Have recently installed “Tides Marine” “Strong Tracks” on my 1982 F33 Cat Ketch.
I pulled the boat along a bulkhead and utilized a man lift that I rented to install the tracks. this was easier and cheaper that pulling the masts.
I opted to keep the wishbone rig. “Rope Eyes” made from carbon fiber pads with “Dyneema” Loops were epoxied to the carbon fiber mast to hang the booms and hold it tight to the mast.
Also replaced old wrap around sails with full battened sails by Chesapeake Sail Makers of Annapolis MD.
New Sails have approximately 20% more sail area. I am now able to sail in much lighter winds than before however, the trade off is that I also have to reef a little sooner.
New rig performs better than expected!
Chuck is a great guy to deal with, you’ll get really good service from him, congrats.
I have the same boat a 1982 F-33 Cat Ketch hull #52 but I have regular booms. When i got the boat the PO said he was tired of always fighting to raise the sails ,particularly mainsail. He went as far as to purchase a $2000.00 power winch(winchmaster made by Scanvik but no longer produced) this worked for a while untill even that had trouble raising the sails! IWhen I got the boat and tried to raise the sails i was amazed how hard it was. I expected some work as they are very heavy sails but an all out workout and still not be able to fully hoist mainsail …I knewsomthing was wrong. I was planning to install the tides marine Strong Tracks also but first I decided to try cleaning the track and lubricating it . i spent a few hours in the chair with cleaner and scrub pad and some sailcoat. It was a tough job trying to manage in gthe chair but when it was done i gave trying to raise sail another try. Well, what a difference! i can easily now pull both sails ,including that beast of a main, full hoist by hand, no winch needed!! It also now drops like a rocket! Not wanting to have to do the cleaninag procedure again, not knowing how long it was going to last , I fabricated a cleaning/lubricating device that i sparay with sailcoat and hoist up the track with halyard and pull down with a tag line. Works great! I did it once this season and so far sails hoist with hardly any effort!! …As for the Strong TRacks? well I know they are are great product and those I know that have it installed love it but for me I’m sticking with the original track for now …cant see any reason not too anymore!!