Installing Genoa Tracks

[Mark Taylor]

I am changing my genoa tracks and cars to Harken ball bearing. The tracks are 3 metres long and with fastenings every 4 inches I have got a lot of opportunities for leaks! I was going to just bed down on mastic (eg C1) and tighten the bolts another turn or so after a few days, but anther owner has pointed me in the direction of a neoprene tape that is sold at the local chandlers........this would seem to have the advantage of being a lot easier to install and a lot less messy.

What experience do forum members have of this tape, or would you still use mastic?

Thanks

 

[KevO]

I am about to lift and rebed mine... I was gonna use butyl tape. It worked brilliantly on the new coachroof windows and soooo much cleaner and easier than any mastic would have been.

 

[VicS]

I am changing my genoa tracks and cars to Harken ball bearing. The tracks are 3 metres long and with fastenings every 4 inches I have got a lot of opportunities for leaks! I was going to just bed down on mastic (eg C1) and tighten the bolts another turn or so after a few days, but anther owner has pointed me in the direction of a neoprene tape that is sold at the local chandlers........this would seem to have the advantage of being a lot easier to install and a lot less messy.

What experience do forum members have of this tape, or would you still use mastic?

Thanks

make sure that the tape seals round the fastenings not just between track and deck. If water can penetrate into a little gap crevice corrosion can start.

If you use a sealant such as CT1 when you finally tighten down hold the sscrews/bolts and turn the nuts to aovid disturbing the seal around the screws.

 

[[3889]]

I bedded my windows on this tape
this tape
and it was easy, clean and very effective. Not wanting to state the obvious, thread the bolts through the tape rather than drill a hole through it - use a self-tapper as a pilot.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I put longer genoa tracks on two summers ago.

I don't have experience of the tape you mention but it sounds a good idea. Great care has to be taken to stop water ingress down passed each securing bolt and therefore long term I reckon tape alone may not surfice.

I used one of the 3M white sealants which does not go rock hard (type? -apologies tube on boat) and surrounded the thread on each S/S bolt.

I also squeezed some into the hole before offering up the bolt. This method seemed to get enough sealant right through the hole and onto all of the bolts before I then attached large S/S penny washers and lock nuts underneath to each.

None of them leaked this last summer.

S.