I want to purchase a Strong Track for my NS30C. Any installation advise? There is a padeye attached to the mast about 6 inches below the existing track. It’s been there for about 25 years and appears to be firmly attached by four screws plus galvanic corrosion. Will this padeye hinder slipping the Strong Track onto the existing mast track?
Bob McPeek, Pau Hana, NS30C
I installed a Tides track last year when I purchased a new sail. Installation over the existing sail track was easy. The Tides track was secured through the existing threaded hole at the base of the standard sail track. It works like a dream. Sail goes up easier and drops like a rock.
Joel
NS 30 U - Rumaki
Bob: The local sailmaker, here, installed the one on my 30 prior to my purchase. He said that during the installation, they loosened or removed several of the lower original track screws to facilitate the installation. In addition, to get a better angle, they fed it through the forward hatch.
Joe Valinoti
IL GATTO NS30U #221
Oriental, NC
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Had you already figured out that you’ll likely need to take the track inside your cabin and fish it through the forward portlight? At least, that’s what I had to do on my 26; it gives you a shallower angle of attack at the gate than trying to feed it up the track at a sharp angle from the top of the coach top.
Anyway, sounds like that padeye might be a problem, but you’ll just have to try and find out for sure. Then, a little (or a lot) of soapy water to lubricate the track couldn’t hurt. What really is essential is to attach a halyard to a new headboard slide and haul up on the halyard while a helper feeds and pushes the track up from the base. Don’t forget to attach a messenger line to the slide beforehand so you have something to pull the halyard and slide down with at the end.
My track didn’t “glide” right up, but overall the job was remarkably easy and hitch free. So has the sailhandling been since I installed the track too.
Good luck,
Ed Cook
Chat-eau N26C #173
In a message dated 06/16/09 13:56:45 Eastern Daylight Time, rjmcpeek writes:
Hi
I did mine with the mast down.
I have herd it suggested to pass the track
through the center port hole forward.
I believe the track should be secured at the bottom with the top
unrestricted to allow for thermal expansion.
As I recall there was a stop at the top of the metal sail track
that needed to be removed ! Binoculars
Al