Cleaning the mainsail mast track

[andythefiddler]

Towards the end of last season the mainsail became less than easy to haul both up and down.

I tried a ‘dose’ of dry lubricant on the slugs (or sliders) this made life significantly better.

As part of my winter maintenance I’d like to clean the track in the mast, I’m worried about jamming something halfway up the mast with the boat on the hard standing.

I’m looking for comments or suggestions from those who have done it before?

Thanks

Andy

 

[SteveG]

Try cutting two slots in a piece of plastic/ali/ply a couple of inches apart that will take two spare slugs. Slide the first up the track, followed by a rolled up piece of rag that fits the groove comfortably, soaked in white spirit, and then the second slug. Attach your main halliard to the top slug and a suitable piece of rope to the second one to use as a downhaul and heave away. The ply will keep the rag in place and allow you to pull everything back down again. Works every time for me! Steve

 

[duncan99210]

Variation on the theme above. I just use a thin cloth wrapped round a sail slug and use the halyard to pull it up the track and a mousing line to pull it back down. First trip up and down results in a filthy rag, remove and replace with a clean one with a bit of white spirit or similar. Repeat until clean. Final couple of time, I use a PTFE spray.

 

[eddystone]

In the past I have pulled a rag or sponge soaked in silicone lubricant up the track
But I was wondering if that works with dry PTFE lube or does it only coat where it is directly sprayed?

 

[duncan99210]

In the past I have pulled a rag or sponge soaked in silicone lubricant up the track
But I was wondering if that works with dry PTFE lube or does it only coat where it is directly sprayed?

I put PTFE spray on the rag once the track is clean and run it up and down a couple of times.

 

[Boathook]

I just use mr sheen (other furniture polishes are available) sprayed on to the track and another dose as I first haul the main up. Sometimes I repeat the spray half way through the season.

 

[zambant]

Tampon.....

 

[lw395]

I get some rag wrapped around a bit of rope and haul it up the luff groove.
Initialy plenty of water and wash'n'wax.
Then either car wax or furniture polish.

Sometimes just a squirt of furniture polish on the top of the bolt rope makes a huge difference.
Sometimes though, somehow a lot of dirt gets in there and it needs washing out.
I think the dirt gets on the halyard and runs down the luff groove as the sail is hoisted.

Check the sail for any frayed bits which can jam.

 

[seadog30]

I get some rag wrapped around a bit of rope and haul it up the luff groove.
Initialy plenty of water and wash'n'wax.
Then either car wax or furniture polish.

Sometimes just a squirt of furniture polish on the top of the bolt rope makes a huge difference.
Sometimes though, somehow a lot of dirt gets in there and it needs washing out.
I think the dirt gets on the halyard and runs down the luff groove as the sail is hoisted.

Check the sail for any frayed bits which can jam.

+1 on the above, I also laid the sail out and cleaned all of the old crud off the bolt rope with a nail brush and fairy liquid (dilute) annd also checked the stiching before spraying with silicone.

good luck

 

[andythefiddler]

Thanks for all that, I have some spare slugs coming now the boat is out and will sort out from all the above - all good - ideas.

NB

I find the many and varied uses of sanitary items intriguing, yesterday I wen to hospital after an encounter with a nail and my head wearing a sanitary product on my head!