Battcar System for Capri 18

Project_Mayhem · 2025-10-02T05:15:56-0700

I think a battcar system might be overkill for an 18' boat. You can get similar performance by giving your slides and track a really good cleaning and lube. I'd be willing to bet that your slides have black dirt on them. Now imagine how the inside of your track looks!

I had an O'Day 25 that required a winch to hoist the main. After a really good cleaning of the track and slides I was able to hoist it with ease and drop it within seconds. I tried Boeshield T9, SailKote and WD40 Dry Lube. I liked the WD40 the best for a few reasons. It provided good lubrication and my yearly maintenance consisted of a Magic Eraser sponge and the WD40. The dry lube version contains a fast evaporating solvent that in this case, aided in cleaning. I estimate the slides on that boat were 15-20 years old.

I made a post a few months ago asking folks for a better slide. The answer was that Bainbridge's Allslip slides offered noticeably less friction. Please clean your track before switching to a better slide, otherwise you won't see any performance gains

dlochner · 2025-10-02T06:05:09-0700

As @Project_Mayhem says, a Battcar system is way overkill. Clean and lubricate the track and slides. Dry lube works best because it won't capture dust and dirt like a wet lube will.

As for the sail, the 150 is probably too large. One factor is the location of the jib track and the winch. Looking at some photos, some 18s seem to have cabin top winches and some have coaming winches. Which do you have?

dlochner · 2025-10-02T15:05:17-0700

A really worn halyard or an oversized one can cause problems. Also check the sheave to make sure it spins freely. Sometimes the sheave gets corroded or develops a flat spot and doesn't let the halyard run free.

Sail slugs and hanks can be replaced.

New sails will make a world of difference. With the winch and track on the cabin top a 110% is probably the largest sail you can fly unless you add another track and a turning block.

Project_Mayhem · 2025-10-02T20:33:16-0700

ddox said:
My mainsail currently doesn't have any slides, so I will look into that as a start, also thanks for the recommendation to clean. The main halyard also is looking a bit worse for the wear, would replacing that help too?

Per the sail, I have cabin top winches and a jib track on the cabin top as well. It came with two other jib sails but those clips not opening anymore. Can you replace those? I may just replace the sails, the mainsail also seems to be for another boat (something 21 is on the sail and it's too big for the mast). For now I was able to just reef the mainsail.

Slides are lower friction and they bind up less. @dlochner Perhaps a luff guide might help get the rope into the track easier?
It may be cost prohibitive to add slides to your sail as it requires grommets/reinforcements or straps to be installed unless you do the labor

Lubing even worn sheave bushings can help but only for so long. I still find that cleaning and lubing the track and sail luff helps more than anything

I had a Starwind 19 with a jib. It was just under the threshold for needing winches. A genoa would've pushed it over the edge in moderate and high winds. Perhaps save your 150 for light air days?