Quandary
Well-Known Member
I have a Selden mast (like everyone these days) On the front is a long track which is intended for gybing and extended to allow the spinnaker pole to be stowed vertically on the front of the mast. The boat also has one of those extending sprits for a gennaker so the pole is mainly used only to boom out the genoa when we occasionally race white sail. The pole fitting is a slider with ring which runs on the track on two fragile looking tiny black plastic channels about 120mm long and 2.5mm. thick these seem to survive only around two to four hours of pole use before breaking and falling out. Replacements are only about £8 but are only available from Selden main dealers. The cost and limited availability are not as irritating as knowing the gear is always prone to fail.
Many of you must have this fitting, have you experienced this problem and do you know what causes the damage or how to prevent it? Is it caused when the slider contacts the end of the track or is it torque when the pole is used pulled back for a genoa. Without the little plastic liners the fitting is loose on the track and prone to come off or jam but I wondered if there was something like layers of adhesive tape or similar which could be used to take up the movement in the channel, lubricate the runner and would survive a bit longer. I could put up with the slider moving less freely if it can be made to stay on the track.
Alternatively does anyone know of a more reliable type of pole end traveller that will run on Selden pole track.
Many of you must have this fitting, have you experienced this problem and do you know what causes the damage or how to prevent it? Is it caused when the slider contacts the end of the track or is it torque when the pole is used pulled back for a genoa. Without the little plastic liners the fitting is loose on the track and prone to come off or jam but I wondered if there was something like layers of adhesive tape or similar which could be used to take up the movement in the channel, lubricate the runner and would survive a bit longer. I could put up with the slider moving less freely if it can be made to stay on the track.
Alternatively does anyone know of a more reliable type of pole end traveller that will run on Selden pole track.
