Dinghy development: Mclube and mast tracks

Print Page | Close Window

Mclube and mast tracks

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12804
Printed Date: 05 Jul 25 at 12:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Mclube and mast tracks

Posted By: Lurch723
Subject: Mclube and mast tracks
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 3:06pm

ive got an issue with a 49er rig (new style), the halyards are 3mm dyneema and the main goes up ok to the third batten then it becomes almost impossible to get up the track. It's easier when I release all the batten tensions, but the prospect of capsizing the boat and then tensioning the battens irritates me. Sooooo is Mclube the answer?

The luff is good and the batten pockets are too, the halyard runs freely without the sail attached.

I can see the batten is point loading the luff as it goes into the mast track.

Replies:

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 3:26pm

Any wax or PTFE spray will help.
Dirt in the groove isoften part of the trouble, sliding a rag soaked in wax polish up and down will usually get a lot of grot out.
Tesco's cheapo furniture wax aerosol works as well as most things.
But if something is simply the wrong size, you are possibly on to a loser.

Posted By: cad99uk
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 4:21pm

Are you able to easily reduce the mast bend before hoisting the main. On our RS800 we have the uppers slack before hoisting. Then tension them when main is up. Also use prolube.

Having a straighter mast really helps us despite the fact that there may be luff curve in the sail.

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 4:21pm

Have you got the battens all flipped the same way? If the battens are on opposite sides it makes the sail impossible to hoist.

-------------
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Posted By: Daniel Holman
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 4:34pm

Take a 5mm drill bit. Wrap some 120g sandpaper round it, slide it up and down any troublesome bits of track, carefully, concentrating on holding the ends of the sandpaper such that they are abrading the opening (slot) of the track, rather than the inside of the track.

Posted By: Lurch723
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 4:35pm

Well I'll try waxing it I guess

Strange that I thought prebend would make the main easier to hoist?

Sam - not sure if they were now I come to think of it?

Neither my B14 or RS600 were this difficult!

Posted By: Lurch723
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 4:36pm

Thanks Dan I'll give that a go too next week when I get down to the boat again

Posted By: fleaberto
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 4:54pm

On my 600 I've found that I need to have the battens all on one side and no rig tension.
Still an inch by inch process once I get anywhere near the final two battens.
Initially I thought the same about prebend helping, but it definitely doesn't - not for me anyway :-D

-------------
Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays'

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 24 Jul 17 at 5:43pm

On the Spice Prolube made a huge difference, to the point that if you release the halliard while hoisting the sail slides back down on it's own. Having the battens on opposite sides still makes the job impossible though.

-------------
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"