Sail Slides Jamming in Track

[Bill Goldsmith]

On Second Chance (CD27 #172, 1980) I have been putting up with a minor annoyance ever since I bought her last year. Upon raising and lowering the mainsail, the plastic sail slides typically become jammed in the access opening used to insert the slides into the track. There is a device (I'm not sure of its name; a "keeper?") that swings into place and locks with a pin to hold the slides in. That device does not seem to fully close off the access opening. On raising the sail, the top corner of several slides typically jam into the top of the opening. I then have to wiggle each jammed slide into place to get the sail up. The same thing happens when lowering the sail.

The slides seem to be in good shape and have not been worn thin. The problem appears to be inadequate covering of the access opening. I have looked at all the catalogs to locate a replacement "keeper" device that might work better than the one on the mast, but I haven't seen anything. Has anyone addressed this problem?

Bill Goldsmith



william.goldsmith@mendes.com

[Neil Gordon]

Bill,

The gate that closes up the slot on LIQUIDITY is kept in place with a cotter pin. I've found that if a small pin is used, there's play in the door and the sail slides either get stuck or come out. With a slightly larger pin I get a firm fit and the door can't move.

Hope that's your problem. <G>


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[john churchill]

i had same prob on my cd26 gate. i rounded corners with a file which helped some, but the total cure was just to spray some teflon gel on the gate area and the slides. problem is now essentially gone. i have a nonremovable u shaped retaining pin.

[Bill Goldsmith]

John:

I, too, have the non-removable u-shaped pin. I will try some more teflon (I did hit it with some at commissioning in the spring) and see if it helps. Otherwise I may have to invent something....

Bill

i had same prob on my cd26 gate. i rounded corners with a file which helped some, but the total cure was just to spray some teflon gel on the gate area and the slides. problem is now essentially gone. i have a nonremovable u shaped retaining pin.

goldy@bestweb.net

[Bill Sandifer]

On Second Chance (CD27 #172, 1980) I have been putting up with a minor annoyance ever since I bought her last year. Upon raising and lowering the mainsail, the plastic sail slides typically become jammed in the access opening used to insert the slides into the track. There is a device (I'm not sure of its name; a "keeper?") that swings into place and locks with a pin to hold the slides in. That device does not seem to fully close off the access opening. On raising the sail, the top corner of several slides typically jam into the top of the opening. I then have to wiggle each jammed slide into place to get the sail up. The same thing happens when lowering the

sail.

The slides seem to be in good shape and have not been worn thin.

The problem appears to be inadequate covering of the access opening. I have looked at all the catalogs to locate a replacement "keeper" device that might work better than the one on the mast, but I haven't seen anything. Has anyone addressed this
problem?


The name of the item you are looking for is a "sailfeed gate" Dwyer AL Mast co. makes one that might fit your mast. Their web site is dwyermast.com
In their catalog on page 16 you will see a sailfeed gate and thumb screw for $8.00.
Give them a call at 203 484 0419. I have a 31' boat and I think this device is too small for my mast but am trying to check it out.
Good Luck with the hunt. I've been at it awhile and have not solved the problem yet for my boat.

Bill Goldsmith

wsandifer@cdicorp.com

[John Dupras]

Bill,

I had the same situation on my Cape Dory Intrepid 9M. I don't know your sail, but mine has jadk lines to allow the sail to "spread out" if you will when reefing. I bought a thumbscrew type track blocker (really technical mane) thet slides into the track and tightens down. All the slides stay above that device and I have no problems. Hope that helps some.

John
S/V Mariah



jdupras@wdcorp.com

[Andrew Blight]

I put up with this "minor annoyance" for three years and finally gave up on trying to "cure" a bad piece of engineering by fiddling with the original. This year I made a cover for the slot that is held on by a couple of thumb-screws. In addition to covering the slot from the surface (which will still allow the slides to tilt out into the opening in the track wall and get stuck) I have a piece of the cover that goes down into the incision in the wall of the slot and basically fills in where the track is open on the one side. It was pretty easy to construct out of a short piece of one inch aluminum angle - from the local hardware store. It adds half a minute to the process of removing or attaching the sail, but since I do each of those once a year, the gain is well worth it. Try it, it could add years to your life if you are a type-A personality... or if you get caught with a pressing need to raise or lower your sail in a hurry.



ablight@acorda.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

Andrew:

Thanks for the hint. I had been thinking along the same lines. I agree that any way you cut it a surface-mounted gate will still allow jamming to occur. As it sounds like your cure may benefit other CD owners besides me, would you mind describing your invention for us in a bit more detail? For instance, did you tap threads in the mast for the thumbscrews, and if not, how does the thumbscrew arrangement work? In order to recess the insert, did you grind the aluminum plate, allowing the insert to protrude? How did you deal with the curvature of the mast?

I usually avoid taking that type A part of my personality out sailing with me, but that piece of poor engineering certainly reduces the pleasure part of pleasure boating!! Recently my wife and some friends, all beginners, have really shown an interest in helping with sailing chores. It's hard enough instructing them how to raise the main without also having to tell them to wiggle the sail slides when they get stuck!!! Also, I have been toying with the idea of running the main halyard to the cockpit, but this problem obviously needs to be cured first.

Thanks again

Bill Goldsmith

I put up with this "minor annoyance" for three years and finally gave up on trying to "cure" a bad piece of engineering by fiddling with the original. This year I made a cover for the slot that is held on by a couple of thumb-screws. In addition to covering the slot from the surface (which will still allow the slides to tilt out into the opening in the track wall and get stuck) I have a piece of the cover that goes down into the incision in the wall of the slot and basically fills in where the track is open on the one side. It was pretty easy to construct out of a short piece of one inch aluminum angle - from the local hardware store. It adds half a minute to the process of removing or attaching the sail, but since I do each of those once a year, the gain is well worth it. Try it, it could add years to your life if you are a type-A personality... or if you get caught with a pressing need to raise or lower your sail in a hurry.

goldy@bestweb.net

[andrew blight]

Bill:

He is my recipe, which is certainly not the only way to do it. Thanks to Murphy and his law you still have to watch that the sail does not catch on the head of the thumbscrews. I am looking for a rounded plastic cover for the flat wings of the screws, so that the sail will slide around it.

Take a length of 1 x 3/16" aluminum angle, about twice as long as the slide insert slot. Cut one wall of the angle back from each end, so that an isolated tongue is left standing in the middle that is about 1/8" shorter than the slot. Then cut this tongue back until it is only about an eight of an inch proud of the surviving face of the angle. (You then have what looks like a piece of 1/8" angle stuck on the side of a 7/8" wide rectangle - the "faceplate". Round all the corners and file smooth all the edges to taste. Purchase a couple of stainless steel thumbscrews and nuts - I think I used 3/4 inch 8/32. Run a nut all the way up each screw to provide more of a head. Drill holes to admit the thumbscrews near the two ends of the faceplate. Put the aluminum in a vise and hammer the 1/8" angle piece so that it is at an angle of about 70 deg to the faceplate, which takes care of some of the rounding of the mast. This is the time to match the piece you have to the mast. The rest of the rounding is slight. I did it by round-filling the inner face of the faceplate until it fit nicely against the mast with the tongue in the slot. When it fits nicely, then drill and tap the mast through the thumbscrew holes. Good luck.