sail track lubrication

[EASLOOP]

Hi everybody,
My mainsail mast slides are made of s/s and they run up an external sail track. They have a tendency to stick. Does anyone have experience of a lubricant I can use on the slides?
I look forward to your replies.

 

[Cloven]

I spray the track with a silcone based lubricant at the start of the season and also a little spray on each of the sliders. Works a treat. The main thing is to avoid an oil based product.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Furniture polish is a cheap and effective method....

 

[AIDY]

furniture polish or if you want a dry lubricant go for a silicon spray from your local motor factor's about £4 a can works a treat and one application last for month /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EASLOOP]

I've got some silicon rotary valve lubricant somewhere in the garage. I'll give it a try.
Thanks very much for your input.

 

[Krusty]

[ QUOTE ]
I've got some silicon rotary valve lubricant somewhere in the garage. I'll give it a try.


[/ QUOTE ]
Something for you to consider;
Silicones, in waxes or sprays, prevent new paint or varnish from binding to the previous coats and they are almost impossible to get rid of by solvents or sanding.
So if you have a wooden mast......?

 

[BlueChip]

PTFE aerosol spray from screwfix works for me, dries and doesnt leave a sticky residue like an oil

 

[bobgoode]

A white teflon based lubricant in a small jar from most chandlers and made by Starbright. One thin coat lasts all season.

 

[EASLOOP]

I used to have a wooden mast - but - it got terminal rot so now I am refurbing an ally mast and boom.

Thanks everyone for your input. certainly seems like silicon or teflon is the answer.

 

[alec]

[ QUOTE ]
PTFE aerosol spray from screwfix works for me, dries and doesnt leave a sticky residue like an oil

[/ QUOTE ]

Would second PTFE aerosol. Have tried many things over the years and most seem to pick up dirt or as mentioned, too greasy.

Plastimo do a can which is fairly cheap. Nice and slippy but dries hard. I find spraying it on a rag first makes it easier to use.

 

[smeaks]

without any hesitation buy some silicon dry film lubricant. Halfords sell it as rubber luricant for opening window seals etc. Dries "dry" lasts well and if applied whilst hoisting the slides carry it up as it sets.

 

[Amari]

PTFE comes in small tubs of paste as well, works well for me.
I put a blob on the end of a match stick in the mast track and on each slider

 

[rwoofer]

A tip from the dinghy world. "Back to Black" from Halfords is the cheapest way to lubricate tracks etc. Exactly what I use on my boat and the main now drops straight into the stack pack by gravity alone.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have found that the dry PTFE sprays are better than silicones as they tend to attract the dust.I have found that the Starbright teflon grease in the white jar works for me also and doesn't wash off. I use it twice a year and my fully battened main drops down a treat into the sailbag.

 

[jwilson]

Hi everybody,
My mainsail mast slides are made of s/s and they run up an external sail track. They have a tendency to stick. Does anyone have experience of a lubricant I can use on the slides?
I look forward to your replies.

McLube from chandlers is expensive but works well, and leaves no mess. Much used by serious racers on all sorts of blocks, tracks, lines etc. Cheapest spray furniture polish (ie no beeswax) works too, but not quite as well.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Holts Pro-Lube Silicone PTFE Marine Lubricant is good but expensive. A can lasts a long time tho.