Hi.
My 33 is on the hard wrapped up with the mast down for the Canadian winter (such as it is at the moment). In thinking about spring, the Tides sail track on the mast has some deterioration with what I would describe as “crazing” vs “cracking”, in that you can’t really feel the lines on the surface of the track and there is no obvious through-fractures. I have attached a photo.
The track still feels solid but I wonder if those with experience think it looks like an imminent failure or whether there’s still life in it such that it might be a future repair item.
I recently watched a series of You Tube videos from Doak Sailing - new owners sailing “Fish Tank” NS36 from Oakville, ON to its new home in Michigan, and they had almost all their sail cars pull out from the track suddenly while underway. This is what got me thinking about it.
I would value any insight you can offer.
Thanks,
Paul
NS33-15 SKYLARK
Collins Bay Marina
Kingston, ON
CANADA
Paul
I replaced my track last spring. It was showing lots of signs of crazing such as yours but less faded. My track was installed in 2011. My conversations with Mike Quill indicated earlier tracks were prone to UV breakdown. He looked at my track photos and said if the boat is going south, replace the track. Well, I wasn’t going south but what really caught my attention was chafe at the track top. I have two halyards where the unused halyard was chafing the top of the track at the mitre cut and clevis pin (unused halyard stored vertically with the shackle at the fairlead collar). With the mast down, the track was easy to replace but it was necessary to remove and reinstall the tack collar and the underlying neoprene rubber isolater band. Due to the length of the underlying SStrack and the space available to the masthead sheave casting, I had to mitre cut a small piece from the track top and redrill the clevis pin hole. It is important to be sure of length measurements and allow for track expansion in the sun. It was surprising how much expansion occurred on a sunny vs cloudy day so I measured and marked carefully in various conditions and temperatures.
I had my Tides Sail track explode during the Solo Chicago to Mackinac Challenge this past summer. It was approximately 13 years old and ended a great sail. I have a new one now but would replace it after 10 years if I continue the Solo Mac.
Ken Verhaeren
Kismet N30. #398
DuSable Harbor Chicago
I’d suggest sending the picture to Tides and asking them, but I’ve got to say that my Tides tracks have always been black and craze-free and I’d personally be a lot more comfortable with that than with what your picture shows.
This discussion stimulated me to do some on-line searching. The only review I could find with any information about longevity was a 2014 Practical Sailor article (https://www.practical-sailor.com/sails-rigging-deckgear/survey-mainsail-track-hardware) which had suggestions similar to what Ken indicates Mike Quill had to say: ten years minimum life. After that depends on level of UV exposure, which in term depends on latitude and length of time per year exposed to the elements.
Inspection is definitely in order for older tracks. Paul, if I were you, I’d take advantage of the INA having Mike Quill on retainer to send him your picture and see what he thinks, especially since he has Ken’s to compare it to.
The more I look at that picture, the more I think that I’d be replacing it if I saw that on my boat.
Thank you all for your your thoughts. Tides Marine have confirmed that my track was purchased in 2013 and is therefore about 10 years old now. They tell me it was shipped 51’- 4" long - Since Sashay is also a 33, does that align with your calculations Ken?
I am waiting a reply from Tides technical rep. on his review of the photos.
I have also emailed Mike Quill as Bob suggested.
I am leaning toward “better safe than sorry”, but I will wait to hear from the Mike and Tides Marine.
Thanks again.
Paul
NS-33 #15
SKYLARK
Collins Bay, Kingston, ON
CANADA
Also, on the mast gate of the Tides Track is a number so the company can look up the original measurements. Always better to check the measurements though. Tides Marine is a great company to do business with.
.
Barbara Melanson
ex Gimlet II 33 #14
Noank, CT USA
I did not have the number on mine, but Tides keep records and were able to easily find my original order that was actually processed by the sailmaker… drop them a note with all your info.
I got 20 years largely on the great lakes, but it was toast when I removed it… 10 - 15 depending on where you sail
By way of update, I confirmed with Tides Marine that the track was purchased in 2013, so its approaching 11 years old. I got to speak to a tech rep. at Tides Marine today and I shared pictures of my track. His opinion was that there is several years of life left in the track yet and I will know when it starts to chip on the front face that its time. He was surprisingly unfamiliar with an external track installation like on the Nonsuch and his quick sail math suggested the sail size is within, but getting close to, the limit of the track’s load capacity. He cautioned that there is a trend of sailmakers to use fewer cars, to get less stack height when the mast is down. He says this is causing failures because it increases the point loading on the track. Just a word of caution I thought I should share.
I exchanged emails and photos with Mike Quill last week and he believes its time to change the track.
I went to see the mast again the other day. I don’t think it is as faded as my first photo made it look (comparing it to Ken’s new one near by) but a zoom in on the attached photo shows that some of the crazes appear to be approaching crack - level. I am going to ere on the side of “peace of mind”, and Mike Quill’s wisdom, and change it. Thanks all for your thoughts on this.
Paul
NS 33 - 15
SKYLARK
Collins Bay Marina
Kingston, ON
CANADA
