Do you lube your mast track?

[BarryH]

If so what with and have you got plastic sliders or a bolt rope? Just asking, my main is a bit stiff to hoist.

 

[tillergirl]

Yes, got a bottle of Blakes 'Mast Care' years back and that puts a nice coat of something on it which definitely works.

 

[Habebty]

Yes, occasional smear of Turbogel, no seriously, it's a silicon grease!

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Silicon spay.

 

[Zen Zero]

vaseline (true!) plastic sliders aluminium track (now someone tell me why it's wrong to use vaseline)

 

[Martin_J]

BarryH... Do you have plastic slides in a groove or a bolt rope?

If plastic slides then are you sure they are the correct ones for the mast section? They may have been replaced in the past with something that looks the same or someone thinking that slightly smaller slides will slide easier (but then you find they twist a little and then jam more easily).

Slightly worn slides can also twist downwards a little (caused by drag during the hoist) and then become more difficult to hoist.

 

[Martin_J]

Another thought - Are you sure the sheave is turning at the top and that the halyard is not too wide (or fluffy) for the sheave slot!

Has anything changed... another thing that can cause issue is a crossover in your halyards internally within the mast...

 

[snooks]

Try Mclube Sailkote, (spray can, looks like GT80) handy for making anything that should move, move better

Dries quick so it doesn't attract dirt

 

[VicS]

vaseline (true!) plastic sliders aluminium track (now someone tell me why it's wrong to use vaseline)

dirt will stick to it and you'll end up with a sort of dirt and vaseline grinding paste.
Id think the same would apply to silicone grease.

I have a bolt rope so greasy things are out.
I don't have any problems but I do have a PTFE spray that I am going to try, fixing what isn't broken I know, but it made the curtains in the house whizz along their rails
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p63929

The spray lubricant for caravan awning tracks has been recommended in the past. Silicone based I believe.
A spray silicone polish eg Mr Sheen probably as good.

Or this http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p21983

 

[maxi77]

Tried the fancy yachty products and whilst they helped they were not brilliant. Ended up using CPC silicone spray, excellent stuff, worked a treat and cheap as chips. Normal ally mast with plastic slides.

 

[Thistle]

Try Mclube Sailkote, (spray can, looks like GT80) handy for making anything that should move, move better

Dries quick so it doesn't attract dirt

+1

Lots of other uses too: prevents tell-tales sticking to sails when wet, lubricates locks, winches etc.

 

[fishermantwo]

Tried the fancy yachty products and whilst they helped they were not brilliant. Ended up using CPC silicone spray, excellent stuff, worked a treat and cheap as chips. Normal ally mast with plastic slides.

I use the same but I would not call it cheap!

 

[Zen Zero]

dirt will stick to it and you'll end up with a sort of dirt and vaseline grinding paste.

There! I knew it!

And what is wrong with having a sort of dirt and vaseline grinding paste?

The problem was that the mast had been down for a long time, and painted! And ... let this be a lesson for everyone! When you paint your mast, don't put it back up without running a sail up (along) it, because the first time you try to hoist something you will realise that paint has thickness. And thickness will stop sliders. I hoisted myself (all 100kg of me) and a small handfile, but there was still work to be done. And the vaseline dirt grinding paste is doing it. The main now whizzes up! I'm looking forward t it whizzing back down again too.

 

[ithet]

Silicone grease:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/precison-lubricants/0494124/

 

[Lakesailor]

http://reviews.halfords.com/4028/724542/reviews.htm

I've had some of this for years. Great on anything that jams. (curtain tracks a speciality)
Fantastic up your luff groove.

 

[Rob_Webb]

If so what with and have you got plastic sliders or a bolt rope? Just asking, my main is a bit stiff to hoist.

Yes, silicon spray. Sliders. Without it, everything a bit stiff. With it, I can hoist entirely by hand (12m mast) only needing winch for final 6 inches tension. And when released the whole main drop down itself.

 

[njsail]

McLube Sailkote works wonders. I spray it on the boltrope of the sail as I feed it into the mast track. It goes in easy and slides out easy. works every time.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=551

 

[maby]

Lakeland do a bottle of silicone based lubricant that is intended for draw sliders but works very well on masts. When I bought a bottle for this purpose a couple of years ago, I mentioned it to the sales assistent - who must have reported it up to head office 'cos their web site now promotes it for sail tracks!

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/8998/Free-n-Easy

It's easier to apply than a spray - no overspray.

 

[KAL]

WD40 now make a 'specialist' dry ptfe spray, which I've tried this year. Does not seem to leave solvent marks on the sails or anything else. It's also clear. So far so good. Paid about £7 IIRC.

 

[NornaBiron]

We have plastic sliders and use a bit of Mr Sheen every now and then - works for us. Also use it on the headsail furling gear when hoisting the yankee or staysail, makes life a lot easier for the winch person.