Lubricating the track on a furling foresail

[Rowana]

Probably been asked several times before, but my powers of search are minimal (to say the least).

When hoisting a foresail up the track in a furling gear, what is the best way to lubricate it so that it goes up fairly easily?

Obviously, whatever is used must not attack the fabric of the sail.

What do you suggest ??

 

[Twister_Ken]

Get a sailmaker to make up a piece of luff tape with an eye top and bottom. Coat the tape with your favoured lubricant* and haul it up and down the track several times.

*I use candle wax, but there are probably several dozen possibilities.

 

[DJE]

Pledge furniture polish; been using it for years. No joke it's got lots of silicone in it and works fine. If you don't like the smell you can get spray on silicone lubricant that will do the same thing.

 

[Boathook]

I haven't had to lubricate mine in its 6 years of life but I would think that a 'drying' silicone spray (furniture polish?) would do the job, put on before the saill, just incase of any effect on the sail.

 

[Malcb]

I use Sailkote. Bit expensive but a little goes a long way.

I've even used it to free siezed on a trailer when WD40 had failed.

 

[Rick]

I use food grade silicon cooking spray - invariably washed away when it rains, but I use as a lubricant on furling headsail, on the main sail slides, and as a general lube for blocks and pins etc. Food grade (supermarket) is so much cheaper than fancy purpose silicon sprays.
BTW, being cheap to get, use heaps on the headsail - it'll go up and down a treat. If you're not a cheapskate like me, use McLube or Sailkote.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

This may not be your situation but..

I was suffering the same as you, could not get the genoa tight at all, however much I tried to haul down the halyard.

When my mast was down last week I fitted some new blocks up top, mainly so that I had more confidence when hauling the crew aloft. Had we lost the main halyard I did not trust any of the other lines. The main goes through the top of the mast on two rollers.

I upgraded my spinnaker and genoa blocks from cheapo swivel blocks to swanky holt bearing blocks.

This weekend we bent the foresail back on, the difference was stunning, straight up the track nice and tight. While Tan fed it into the track I was casually pulling the sail up in the cockpit, very little effort. I did not expect such a difference, it was also a new rope but I do not think that had much to do with it, although it is a slightly narrower diameter.

Your mast is probably about the same size as mine so you gear is probably similar.

Just thought I would pass it on, it shocked me the difference I created by completing such a simple change.

 

[Strathglass]

Hi Jim,

As has been said the stuff to get is sailkote. Quite expensive but it works.

You can get it from here

I've got a proper platform up to the boat and have almost finished fitting a B&Q gazibo over it. So i can work thro the winter. I don't know whether it will last till next spring as the fabric is a bit flimsy.

Cheers

Iain

 

[Rowana]

Thanks, Iain.

I hope we don't get too much wind and snow over the winter for your Gazebo !

Jim