I was sailing to Port Aransas a few weeks ago on a close reach with up to 20 knots of wind. I had the jib sheet car full aft to depower the genny a little. The two aft most screws failed and the track broke at the third screw hole. The boat is 18 months old. Beneteau USA says call Lewmar. Any suggestions.
jib sheet car track failure
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Charlie Gruetzner - BeneteauOwners.net
Can't see the picture to clearly
but what is the brown that seems to be near the break. Rust? My sense is that it could be some type of corrosion. but I need a little more information Charlie
but what is the brown that seems to be near the break. Rust? My sense is that it could be some type of corrosion. but I need a little more information Charlie
Sheet Track Failure
sgraham, Although your photo is not particularly revealing, my guess is that the track failure is probably due to poor installation of mounting screws. Repeated flexing upward of the track caused the fracture at the first strong connection to the deck. Beneteau and Lewmar will undoubtedly pass the fault back and forth forever. Have you talked to your local dealer? In view of the minimal cost of a new track section the path of least resistence might be to check with your dealer on best method of repair and then doing it yourself. It should not be a difficult repair but it must be done precisely to make sure that no moisture penetrates the deck. Is the brown residue rust? From the photograph it appears that it may be balsa core material pulled up by the screws as they flexed upward. Sorry that I could not be more helpful. Model of boat, etc. is always a good idea if you want to get definitive help or hear from folks with similar failures. Jon
sgraham, Although your photo is not particularly revealing, my guess is that the track failure is probably due to poor installation of mounting screws. Repeated flexing upward of the track caused the fracture at the first strong connection to the deck. Beneteau and Lewmar will undoubtedly pass the fault back and forth forever. Have you talked to your local dealer? In view of the minimal cost of a new track section the path of least resistence might be to check with your dealer on best method of repair and then doing it yourself. It should not be a difficult repair but it must be done precisely to make sure that no moisture penetrates the deck. Is the brown residue rust? From the photograph it appears that it may be balsa core material pulled up by the screws as they flexed upward. Sorry that I could not be more helpful. Model of boat, etc. is always a good idea if you want to get definitive help or hear from folks with similar failures. Jon
Track
I have a later model Beneteau, and I'd be willing to bet the deck is solid fiberglass where the genoa track is located. In any case, there should be a wooden strip inside the cabin that can be unscrewed to see what happened below. The track should be thru bolted with nylock nuts and good sized washers for backing. Since your deck appears undamaged, it looks like some nuts either weren't put on in the first place, or were stripped off. Further inspection will tell you exactly what happened.
I have a later model Beneteau, and I'd be willing to bet the deck is solid fiberglass where the genoa track is located. In any case, there should be a wooden strip inside the cabin that can be unscrewed to see what happened below. The track should be thru bolted with nylock nuts and good sized washers for backing. Since your deck appears undamaged, it looks like some nuts either weren't put on in the first place, or were stripped off. Further inspection will tell you exactly what happened.
Pretty sad actually
Personally, I agree with the screw assessment. NO way the track would have failed if the screws had not let go. If Lewmar sent the screws along with the track, then they are responsible. On the other hand, if Beneteau USA installed the track with their own screws, or installed them improperly, they should take the blame and offer a repair solution. Did they say who provided the screws. IF not, you should ask. To be honest, I think it's pretty lame of Beneteau not to fix this, regardless. 18 months is surely not that old and this kind of failure, whether their screws or not, should be handled by them to show proper customer support. IF you bought the boat from a Beneteau dealer, and this is the kind of service/response you get, I would be a bit saddened to say the least. This is the kind of thing that would give them a GREAT name for VERY little cost, yet they choose to pass the buck. It's not a very good sign in my view. kh
Personally, I agree with the screw assessment. NO way the track would have failed if the screws had not let go. If Lewmar sent the screws along with the track, then they are responsible. On the other hand, if Beneteau USA installed the track with their own screws, or installed them improperly, they should take the blame and offer a repair solution. Did they say who provided the screws. IF not, you should ask. To be honest, I think it's pretty lame of Beneteau not to fix this, regardless. 18 months is surely not that old and this kind of failure, whether their screws or not, should be handled by them to show proper customer support. IF you bought the boat from a Beneteau dealer, and this is the kind of service/response you get, I would be a bit saddened to say the least. This is the kind of thing that would give them a GREAT name for VERY little cost, yet they choose to pass the buck. It's not a very good sign in my view. kh
Thanks for the response...
I opened the lath that lay underneath the jct and found that the bolts broke and then, since the only thing holding the car down was the piece of 3/4" wide track, it was only a matter of time, especially in windy Corpus Christi, before the track gave way as well. My intent now is to replace both tracks with a more substantial track and heavier cars. Thank you all for your responses. Steve
I opened the lath that lay underneath the jct and found that the bolts broke and then, since the only thing holding the car down was the piece of 3/4" wide track, it was only a matter of time, especially in windy Corpus Christi, before the track gave way as well. My intent now is to replace both tracks with a more substantial track and heavier cars. Thank you all for your responses. Steve
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Charlie Gruetzner - BeneteauOwners.net
Why????
I think the real question here is why would the bolts break on an 18 month old boat? I still think there is more to the problem. Were they stainless steel bolts in an aluminum track? Charlie
I think the real question here is why would the bolts break on an 18 month old boat? I still think there is more to the problem. Were they stainless steel bolts in an aluminum track? Charlie
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