has anyone used this system for their main sail? Looking for some advice with adding this system.
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Tides Marine - Sail track
- Thread starter CSMcKillip
- Start date
It's a very popular upgrade here. Here's an E27 thread:
ericsonyachts.org
@goldenstate recently did a 3 part blog on it:
ericsonyachts.org
ericsonyachts.org
ericsonyachts.org
Marine Tide Sailtrack on an E27
Tides Marine Sail track on an E27 Has anyone installed a TidesMarine Sail Track on an E27? I'm concerned about how pointy the mast profile is on the aft side (luff track).
@goldenstate recently did a 3 part blog on it:
E32-200 - Tides Marine SailTrack 1 - How to order
Given the very positive reviews from members of the site, I decided to install a Tides Marine SailTrack system. The SailTrack is an extruded Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) Plastic track that slides into your mast's internal luff groove and...
E32-200 - Tides Marine Sailtrack 2 - Track installation
So after cleaning and polishing my mast while it was out at the boatyard, today I was able to install the Tides Marine Sailtrack. I linked to this guy's video before - I really just followed his example: This all took about 2.5 hours. My...
E32-200 - Tides Marine Sailtrack 3: Installing sail slides
After ordering, the Sailtrack, and installing it, the final step is to have the Sailtrack slides affixed to one's mainsail. Any rational person would take this task to a sail loft and have them do the work. I bought a used sailboat, so I've...
Yes, I searched after I wrote my post... thanks!
Sailingfun
Member III
I tried to install on my E27 but my track gate is below boom level... Very interesting system
I have not done anything yet, still thinking about adding it. My main goal is to be able to de-power the main in 12-15 and reef the main to keep the boat as flat as possible.
I am thinking I can get this done for about 1500.00 and may add some lazy jacks to help single handling.
You could cut a new gate into your mast above your boom if you wanted to add the track. The new cut gate is then covered by the track itself.
Here are my notes.
Sailingfun
Member III
Yes. I think about it but with a full list of work in order to push the refit, seems like something to do for the next boat. Thanks for the notes!
Bolo
Contributing Partner
Adding my 2 cents to this conversation....I had a Marine Tide Sail track installed on my E32 about two years ago and it was the best improvement made to the boat. Also had lazy jacks and sail bag done at the same time and the combination made for a safer boat, especially for an Olde Salt like me at 69. With luck all of you will get to the age of 69 and beyond so it’s a great investment.
K2MSmith
Sustaining Member
I can do this now quite easily, but I do need to mark my main halyard line because with the tides track, the main can quite easily and you can lower it too much. I am also thinking about moving reef #1 to the left side (main halyard is on right) so that I can use both winches to adjust reef line and halyard simultaneously (but not sure yet ?). I still have to jump to the mast though too hook the sail on the reef hook as I have yet to install forward reef lines - still not sure I want to though. it gets complicated with lots of lines coming back to the cockpit with rope all over the place.
My Tides sailtrack should be arriving this week to go on this weekend. In preparation I lengthened the mast gate to the required 10" above the gooseneck last weekend. I had seen Tom's thread about the install and was prepared to go at the mast with an angle grinder, when a friend suggested I think about using a router instead. Great advice.
It required cutting down the tip of a flush-cut router bit in order for the bearing to sit shallow enough to be able to cut the mast-track, but once that was done it took all of a minute to very cleanly cut both sides of the mast track away. Started and stopped the router with it pressed into the slot so as not to loose the unrestrained bearing.
Before:
After:
I hope this may save others some time, and potentially damage from an errant cut with a grinder.
It required cutting down the tip of a flush-cut router bit in order for the bearing to sit shallow enough to be able to cut the mast-track, but once that was done it took all of a minute to very cleanly cut both sides of the mast track away. Started and stopped the router with it pressed into the slot so as not to loose the unrestrained bearing.
Before:
After:
I hope this may save others some time, and potentially damage from an errant cut with a grinder.
c.gustafson
Member II
I have an '87 38-200. I installed the Tides Marine sail track a few years ago, shortly after buying the sailboat. It's great. I highly recommend the upgrade. Makes raising and lowering the main sail SO MUCH easier.
Alan Gomes
Sustaining Partner
Neat job. I just used a Dremel tool with a small cutting wheel when I did mine.
Nice job!
Rocinante33
Contributing Partner
I had no idea you can use a router on aluminum! What will they think of next?