TidesMarine sailtrack

[zoidberg]

Any 'skinny' to share on using this retrofitted onto an elderly mast?

 

[JimC]

I fitted the Tides Marine track to the Zspars mast of my Hunter Channel 31. I have a poor sense of balance and I didn't like having to climb onto the coachroof to pull down the last few feet of sail in bouncy conditions. I'd gone as far as I could with low friction slides and McLube pull-throughs but the last few feet were still obstinate. This was with a conventionally battened sail on a 13 metre mast with a stackpack on the boom.

I bought the Tides Marine gear from Sanders Sails who offered a discount and were cheaper than buying from Tides UK. The cost was in the region of £800. The track is easy to fit though I did have to open up the Zspars mast gate a bit with a Dremel. The slides can be attached to the luff of the sail with tape or shackles, I used shackles (as in the attached video) as I think they allow better articulation as the sail concertinas down onto the boom and the luff rope has to change from being parallel with the mast to being at right angles to it.

Now I flake out the halyard, release the clutch and the sail comes down like a runaway train straight into the stackpack. It has been a great improvement for me.

This video shows how the sailtrack works and how you fit it to the mast. They make the track in a variety of styles to fit different makes of masts with both internal and external tracks. Sanders will send you a set of discs for measuring your mast groove etc.

 

[Jokani]

I fitted one, very impressed with it, next boat I'll be looking to do the same.

 

[Shuggy]

Yep, I’ve got one retrofitted to a Nicholson 43. Awesome piece of kit with low friction. I’d do it again on another boat.

 

[bitbaltic]

I have written umpteen posts singing the praises of this system which has been on our Hanse 301 since 2013. Just search my username and tidesmarine. As with the recommendations above. It is peerless in what it does fit your sail handling. You will need a fully battened sail and thus most go for the track alongside new sails and Saunders are the loft that knows how to get the max from this system.

you will absolutely never regret buying a fully battened sanders main with a tidesmarine track.

 

[JimC]

...You will need a fully battened sail...

I use it with a non-fully-battened sail. Also the boat used for the demonstration in the Tides Marine video I linked to doesn't have a fully battened sail.

 

[bitbaltic]

I use it with a non-fully-battened sail. Also the boat used for the demonstration in the Tides Marine video I linked to doesn't have a fully battened sail.

Then I stand corrected

and the track is even better than I thought

 

[wilkinsonsails]

We have Tides marine tracks on main and mizzen ,fitted by the previous owner .The sails are not fully battened .
The track is an excellent up grade, and the sails just wizz down .
Using other track and car systems on customers yachts ,an observation ,Tides is simple and fool- proof regarding servicing.
Fully battened mains often need roller cars that need salt rinsing out .The slides need cleaning and track too.
Anodised masts are not always suitable for car sliders .Balls often escape ,batten boxes break or strip thread attachments
Tides track solves a lot of these problems. It’s cost effective too.
I really enjoy dropping the sails ,not having to wrestle with terylene any more.
It’s lovely having a reliable system .

 

[bikedaft]

brilliant... Hustler 35. originally a bolt rope main, then fitted with cars - but unless you were going directly upwind, could not move cars at all (cam action in mast track).
much safer now, can lower main going downwind if needs be etc. also cars slide v easily.
go for it!

 

[Stemar]

I have a poor sense of balance and I didn't like having to climb onto the coachroof to pull down the last few feet of sail in bouncy conditions

In my case, it was more Milady being unhappy with me going to the mast in bouncy conditions, but I overcame it with a light downhaul led aft to the cockpit with all the other string. With lazyjacks, it means I can get the main down and secure quickly in pretty much any conditions without leaving the cockpit.

 

[fredrussell]

Just for curiosity’s sake, what’s the ballpark figure for a TidesMarine sailtrack? On a 10 metre mast, say?

 

[JimC]

A few years ago I paid about £800 for a Tides Marine track system for 13 metre mast. This was buying it from Sanders Sails who were cheaper than Tides Marine UK.

 

[zoidberg]

Just for curiosity’s sake, what’s the ballpark figure for a TidesMarine sailtrack? On a 10 metre mast, say?

I had a 'ballpark' figure from Kemp just t'other day of about £35 per foot.

 

[fredrussell]

Not too bad a cost in the grand scheme of things.