Lubrication for Plastic Sail Runners

[lancelot]

Hi
Could someone offer advice regarding the best lubricant for plastic sail sliders. My head sail will not reach right to the top of the mast, probably about a foot short. I thought it may need lubricating, however, I don't want to damage the plastic sliders.
Any ideas, please?
Also what would be the best cleaner for the sails, they have a few stains/ mould on the material.
Fair winds,
Lancelot

 

[warrenmarkus1]

I use a white silicon grease to lubricate the sliders, but am careful to get it only on the inside face of the slider. Seems to work for me

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Best thing for slides is dry teflon lube,or maclube wont damage slides or make a mess on the sail like silicon sprays and grease.
Mold and mildew stains can be improved with a bleach rinse which will kill the spores and lighten the spots.Unfortunately this may not remove Black mold stains completley.Sunlight does a good job on a cleaned sail in fading mold spots.
Cindy

 

[Thistle]

Try a dry teflon spray. Works well and, unlike grease, will not catch dust, grit, flies etc which then undo all the good the grease did in the first place.

 

[BlueChip]

I use a white silicon grease to lubricate the sliders, but am careful to get it only on the inside face of the slider. Seems to work for me

Srewfix sell a PTFE saw lubricating spray aerosol which is ideal for any job like this.
Its a fraction of the price of stuff from chandlers.

 

[tross]

I think someone recommend the silicon spray you get for use on the needles and foots of sewing machine - I gather this does not leave any stains.

 

[l'escargot]

I use aerosol "dashboard cleaner" from Halfords. Basically silicon spray at a non-marine price.

 

[CET1]

Try Hepworth Silicone Lubricant from the builders merchants used to be 7.50 for 400ml. I havn't had to reapply for 2 years now.

 

[Csail]

I will second the screwfix spray, great for all sorts of jobs and cheap.

 

[rivonia]

use only DRY TEFLON as any other type of lubrican will attract Dirt,dust,salt and all of those will cause your sliders to jamb. If you want to drop the sail in an emergency the last thing you will want is a jammed sail.

Good luck

Peter

 

[KellysEye]

Agree Dry Teflon anything else will attract dirt etc. I wouldn't use bleach on a sail. To kill mildew use Dettol. Nothing seems to remove the black spots - well acid perhaps ;-)

 

[lancelot]

Lubrication for plastic sail sliders

Many thanks everyone for the informative replies. I will go armed with some Teflon next weekend.
What a forum!
Fair winds,
Lancelot

 

[rob2]

Caravan shops have special brushes for cleaning the grooved rails where an awning is fitted. A similar approach might be a good precursor to lubricating the mast track.

Rob.

 

[NPMR]

Or, you could be a 'tightwad' like me and just rub the slides with a candle!

If you work the candle in the groove at the bottom of the mast as well, the sliders then carry the wax up to the top for you.

I do mine once a year at the most. Whizzes up and down a treat.

 

[philip_stevens]

Many thanks everyone for the informative replies. I will go armed with some Teflon next weekend.
What a forum!
Fair winds,
Lancelot

I've also found that my main will not go right to the top of the mast tightening the luff, and in my case I think it is the length of the splice on the halyard that is stopping it. I am going to see if the rigger can make a slightly shorter splice.

For lubricating the track and slides, I have used Holts Plastic and Rubber Lubricant from Halfords.