Jib Track and Block Replacement

[damvolpe]

Hi All,

My '76 CD25 has a 4' long 3/4" wide t-track mounted on the toe rail for the jib sheet. On her first sail in moderate winds with the genoa up both the slide mounted blocks bent and failed. These are Schaefer stand up spring blocks rated at 1000 lbs SWL. http://www.atlanticriggingsupply.com/sc03stupspbl.html

Rather the replacing them I thought I might install wider t-tracks that could hold heftier blocks. Has anyone done this? Is it possible to bend the tracks yourself? I haven't been able to check yet to see if the existing track is through bolted or just screwed down to the teak. Any and all advice would be appreciated!

Damian Volpe
Lookfar 1976 CD25
Southold, NY

[Steve Laume]

I changed out the short tracks on Raven for some 10 ft lengths that are 1" wide. The old and new tracks are through bolted with fender washers and plenty of extra threads to make it more fun to get the old ones out. I had no trouble at all bending the 1" track to follow the curve of the CD-30 toe rail. I drilled all the holes, using the bolts to line them up and help to make the bend then caulked everything up and did the final installation with a helper. Some of the nuts were pretty hard to get at but I managed to through bolt all of them and I don't worry about pulling out the track no matter what I use it for, Steve.

[Jeff D]

I grew up on Great Peconic Bay, so I know that a normal afternoon brings 15 - 20 knot breezes, but there has to be more to the story than that. I have the same track and Schaeffer blocks on my Ty and cannot imaging them bending in moderate winds?

[mgphl52]

wow... Atlantic Rigging really 'likes' those cars... I would suggest contacting Garhauer and ask if they have cars for 3/4" track. Their catalog doesn't list any but they may have them or can easily fabricate them for you.

If you go to 1" track, I would highly recommend getting the cars (either single block or low profile) from Garhauer.

[damvolpe]

Thanks for the replies. My first mate, a more experienced sailor than I, was doing some cross sheeting, something I had never done. I think the blocks got some unhappy lateral stress that contributed to the parts failing. Or maybe they were just old. I don't know. I did read on one marine listing for the part that they were meant for boats 20' or less. Not sure what the load on my 150 genoa is but I wouldn't think it exceeds 1000lbs. Since I have to replace the blocks anyway i thought it might be a good opportunity for an upgrade to 1" track. Although I may save that for the end of the season when its on the hard. Great to know I can manage it myself though. Much appreciated.