I'm still fighting with my mailsail on my 380 and considering adding a strong track system. Any comments for or against? I have to go up to the mast and pull the sail down by hand because as soon as I release halyard tension the battens sag and the slugs get stuck in the mast especially where the pre-bend is. I could never get the sail up either without the power winch. The strong track system seems pricy at $1200 but the pleasure of a mainsail falling neatly into the stack pack is my dream! Please no comments about roller furling next time, been there, done that... Oh well off to the Newport Boat show this morning for two days, I'll post a report here on Saturday. To bad Hunter won't have a HC50 there! Thanks for your comments Bob Knott H380
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Rich Stidger
Strong Track works for me
Bob, I have struggled with the same problem for my first two years of ownership. this spring I reluctantly installed the Strong Track. So far, it works great. But the first year I had the boat, I didn't have much trouble either. Well, maybe toward the end of the first season it was starting to get a bit sticky coming down. I also use a power winch to raise the sail, and it does lug down near the top. My sailmaker gave me a 15-20% discount this spring in his busiest time, but his charges for the sail adjustments (installation of new slides and adjustment to length of the battens) consumed the entire discount. The bottom line was that the entire job basically cost me $25 per foot of mast. If I had the time this spring, I would have installed the hardware on the mainsail myself. It's not rocket science and there is no sewing involved. Price aside, I am very happy with the performance. The sail drops like a rock- express to the deck!! I have the Dutchman Flaking system on my sail and after dropping the main, I just have to straighten out a couple of the flakes and I'm done. I see no reason why the Strong Track won't continue to perform in future years. IMO, the trick is the type of track material and the pollished stainless (oversize) slugs. Although it is expensive, it is less than other systems and it is simpler. Simple is good in my book. Realistically, Hunter should have included this system as standard equipment on these boats, but the price would still be there. If I had realized that I needed it, I would have put it on at the start. I just didn't know. I'll bet you can get a discount on this system at the boat shows. Good Luck. If you want detailed photos of the track to mast installation, send me a note and I'll post them on the Photo Forum. Rich
Bob, I have struggled with the same problem for my first two years of ownership. this spring I reluctantly installed the Strong Track. So far, it works great. But the first year I had the boat, I didn't have much trouble either. Well, maybe toward the end of the first season it was starting to get a bit sticky coming down. I also use a power winch to raise the sail, and it does lug down near the top. My sailmaker gave me a 15-20% discount this spring in his busiest time, but his charges for the sail adjustments (installation of new slides and adjustment to length of the battens) consumed the entire discount. The bottom line was that the entire job basically cost me $25 per foot of mast. If I had the time this spring, I would have installed the hardware on the mainsail myself. It's not rocket science and there is no sewing involved. Price aside, I am very happy with the performance. The sail drops like a rock- express to the deck!! I have the Dutchman Flaking system on my sail and after dropping the main, I just have to straighten out a couple of the flakes and I'm done. I see no reason why the Strong Track won't continue to perform in future years. IMO, the trick is the type of track material and the pollished stainless (oversize) slugs. Although it is expensive, it is less than other systems and it is simpler. Simple is good in my book. Realistically, Hunter should have included this system as standard equipment on these boats, but the price would still be there. If I had realized that I needed it, I would have put it on at the start. I just didn't know. I'll bet you can get a discount on this system at the boat shows. Good Luck. If you want detailed photos of the track to mast installation, send me a note and I'll post them on the Photo Forum. Rich
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Bob Zolczer
Strong Track is a good move
I put the Strong Track System on my 29.5. What a difference! I think you'll be pleased with the results if you install it.
I put the Strong Track System on my 29.5. What a difference! I think you'll be pleased with the results if you install it.
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Tony Wilcox
Dutchman End batten slides
I know how frustrating it is to release the halyard and have the sail hang up. I have a 376 I believe the mast is the same. Before I invested in the complete track system my sailmaker suggested the Dutchman end battern fittings, I have them on the middle two battens as not a lot of pressure on the top one and also hardly any on the bottom one.I also cleaned out the track well and keep a good coating of the teflon spray on the mast track and s slides My sail slides are the ones with the shoulders not the slug type with metal arm to put the tape on. My sail does not collapse on releasing the halyard it does need a little encouragement but is not very hard so for now I'm not going to spend the $ on the full track system, yes I do have electric winch to haul it up (although Hunter still says its not needed !! ) Tony Wilcox "Innovator"
I know how frustrating it is to release the halyard and have the sail hang up. I have a 376 I believe the mast is the same. Before I invested in the complete track system my sailmaker suggested the Dutchman end battern fittings, I have them on the middle two battens as not a lot of pressure on the top one and also hardly any on the bottom one.I also cleaned out the track well and keep a good coating of the teflon spray on the mast track and s slides My sail slides are the ones with the shoulders not the slug type with metal arm to put the tape on. My sail does not collapse on releasing the halyard it does need a little encouragement but is not very hard so for now I'm not going to spend the $ on the full track system, yes I do have electric winch to haul it up (although Hunter still says its not needed !! ) Tony Wilcox "Innovator"
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Mark - UK Sailmakers
Strong Tracks
While the Strong track may seem pricey at first, The ease of sail handling over the years will well offset the initial cost. We at UK have had a lot of customers come back and thank us for the system. I can't think of anyone that was ever disappointed with a Strong track.If it'll work well on 50+ footers, you shouldn't have any trouble.
While the Strong track may seem pricey at first, The ease of sail handling over the years will well offset the initial cost. We at UK have had a lot of customers come back and thank us for the system. I can't think of anyone that was ever disappointed with a Strong track.If it'll work well on 50+ footers, you shouldn't have any trouble.
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Greg Stebbins
A possible alternative to Strong Tracks
Got a fully battened main (North) on another (non-Hunter) boat. I've found that cranking on the topping lift before raising and lowering the main keeps it from binding. I've been using a lift induced boom angle of 3-5 degrees with great success. Without the added topping lift, the sail is a bear to raise and lower. Greg H23 Faster- S2 9.2C Impulsive
Got a fully battened main (North) on another (non-Hunter) boat. I've found that cranking on the topping lift before raising and lowering the main keeps it from binding. I've been using a lift induced boom angle of 3-5 degrees with great success. Without the added topping lift, the sail is a bear to raise and lower. Greg H23 Faster- S2 9.2C Impulsive
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Tim
Strong Track
As a Sailmaker, I recommend the Strong track to every customer shopping for a full batten mainsail. This system used with either the Doyle StackPack or the Dutchman Flaking system makes for unbeleivably easy sail handling. As for Durability, I have been recommending and selling the Strong Track System now for over 6 years, without a single warranty problem. I receive emails and letters from customers applauding their decision to go with the system. The investment will pay off in terms of easy handling and increased safety.
As a Sailmaker, I recommend the Strong track to every customer shopping for a full batten mainsail. This system used with either the Doyle StackPack or the Dutchman Flaking system makes for unbeleivably easy sail handling. As for Durability, I have been recommending and selling the Strong Track System now for over 6 years, without a single warranty problem. I receive emails and letters from customers applauding their decision to go with the system. The investment will pay off in terms of easy handling and increased safety.
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Bob Polk
Strong track is great
Installed Strong Track on an Express 35. It was the best $1200 I ever spent on the boat. Just purchased a new 460 with standard rig and I'm hoping the standard batten cars provided on the 460 will work OK.
Installed Strong Track on an Express 35. It was the best $1200 I ever spent on the boat. Just purchased a new 460 with standard rig and I'm hoping the standard batten cars provided on the 460 will work OK.
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Joel Martino
Get the Strong Track
I used to have a Hunter 54 but I now have a Maine Cat catamaran with a Strong Track. Before the Strong Track raising the main was a real grind. With the Strong Track, it is so much easier (and safer because there is no struggle time).
I used to have a Hunter 54 but I now have a Maine Cat catamaran with a Strong Track. Before the Strong Track raising the main was a real grind. With the Strong Track, it is so much easier (and safer because there is no struggle time).
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