Sail slides

[Tata duende]

Have a Hunter 280 and main halyard tends to harden up the sail is about 2/3 -3/4 way up; the line itself runs free. Has anyone tried the Bainbridge type Allslip or other types of slides and if so, what size, model etc?
Brian K

 

[Tally Ho]

My H280 came (from the PO) with the Harken batt car system. Track mounts in the mast slot, and roller earring cars ride on the track. Real smooth. Main was easy to raise, and came down completely when I dropped the halyard. I also had lazy jacks on the main to control the sail when she came down.

Did you try lubricating the track? My O'Day 322 has traditional sail slugs, and I give them a shot of dry silicone spray every once in a while when raising the sail help them slide.

Greg

 

[Tata duende]

Greg,
I do the silicone thing (that helps a bit), and the main drops without an issue; it is just raising it once it gets about 2/3rd up. The sheave rolls smoothly when playing with the halyard.

 

[JohnVTX]

The tension usually comes from a boom not being supported by a rigid vang or a topping lift. Get the tension off the leach and it will go up much easier.

 

[Tata duende]

Agree, and have a rigid vang, but the full length battens sort of act like a boom as each one ascends. I think the Bainbridge Allslip slides might help but just was hoping if any skippers with this problem had tried them.
Brian K

 

[mark porter]

I wash my track each spring with soapy water. Once dry, I wax the track with regular liquid auto wax. Used to be impossible to raise my main, now no problems!

 

[Tata duende]

Mark, good idea, but I can't reach that high, mast stays up all year.

 

[JohnVTX]

I spray graphite in slot as high as I can go, which is not too high.

 

[Roland5048]

I wash my track each spring with soapy water. Once dry, I wax the track with regular liquid auto wax. Used to be impossible to raise my main, now no problems!

Mark, good idea, but I can't reach that high, mast stays up all year.

No problem. I do the same and my mast is up full time. Before you raise the main, take your hose and wet the entire track. As you raise the main, put some liquid dish soap on the slides and work up and down a bit. Give a good rinsing, let dry, and apply a dry lubricant to the slides next time you raise the main. Easy Peasy.

 

[Tata duende]

John, graphite is a good lubricant but have always felt that it is taboo due to the black residue. I use spray silicon now (helps) but will have to try the washing and then some lubricant.

 

[mark porter]

Yeah, washing to get rid of grit build up, then lube after is the best fix. Dry lube only of course.

 

[Ward H]

I hadn't heard of AllSlip slides before until I read this thread. Then today I was talking to my sailmaker who needed to confirm the size of my mast gate. They normally use AllSlip slides for their full battens but in my case my mast gate is too small. She said for my size sail and 2 x 2 batten arrangement they will go with regular slides, that it wasn't worth enlarging my mast gate to fit the AllSlips.
She did suggest I use two spare slides zip tied together with a scrubby in between wetted with soap to clean the track. Then rinse and spray with SailKote. She also said the slug hoops (saddles?) will be attached to the sail with webbing and I should spray the webbing with SailKote as well.
So, Hyde Sails uses them for their full battens when they fit in the mast gate. I think she said the gate needed to be 1 3/4" long. Mine is about 1 1/2".
Maybe that will help of give you something to think about.

 

[Tata duende]

Mine have the webbing to attach the slides and that works/articulates well; it is just that I'm getting some binding as the longer full battens start up. Will just have to play with solutions and see where it goes. Right now prepping for a 48 mile night race around Lake Pontchartrain tomorrow night, looks like light air!