We have had our Tides track since 2003. Sailing on the Great Lakes the mast was down and the track largely shaded from sunlight for 6 months of a year.
The track was basically crumbling as we removed it. It had obvious cracking when in place and the points where the Batt cars touched the track it was well worn. We’ll be finding crumbs of track for months!
Those of you with Tides Tracks that sail year round and in Sunny locals like Florida and Californian would be well advised to check your tracks carefully as your environment is more aggressive than the one we have experienced. Signs of cracking across the track should be a sign to check the entire track.
My guess is it would have failed within 24 months
Removing it was not a huge job. I undid the upper mast collar, opened the front port and pulled it down and out via the cabin. This allowed the crack to bend off the mast. Install was the reverse with a bit of Dawn soap to ease things. But given the size and length we unrolled the track about 50% and it took three in the cabin to wrestle and two pushing it up. Not a hard job, more like herding cats.