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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Locking track car

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/12/2011 : 08:45:47

My new project will be to mount the whisker pole to the mast via a track and pole car. The problem is that my Forespar twistlock is about 7' tall when fully retracted. Therefore, the pole car would need to be able to slide freely up the track when storing, and lock into place when it comes down to position. Due to the length of the pole, I wouldn't be able to reach the car's pin to unlock it. Any suggestions? Is there a car that can lock/unlock and stay in that position? Basically non-spring actuated.

CD's setup is only 48" long I believe. That allows adjustability, but not storage. Looks like I'll have to custom make this.

1989 C-25 TR/WK #5894
Miss Behavin'
Sittin' in LCYC on Canyon Lake, Texas

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/12/2011 08:50:40

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 08:57:24

I suppose this could work. I would screw the pin in to lock it, and leave it unscrewed when storing the pole. However, for some reason Harken recommends NOT using it for this application.....???

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/12/2011 08:58:07

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 06:33:34

No one has any other ideas? I'm worried that the screw in the car above would fall out if I left it loose in the stored position high on the mast.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/13/2011 06:34:05

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 07:28:51

Jonathon,
I read your post several times and it's not making sense to me.

Typically (from my research) the whisker pole is attached to a ring on the front of the mast when in use.

I thought that the concept of using a track was so that the pole could be stored on the front of the mast. however, if there is a fixed ring on the mast face, then the track would not work unless the ring was higher than the distance from the lower (track) slider and the fixed ring.

So I thought that in order to use the sliding track for storage, we needed a lower ring (below the track) and then fix the pole to the track car and raise it up (unlocked) until the lower hook/loop of the pole was level with the fixed ring below the track.

Alternately: if the ring on the front of the mast was higher than the pole would ever be raised up, then you could hook the top of the pole to the fixed ring, and when using the whisker pole, mount the inboard end of the pole to the sliding track car and then raise it as far as was required.

I have a whisker pole, but no mast track, so now I keep the pole in the trunk. But would like to mount it on the mast as it would make it easier to use.

Any pics?

Paul

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 07:38:27

Mount a fixed padeye up the mast 8' or more to latch one end of the pole then use the lower track car padeye to secure the other end.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 09:02:09

^^And how would I reach this fixed eyelet 8' in the air? It's possible to attach a line to the locking mechanism, but it would be tough keeping it aligned while clipping it together.

The pole would be "permanently" attached to a car that could slide up and down a track. The locking car would allow for adjustable height of the pole on the lower end of the track. When you're done, you unlock the car, slide it up with the pole, and lock the clew end of the pole into a fixed eyelet below the track around 1-2' off the deck.
Doing it this way allows the pole to never leave the mount and always have its weight be carried. If my pole was shorter, this wouldn't be a problem. But since it's 7' tall, it's hard to reach the upper end when vertical.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/13/2011 09:04:08

aeckhart
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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 09:04:00

When flying a spinnaker, either symetric or asymetric, the leach of the sail will rise and fall depending on wind strength and point of sail. Ideally, the pole should remain horizontal. The track allows you to move the ring up or down to accomplish this. The track is not specifically for storage, though some have stored the pole vertically in front of the mast. I have a mast track but do not store my pole on the mast.

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SJ
Navigator

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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 09:11:41

Make it adjustable and get rid of the locking car. Top of the track and at the bottom and top of of the track install a small cheek block and jam cleat. Run a line from the car up to the block through the jam cleat, down the track and through the bottom jam and cheek block back up to the car. This way you can always adjst the height of the pole and make it easy to store.

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 09:27:35

^^I thought about that idea, but it has a lot more parts, and lines that will deteriorate faster than metal and bang against the mast in the breeze. Also requires additional holes in the mast.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/13/2011 09:28:46

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 09:51:40

Drew up a quick diagram:

edit, didn't label views:

Front View----------------------------------------------------------------------------Side View

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/13/2011 09:53:26

britinusa
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Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 16:11:50

Great drawing!

If you want to keep it simple and not use adjusting lines pulling up and down on the mast end of the whisker pole, and just use the locking car to put it int the correct position....

Just fill the holes that you know you won't use! That way the car cannot lock up out of reach, but can lock when within reach of the pin.

paul

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 17:41:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Great drawing!

If you want to keep it simple and not use adjusting lines pulling up and down on the mast end of the whisker pole, and just use the locking car to put it int the correct position....

Just fill the holes that you know you won't use! That way the car cannot lock up out of reach, but can lock when within reach of the pin.

paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Freaking brilliant!!!! It's always the simple ideas that are never thought of first.
That sounds like the plan. Thanks!

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/13/2011 17:42:51

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 08:14:48

What would you use to fill in the holes not needed? You'll need at least 5 ft of track. That's a lot of stops to fill in.

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 08:29:44

I'll actually have to buy an 8' track since the pole is 7' long, and I'll probably just use some type of hard silicone to fill in the holes before mounting it.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 04/14/2011 08:30:58

britinusa
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Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 12:13:32

ACE hardware you can probably find some of the plastic hole fillers that are used in SAR furniture.

Use a slice of a wine bottle's plastic cork.

Piece of wooden dowel.

Put tape behind the track and put resin in the holes.

Paul

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 12:54:30

If the solution does not include the word "bungie" then can it be the right solution?

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2011 : 13:38:15

Your track will only need to go about 6-12" below the boom if you mount a fixed mast ring for the bottom of the pole. Be sure to orient the car so the spring lock is up. Otherwise it may interfere with the pole when it is in the vertical storage position. And make sure the hole filler you use is filled in flush to the track surface. My guess is that all it would take is a slight detention on one of the filled-in holes to trigger the spring lock.

There's one other approach. If you want a shorter track, say 4' and can find a large ring that can be mounted to the mast, i.e. a ring large enough for the entire pole to slip through, mount that ring up high to hold the upper end of the pole and a regular mast ring on the track for the lower end of the pole. To deploy, unhook the bottom, slide the pole down, attach it to the sheet and then the other end to the mast ring. Reverse to undo the pole. Then you won't need to worry about filling in track holes. The longer track method does have the advantage of keeping the pole attached to the mast and might make it easier to deploy a pole topping lift on light air days.

Edited by - dmpilc on 04/14/2011 13:49:48

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