Currently installing strongtrack low friction sail tracks on masts. Really great system that allows you to reef sails immediately. I am super impressed with this product . Why wrestle hoisting or lowering your sails? Wish I discovered this long ago
Every time I see the strong track system mentioned it has gotten positive reviews. How difficult was it to install? Did you have to customize anything? Did it change sail dynamics or fit? And how did you order, were measurements of system precise or does one tweak to fit a particular boat?
Another question, have you attempted reefing while sailing deep? If so, how did it go? Being able to do this with less hassle would be very nice.
I hired riggers to install it but the Strong track would be easy to install with minimal equipment. It HDPE extrusion that slides over existing T track. There are many youtube videos. I am ordering new sails but I don’t expect it to interfere with performance. As far as handling is concerned, it will be much easier as there is minimal friction on the track making lowering and raising the sail like butter smooth.
Not a bank breaker either. A solution I can highly recommend. The sailmaker fully applauded the gear as well as the riggers,
Carl
Im quite thrilled with it on my 40/40. Nice and smooth
I have the tides track on my freedom 45 - it was installed when I bought the boat and it is finally showing its age and I plan to replace it this spring. you do have to take some measurements. If you do it through a rigger they will have the disks, but if you want to do it yourself, they’ll mail you a set of the measurement disks for free.
It’s easiest to install if you have the mast down so you can take the right length measurements, but it can be installed with the mast up. the track rolls up pretty nicely so you can push it up from the gooseneck, but if I plan to do it while the mast is still down.
My only real complaint is that if you “let er’ rip” on the takedown, the slides do take a beating and the ringdings break easily and pins get lost - definitely order replacements. This coupled with 6 full battens means it doesn’t always get as low on the boom as I’d like, but it definitely is a huge improvement over the plain track.
How many years do you feel you can get out of the track before replacement?
Carl
We bought the boat in 2009 and it was probably at least 5 years old then. I’ve heard that there was a batch that didn’t last very long, but I would expect it to last at least 15 years.
That is longer than I will have the vessel so that should work well thanks,
Carl
Be careful about letting the boom out to 90° when running down wind. This can cause lateral pressure from the batten cars on the track and can cause damage to the track. 2 different people have warned me about this so i am conservative with how far out i let the boom go. I just bought my 40/40 so this tip is just second hand knowledge.
It was recommended go me that if you had a partially battened main you could let ‘er out past the main by keeping full battens at the top and shorter battens lower
That makes sense. The longer lower battens would have a lot more force than the upper shorter ones.