I've been thinking about installing Harken Battcars on the mast of my Hunter 26. Does anyone have any opinions or experience with them or any other friction reducing system for mainsail raising? Thanks in advance!
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Pat Higgins
Mainsail raising
Having had much consternation when raising the main on my current 310 and somewhat less on a previous 280, I reviewed the discussions in the forum archives. One of which recommended a product called fastrac, available from West/E&B Marine. It was nothing short of an epiphany when, for the first time I raised the main hand over hand without the assistance of the winch. Additionally, the main dropped with no effort as well. It's a goopy product, something lika a salve, applied to slides and mast track. Mfr says it wont attract dirt and get tacky. The jury is out on that and how long it will last (mfr says 6 mos w/ normal use) but I'd say check it out first.
Having had much consternation when raising the main on my current 310 and somewhat less on a previous 280, I reviewed the discussions in the forum archives. One of which recommended a product called fastrac, available from West/E&B Marine. It was nothing short of an epiphany when, for the first time I raised the main hand over hand without the assistance of the winch. Additionally, the main dropped with no effort as well. It's a goopy product, something lika a salve, applied to slides and mast track. Mfr says it wont attract dirt and get tacky. The jury is out on that and how long it will last (mfr says 6 mos w/ normal use) but I'd say check it out first.
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Rich Stidger
Fastrac
I tried it on my 40.5. Worked FANTASTIC. But only lasted about 6 weeks. I am looking for a way to either apply it without removing my mainsail or find another solution to the problem. I wouldn't mind reapplying every 4-5 weeks, but having to take off the mainsail to insert the cleaning/application slide is a real pain.
I tried it on my 40.5. Worked FANTASTIC. But only lasted about 6 weeks. I am looking for a way to either apply it without removing my mainsail or find another solution to the problem. I wouldn't mind reapplying every 4-5 weeks, but having to take off the mainsail to insert the cleaning/application slide is a real pain.
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Michael Cohn
They work - sort of...
I have them on my H45, which, as you might guess, has a BIG main. They work fairly well, but then again there are all the unmodified slides on the rest of the sail to consider, not to mention the sheer weight of the sail itself, and the somewhat undersized halyard winch..... To be honest, they made a only a small improvement in the ease of hoisting and dropping. They might work much better on a smaller main. One day when I am feeling rich, I will install an electric halyard winch and be done with this problem. MC
I have them on my H45, which, as you might guess, has a BIG main. They work fairly well, but then again there are all the unmodified slides on the rest of the sail to consider, not to mention the sheer weight of the sail itself, and the somewhat undersized halyard winch..... To be honest, they made a only a small improvement in the ease of hoisting and dropping. They might work much better on a smaller main. One day when I am feeling rich, I will install an electric halyard winch and be done with this problem. MC
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Ron Hughes
Battcars!
I installed the Harken system on my 35.5 to reduce friction, I even used the ball bearing luff cars in-between the battens. It totally eliminated sail related friction. My problem however, was caused by no sheave(pulley wheel)on the axle at the masthead coupled with a halyard that was neatly wrapped(by my local Hunter dealer) around several components inside the mast! I didn't fully understand the problem until after I sold the boat, but the new owner is going to get it beat soon. My current boat, a 40.5 benefits immensely from having battcars on the main. It doesn't have luffcars yet, but with it's properly reeved and smooth running halyard, it is a bunch easier to handle than stock. I have the luxury of having an electric halyard winch as well, making hoisting a breeze (so I have no excuse for not stopping for a family swim), but having the battcars makes reefing and dropping the main a simple exercise from the companionway(I ran the topping lift into the cockpit). In fact,if I am not careful, the main will actually fall too fast! A quick trip to secure the sail ties and fasten the cover and I'm done. Having the Harken system presents no hassles or maintenance problems at all. The only drawback is cost. But I feel strongly that since my wife and kids can easily drop the main if I happen to be over the side or incapacitated, coupled with the fact that I will now agree to hoist and drop several times in a day for whatever reasons my family can come up with, make it well worth it.
I installed the Harken system on my 35.5 to reduce friction, I even used the ball bearing luff cars in-between the battens. It totally eliminated sail related friction. My problem however, was caused by no sheave(pulley wheel)on the axle at the masthead coupled with a halyard that was neatly wrapped(by my local Hunter dealer) around several components inside the mast! I didn't fully understand the problem until after I sold the boat, but the new owner is going to get it beat soon. My current boat, a 40.5 benefits immensely from having battcars on the main. It doesn't have luffcars yet, but with it's properly reeved and smooth running halyard, it is a bunch easier to handle than stock. I have the luxury of having an electric halyard winch as well, making hoisting a breeze (so I have no excuse for not stopping for a family swim), but having the battcars makes reefing and dropping the main a simple exercise from the companionway(I ran the topping lift into the cockpit). In fact,if I am not careful, the main will actually fall too fast! A quick trip to secure the sail ties and fasten the cover and I'm done. Having the Harken system presents no hassles or maintenance problems at all. The only drawback is cost. But I feel strongly that since my wife and kids can easily drop the main if I happen to be over the side or incapacitated, coupled with the fact that I will now agree to hoist and drop several times in a day for whatever reasons my family can come up with, make it well worth it.
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Michael Cohn
Ron - Question?
I had no idea you could get luff cars. How much do they cost, and will they fit in a standard mast track? MC
I had no idea you could get luff cars. How much do they cost, and will they fit in a standard mast track? MC
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Guest
Rich-Fastrac Solution
Rich, Fastrac did not work well on my 375, but since it's worked for you, here's a solution to your problem. Buy two sail slugs of the size that your boat uses. On one slug, carefully cut away the right side of the base of the slug. Smooth the surface that you've cut. Next, cut away the left side of the other slug and smooth the cut surface. You'll now be able to put each of the slugs into the track above the gate. Using one of the slugs, push a piece of cloth into the track, with its sides sticking out of the track. Now insert the other slug the same way. Make sure that you put them in with one slug having the remaining portion of the base to the left and the other with the base to the right. Now tie the two slugs tightly together, and tie the cloth to the slugs. It should look like you've wrapped the slugs in the cloth. You can now put the goop into the track just above this contraption and spread it up the track. Good luck. Robert Pancza
Rich, Fastrac did not work well on my 375, but since it's worked for you, here's a solution to your problem. Buy two sail slugs of the size that your boat uses. On one slug, carefully cut away the right side of the base of the slug. Smooth the surface that you've cut. Next, cut away the left side of the other slug and smooth the cut surface. You'll now be able to put each of the slugs into the track above the gate. Using one of the slugs, push a piece of cloth into the track, with its sides sticking out of the track. Now insert the other slug the same way. Make sure that you put them in with one slug having the remaining portion of the base to the left and the other with the base to the right. Now tie the two slugs tightly together, and tie the cloth to the slugs. It should look like you've wrapped the slugs in the cloth. You can now put the goop into the track just above this contraption and spread it up the track. Good luck. Robert Pancza
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