Repair & maintenance: 600 racks

Print Page | Close Window

600 racks

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6500
Printed Date: 15 May 25 at 12:39pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: 600 racks

Posted By: dics
Subject: 600 racks
Date Posted: 01 Mar 10 at 3:05pm

I am sure this has been asked before but I can not find the postings. Has anyone changed the racks on a RS600 from wide to narrow? If so it is an easy job and are they easy to come by in the secondhand market? Thanks

Rich

Replies:

Posted By: RS600653
Date Posted: 01 Mar 10 at 3:29pm

I've been trying to find some narrow racks for a while now but nothing seems to have appeared so I'm going to start off with the wides. As far as changing it goes it's pretty easy to do, you'll just have to adjust the lengths of your control lines assuming that they're continuous.

When I took my racks off I found they were stuck but, after a bit of gentle persuasion they came off with the plugs. To refit them I've rotated the plugs about 45 degrees (to avoid the old screw holes that I've filled) and drilled some new holes and screwed them back on with the appropriate amounts of silicon sealant.

Andy

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 02 Mar 10 at 8:33pm

So you can't just cut the ends off wide racks to make them narrow?!

-------------
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: Andrewst
Date Posted: 02 Mar 10 at 9:05pm

Its not that simple as it changes the geometry.

I changed mine from wide to narrow and its a bitch to do.

A mallet and block of wood to bash them off, then you will need new end bungs to re attatch to the hull ready for the new wings.

Dan

-------------
3000 3611 Chaos
B14 790

www.AllGoodFun.com - www.AllGoodFun.com

B14 709 For Sale
RS800 898 For Sale

Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 03 Mar 10 at 8:42am

Thanks guys.

Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 14 Mar 10 at 9:26pm

I didn't need new bung ends when I swapped my racks. I can't see why you would. Sledge hammer and a block of wood to remove them is definately the way to go.

-------------
600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it.
Also International 14, 1318

Posted By: Webmuppet
Date Posted: 14 Mar 10 at 9:58pm

Originally posted by mike ellis

I didn't need new bung ends when I swapped my racks. I can't see why you would. Sledge hammer and a block of wood to remove them is definately the way to go.

I remember watching somebody use that method - I'm not suggesting an easier way, but it did loosen an awful lot of gel-coat where the inner part of the racks touch the hull - this was on a yellow hull and colour matching it afterwards was a bit of a nightmare,

Nigel

-------------
I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg)

Graduate 2530 'Galaxy'

Posted By: s.a.l.t.y
Date Posted: 14 Mar 10 at 10:17pm

You have to knock the back end of the racks gently outwards first until the tube comes off the plug. Then twist the rack around the axis of the front plug (so you dont bend anything) and they should come off really easy.

-------------

Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 17 Mar 10 at 7:07pm

Originally posted by Webmuppet

Originally posted by mike ellis

I didn't need new bung ends when I swapped my racks. I can't see why you would. Sledge hammer and a block of wood to remove them is definately the way to go.

Just to clarify, I meant sledge hammer and wood to remove the racks. I recommend the more delicate screwdriver method if you need to remove the plugs.

-------------
600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it.
Also International 14, 1318

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 18 Mar 10 at 8:43am

You may find the plugs stick in the ends of the tubes and their screws pull out of the hull. You then need to hold the screws in a vice while pulling/levering/hammering the wing away. It's awkward.

In salt water, the alloy tube corrodes and binds to the plug.

New plugs are about 8 quid each iirc. I managed to re-use 3 out of 4.

When re-assembling, use silicone grease or some other favourite gunge between the plug and the tube. Also isolate the alloy tube from the stainless u-bolts at the gunwhale. Tape, plastic, whatever.

I would think trying to bend wide racks to make them narrow, i.e. pulling the front tube forward will stress the welded joints and failure will follow in due course. I think this is doomed, the angle is probably the same, but the fore and aft tube is shorter on a wide wing????

Wings have been swapped on the 600 Yahoo group, but narrow ones are probably more in demand. However at 200quid a side, it's worth asking. At these prices, I can see a lot of people being out of class.

Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 18 Mar 10 at 4:00pm

[QUOTE=RS400atC]

QUOTE]

I dont believe anyone was suggesting bending wide wings to make them narrow, were they?

On the 600 the wide and narrow wings fit into the same hull attachments, the only difference therefore is that the forward end of the wide wings is further back due to using the same sweep on the forward support as the narrows.

This incidentaly was the main argument in 2000/2001 for adopting RS700 style wings on the 700, but the group for retaining the class as it was won out and you have what you have.

Certainly in the early days many of us had both sets of wings, with one eating up space in the garage, but I guess most boats now only have one set. I think I flogged my wide wings for £90!!!!

In terms of swapping them over the last few posts are bang on. Its a fiddly job which you should be able to achieve yourself. If your arelatively competent at basic engineering skills then you should be able to salvage the plugs if not then they arnt that expensive.