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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Cleaning Mast Sail Track

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Fantasy II
1st Mate

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USA
80 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/15/2006 : 21:30:36

Have any of you come up with a "perfect" way to get rid of all the dust and dirt that sometimes collects in the mast sail track? I figure that I'll use a single slide soaked with dishwashing liquid, fastened to the halyard and a messenger line to the deck, and just run the slide up and down the track until I feel the track is clean! Any better ideas would be appreciated

Bill
Stockton CA
'81 Cat 25 TR FK
"Fantasy II"
'88 Cat 27 SR FK "Deja Vu

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2006 : 21:42:25

You don't need a special rig to apply dish soap to the mast slot. Just pour the soap on the sail slugs for your main and run it up and down a few times. I do this once or twice during the season.

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Fantasy II
1st Mate

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USA
80 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2006 : 21:53:33

I was thinking that I didn't want all that dirt to soil my sail!

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2006 : 23:48:34

I've never really gotten any real dirt/soil from my mast track. Usually its cobwebs and spider sacs. I imagine saltwater sailors may get some salt.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2006 : 08:36:13

It's an old problem with several solutions. I used the liquid saop one for several years with good results until the soap dried up or got washed out ( rain ). Then I came across a West Marine sailspray( that might be the name of it)came in a black can about 10 " tall and $18.00 heavy. I've used nothing but it since. Turns out it was worth every penny and more. I use it on everything that wont slide; draws, sliding hatchs, mast sailslots, especially on furling sail rope and rope grooves. Works so well I have a can at home as well. West catalog has a SAILKOTE in its index but not on the page listed. I think that's the product I have.

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2006 : 07:15:46

I have 1/2 a can of the SAILKOTE left. Stuff works really good. I spray a good bit as high as I can reach up the track then coat the sail slugs and run the sail up and down a couple times and that slicks things up pretty good.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 05/20/2006 07:16:18

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2006 : 07:52:17

YEP!!! checked the boat yesterday and SAILKOTE is the stuff.

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue,N.Y.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2006 : 10:26:47

Are you guys using Sailkote as a cleaner or as an after cleaning type wax?

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John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2006 : 11:18:05

I have been using Fastrac for the past few years. It comes with a soft cloth and a piece of metal that fits in the track. By using the halyard and a down haul you clean the entire track by running the applicator up and down the mast then apply the Fastrac onto the cloth and lube the track. Works great with just one application needed for the season.
West Marine used to have the product but I don’t see it on line now.
I have enough to do this years cleaning but am looking for an alternative if it is no longer available.
I wonder if you could take a plastic sail slug, wrap it with a soft cloth and clean out the track with any product you want.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2006 : 15:41:38

the stuff john is talking about works very well. I bought two and use one with 409 or some other cleaner and then follow it up with the fast track lube or McLube or something similar.

It works well with hanked on mains and works even better for those racers that run a bolt roped headfoilesque main directly up the mast as well.

dw

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2006 : 17:47:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Are you guys using Sailkote as a cleaner or as an after cleaning type wax?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I use the Sailkote for lube not a cleaner.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.