Screwing or bolting genoa track?

[Oscarpop]

Toying with the idea of adding a genoa to our sailing wardrobe but need to add a genoa track.

Does this need to be through bolted ( grp deck) or can it be screwed?

It seems like gods own job to bolt through, so all advice gratefully received

 

[Boathook]

Bolt. I had a track that pulled out because it was only screwed down.

 

[pvb]

Definitely bolted - the loads can be very high.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Not only through bolted, it also needs a backing plate. the loading are very high in this area and ripping it could mean a lot more work than doing it properly in the first place.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I agree - definitely through bolted. If the deck is sandwich construction you will need to remove the balsa/foam in the sandwich at every hole and cast epoxy plugs to redrill the hole through to then use a backing plate or at the very least a large penny washer. This stops you crushing the deck/sandwich construction as you tighten the bolts up.

Not at all difficult, but time consuming and labour intensive. The technique has been described on here before.

If the bolts and nuts are visible inside you can make them less of an eye-sore by using acorn headed nuts. You will need to cut the bolts exactly to the right length. Again not difficult, but tedious to get right.

Hopefully you will have a removable head lining panel to hide the nuts and bolts behind.

 

[William_H]

Genoa track

If the genoa is a separate sail ie not furling then you might get away with just a pulley attachment to the deck. Fit the sail to the boat and try to find the correct position for the pulley allowing for the height of the pulley and attachment when hard on the wind. This position will not be best for reaching however if you are not one for adjusting things when reaching then one position will do you.
There is an alternative for reaching anyway which is another jib pulley set on the gunwhale and further forward. Use a lighter alternative sheet. Fully adjustable track is not necessary. good luck olewill

 

[rob2]

You could indeed just fasten a block on deck, but better if you also fasten one forward to carry a barber hauler to adjust the effective angle you're pulling at. If the aft block is correct for close hauled, then going off the wind you can use the barber hauler to move the pull forward, controlling twist effectively.

Rob.

 

[charles_reed]

To use an overlapping headsail effectively you need to be able to adjust the sheeting angle. This means either an adjustable track or the botch of a barber hauler.

Not only do you need to through through bolt the fixings on the track, but they need an effective backing plate (in proper designs ply is moulded into the deckhead). the forces involved are far in excess of those that screws can take.