Cleaning and lubing a furler foil track

[MJWB]

On here I've found a few posts about cleaning and lubricating mast tracks, jamming sliders etc. However I can't see anything on the same for the groove/track on a fore stay foil. Yet these will get dirty and the gap between boltrope at luff and inside of the groove will be tight, no much room for build up of muck. The only thought I have is from discussions with the previous owner, a length of slightly lighter line than the boltrope, some fine cloth sewn around it tightly and held between two wooden or plastic rulers. Drill each end. Soak the improvised cleaning element in mild soapy water and haul it up and down the track a few times. Repeat for lube application. As I've recently bought the boat and just got her back in the water, I'm keen to get some sail up and enjoy. However now seems a good chance to clean.

If there was a cheapish gadget out there someone knows of that does what i've described, I'd consider but obviously not keen to throw good money after bad or expensive kit that doesn't deliver well.

Any thoughts good people?

 

[PlankWalker]

I use a short length of line such that when a figure 8 knot is tied in the middle it fits nicely in the bolt rope groove and the top and bottom tails can exit through the slot in the foil.
You may need to add some wadding in the figure 8 knot to increase its size.
Then haul it up the foil on the top tail and down on the bottom using copious amounts of white spirit, repeat.
Finish off using a clean bit of line & wadding with some wax polish, anything the missus might have will do.

If you've ever cleaned out a gun barrel, you'll be good at this.
Plank

 

[MJWB]

I use a short length of line such that when a figure 8 knot is tied in the middle it fits nicely in the bolt rope groove and the top and bottom tails can exit through the slot in the foil.
You may need to add some wadding in the figure 8 knot to increase its size.
Then haul it up the foil on the top tail and down on the bottom using copious amounts of white spirit, repeat.
Finish off using a clean bit of line & wadding with some wax polish, anything the missus might have will do.

If you've ever cleaned out a gun barrel, you'll be good at this.
Plank

Many thanks - nice idea

 

[johnalison]

Whatever method you use, there will always be a possibility of it jamming. One must be at least prepared to go up in a chair and free it.

 

[differentroads]

I use a bit of old 6mm braid threaded onto about 250mm of wire coathanger. The ends are turned over into eyes to attach a halyard and downhaul.
The wire gives a bit more stiffness than the line alone would, reducing the risk of jamming I think. The sections of my foil have a couple of rough spots at the joints where I found a line-only groove cleaner would try and jam when hauling down.

I use washing up liquid on the line and a final run with Halfords dry lube spray. Thanks to Plankwalker I might try white sprit and furniture polish.

 

[Stemar]

How necessary is this in practice? Pretty much the only time I disturb the genoa is when I'm taking the mast down to put the boat ashore. Even in winter it stays on if I'm staying in, in the often vain hope of some Cuppasoup sailing The track gets a clean and lube before it goes back up, and that seems to last as long as I need.

 

[differentroads]

How necessary is this in practice? Pretty much the only time I disturb the genoa is when I'm taking the mast down to put the boat ashore. Even in winter it stays on if I'm staying in, in the often vain hope of some Cuppasoup sailing The track gets a clean and lube before it goes back up, and that seems to last as long as I need.

Just once a year in my case too. And not every year if the genoa has stayed up. I like the phrase 'cuppasoup sailing' ?

 

[Toodle-oo!]

I have a short - 6" piece of sail with boltrope, with a grommet at each end which I occasionally use to clean the foils. I attach halyard to upper grommet and a light line to the lower grommet, spray the boltrope with Maclube and run it up and down a few times. By keeping tension on the bottom line, I can somewhat "scrub" the foils. Works well - however, I rarely bother to do it... ;-)

 

[Slowboat35]

I go with Toodle-oo. Cut a small piece out of an old scrap sail (or get a sailmaker to knock one of these up - costapenney) .I used a slightly smaller dia boltrope than the sail I actually use and stitched a strip of thin scotchbrite pad around it. Worked a treat.

 

[MJWB]

Thanks all