While about a mile out from my marina, I hade a failure that caused my mast to snap in half.
There were six people aboard my 1968 Islander 37, and I, owner and Captain, was standing port side of the mast when a failure of the headsail connection with the roller furler extrusions pulled from the track, turning my headsail into a spinnaker in 12 knot winds. That sail pulled the masthead fully to starboard, which caused the mast to snap.
This is a dangerous event in most cases, but because I had your TM sail track in place, the upper break did not fall into the water, which in the worst case would may have tossed people overboard from severe healing, or whipped some with loose stay wires. As it was I sustained the only injury, which was a scratch on my thumb knuckle earned by jumping into the cockpit.
If I had lost the upper mast part, which was only on its second sail ever, the replacement would have cost me over $20,000. Your track kept the cost under $2000 (a sleeve, Monel rivets, work yard fees, a tricolor, and new stays.) I do not know yet if I will need a new track where there is a slight distortion from the bend,, but if I do, I’ll happily will call.
As that track may have saved lives as well, I therefore cannot thank and praised Tides Marine enough for this unpredictable benefit. But I do thank you, and will continue to praise your product.
I also think your sales team will want to see this email. Please feel free to pass it along.
Charles B.
