know.
Anyway, I’m very happy with the formed ones and at $2 each I won’t be complaining.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Quote was for slides fitting 7/8 inch Schaefer stainless track.
$2 sounds at least eight times better than $16.29 to me, too.
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26C #143
