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External SailTrack
| Manufacturer | Tides Marine |
|---|---|
| Product Code | SAILTRACK-EXTERNAL |
| Product Line | TRCK |
Please note that SailTrack products must be purchased as a separate order to ensure proper packaging and shipping.
*Actual Track Length is the length the Track will be cut to! *
The left column is all information except slide choices.
The right column is for Slide Ship to Address (if different than
Track Address) and slide choices.
If you are ordering the Track for a future date
enter the date in the box after the slide choices.
Complete the order by adding the Actual Track Length rounded up to the next whole foot (IF INCHES ARE INCLUDED in the measurement) and clicking the Add to Cart button.
Comments may be added to the order on the Checkout Page. Price per foot will change on Slide Type Selection.
If Track Only, price per foot will remain the same.
Price $14.33 – $34.61
Description
External SailTrack – 5/8, 7/8, 1 inch or Other
The Tides Marine Track and Slide System is a high-performance, low-friction mainsail handling system built to carry the increased loads and demands of today’s full-batten mainsails. When installed, the mainsail will hoist easily and drop the instant the halyard is released.
The system consists of a one-piece UHMW track up to 64 feet in length and an “owner-defined” selection of matching slides and batten receptacles designed for smooth, long-lasting operation.
The system is competitively priced and is sold by the foot (Your Tides Track System comes with a MAXIMUM of one slide for every two feet of track. If more slides are required, they may be purchased for an additional cost).
The system offers minimal stack height, less weight aloft, and low-friction performance rivaling systems which cost more than twice as much. The track can be installed without going aloft and, in most cases, no holes need to be drilled in the mast.
Track
The UHMW track is machined to fit more than 150 different mast luff groove shapes (internal flat / internal round) as well as most common external track shapes. The track is UV stable, unaffected by salt water and available in seamless lengths to 64 feet.
Track Types
The Track comes in 4 different types. Internal Flat, Internal Round, External and CMPE. CMPE is an external type that uses mounting clips that are either riveted or screwed to the mast. The mounting clips are included in the price of the Track.
Slides
The 316 stainless slides are hand-polished to a smooth, low-friction finish. They are available in several sizes (see Sail Hardware Selection page for details).
Batten Receptacles
The Tides batten receptacles are offered in two sizes which accept both flat and round battens. They are connected to the 316-stainless slides via a 10mm stud and rotate freely when raising or lowering the main. The Tides system will also work with any competitive batten receptacles using the same 10mm stud configuration.
SailTrack System Pricing
- With Stainless Steel Slides: $30.56 per foot.
- With Naval Brass Slides: $34.61 per foot.
- Track Only: $14.33 per foot.
- When ordering, always round up to the next “Whole Foot”
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SailTrack Installed on Mast
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Mast Gate Cover on SailTrack
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Profile Variations
Before placing your order, you will have to determine the size and shape of your mast’s luff groove. If you have an external track on your boat now, Tides will need the width of this external track.
Measurement Discs
To help measure the luff groove on your mast, Tides will provide you with a set of 5 blue measurement discs (pictured below).
 Numbered Discs shown above, from 1 through 8 are used to measure the luff groove’s lip thickness on Internal – Flat luff grooves. Information about flat internal luff grooves can be found on the Internal Flat SailTrack page. |
Lettered Discs shown on the left, are used to measure the luff groove width on both Internal – Flat and Internal – Round spars.
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Order SailTrack Measuring Discs HERE.
External Track Width
Simply measure the distance from edge to edge of the existing external track. The most common track widths are 5/8″, 7/8″ and 1″. If your track measures 1”, Tides will need to see a sample of the existing track before producing a Tides Track for your boat. Cut a 1 1/2” piece of your track from the bottom of the track on your boat and send it to Tides Marine. Tides will measure the track width – cut a corresponding sample piece of Tides Track – and send it to you to test over the length of track on your boat.
If your track does not match the 5/8″ or 7/8″ standards, follow the same steps as noted above.
External Track Length
Next, measure the overall length of Tides Track you want to install on your vessel. The track should start approximately 2″ below the halyard sheave and stop 1″ – 2″ above the gooseneck. Your measurement will be more accurate if you first identify the distance from the top of your halyard thimble to the shackle pin – the halyard hardware (see photo below). Then, connect the end of a tape measure to the pin in your halyard shackle along with a retrieval line.
Hoist the halyard as far as it will go and measure to the point on the mast where you want the Tides Track to end. Adjust this measurement to account for the length of your halyard hardware.
In this example, the halyard hardware is 3″ long. If you add 1″ to the overall measurement on your tape, the track should stop 2″ below the masthead sheave.
CMPE Track Length
A Tides Marine Sailtrack System can be attached to bare composite spars, wood spars and aluminum spars with no luff groove.
Based upon the length of track you order, Tides will provide you with a number of “CMPE Fasteners” (see below) which are used to complete the installation.
Simply snap a chalk line from the masthead to the gooseneck down the center of the back of the mast. Then refer to the OVERALL TRACK LENGTH section on page 11 of the installation guide and measure the length of Tides Track you want to install on your vessel.
Frequently asked questions about our SailTrack.
FAQ-1: What is the "Track Flap" at the bottom of the Track?
When cutting the Tides Track to fit your mast, Tides machines a “shape” on the back of your track which fits within your specific luff groove. To provide you with a track that extends below the mast gate on your existing spar, Tides removes this shape from the back of the portion of Tides Track that runs from your existing mast gate to the point above the gooseneck where the Tides Track ends (see photo of flap at right).
This creates a section on the Tides Track we call the "flap". This flap contains either one-hole or two-hole backing plates. The final step of each installation calls for the installer to snug these backing plates into place, which locks the flap (or base of the track) in position on the mast.
Making this flap an integral part of the whole Tides Track allows you to stack your sail slides below your current mast gate and above the gooseneck. This minimizes sail slide stack height of the Tides System.
FAQ-2: What if the Track is too long?
If the Tides Track is so long that it does not fit in your mast, there is a solution for this problem.
Because the base of the track contains the flap and necessary hardware to connect the track to the mast, you will have to remove the excess track from the top of the track.
Step 1: At the base of the track, measure how much track you need to remove. Record this measurement.
Step 2: Remove the Tides Track from the mast.
Step 3: Mark the top of the track to indicate the amount you want to remove. Remove the quick pin from the top of the track and set it aside.
Because the base of the track contains the flap and necessary hardware to connect the track to the mast, you will have to remove the excess track from the top of the track.
Step 1: At the base of the track, measure how much track you need to remove. Record this measurement.
Step 2: Remove the Tides Track from the mast.
Step 3: Mark the top of the track to indicate the amount you want to remove. Remove the quick pin from the top of the track and set it aside.
Step 4: Using a carpenter’s square or other straight edges as a guide, cut the top of the track at this mark preferably at a 45-degree angle like the original. You may use a miter box to help with this.
Step 5: In the hardware kit you will find a stainless steel cap approximately 3" long. There are two holes in this cap, one on either side. Press the cap over the top of the track and use it as a guide to drill a hole for the quick pin. Use a 1/4" drill bit and drill a hole athwartships.
You may find it easier to drill halfway through the track from one side and then finish the process from the other.
Step 6: File / trim the leading edges of the top of the track until they are smooth and clean.
Step 7: Install the quick pin in the hole at the top of the track.
Step 8: Insert the top of the track into the mast gate and push the Tides Track into position. You can now follow the installation instructions that came with your order.
FAQ-3: What if the Track is too short?
If the Tides Track is too short, Tides Marine can provide a small section of track to correct the situation.
Tides will need to know the length of the extension track required (no more than 18” is advisable). To determine length required:
1) Push the Tides Track up the mast until the top of the track is 2" from the halyard sheave.
2) Tape or clamp the Tides Track to the mast.
3) Measure from the bottom of the Tides Track to where you want the extension track to stop. Add three inches for the removal of the mast gate at the bottom of your existing Tides Track. Is the gate in your mast visible?
4) Call Tides with this information.
Step 1: Tides will cut the required section of track, trim the back of the track to fit your mast and attach two stainless steel connectors to the top of the new track piece.
Note: These connectors make it possible for you to simply butt the new piece of track to the existing (or primary) piece of track on the mast.
Step 2: Cut the existing mast gate from your track squarely, then chamfer the mating ends of the track pieces. Slide the extension track into the luff groove and butt it up against the existing Tides Track. Snug the backing plates.
Step 3: Position the connectors over the existing piece of track. Using the connectors as a guide drill two (2) holes in the base of the existing track using a # 29 drill bit (.136"). The holes in the connectors are 9/64". You may find it easier to drill halfway through the track from one side and then finish the process from the other.
Note: To ensure a tight joint, DO NOT drill oversized holes In the existing Tides Track. Make sure you have the correct drill bit before proceeding.
Step 4: Insert a bolt (provided) in each of the two holes. Snug a nut over each of the bolts.
Step 5: Position the joined track pieces where you want them on the mast. Tighten all backing plates and connector nuts.
Step 6: Insert your slides through the new mast gate in the base of the extension track.
Step 7: Position the stainless cap over the end of the Tides Track and insert the quick pin.
Note: The slides should move smoothly through the stainless connectors and over the joint in the two-track pieces. If they don’t, contact Tides Marine for further assistance.
FAQ-4: What if the Track doesn't fit my luff groove?
Each Tides Track System comes with a sample piece of track approximately 3" – 4" in length. This sample piece is exactly the same shape as the full-length piece of track in your order.
Tides "pins" each end of this sample track and puts a small intermediate slide between the pins. In the slide, you will find a large stainless ring.
Before you install the actual Tides Track in your mast, slide this sample piece of track into your mast gate and up the luff groove. Attach your halyard to the stainless steel ring. Also, attach a small retrieval line to this ring.
Using the halyard, raise this sample track to the masthead to make sure the actual Tides Track can be installed over the entire length of the mast.
Using the retrieval line, pull the sample piece of track back to the mast gate.
If the sample piece of track does not move all the way to the masthead, neither will your Tides Track.
Position the sample piece of track as well as you can against the top / bottom of the mast gate.
1. If the track section "neck" is too wide to fit in the luff groove, or,
2. If the track section "gap" is too tight on the edges of the luff groove, or,
3. If the track section "base" is too wide to fit within the luff groove.
Once you’ve determined which dimension is causing the problem, use the blue measurement disks (provided with your order) to re-measure your luff groove shape. Contact Tides to determine if you can trim your track to fit in your luff groove. If a replacement order is necessary, you will be responsible for a 15% re-stocking charge.
FAQ-5: What are the sail area guidelines?
The Tides Track is available in seamless lengths up to 65'.
Most track systems have track lengths running between 38' and 45' in length.
Monohulls
The average sail area supported by Tides Track systems is between 450 and 700 square feet.
The maximum sail area using the Tides Track system is found on a Camper-Nicholson "day boat" in the Seattle area. The total area of the main is almost 1,000 square feet. This boat sails within a defined area from its mooring and rarely sails in winds in excess of 25 – 30 knots. It is never out overnight.
Today’s full–battened mains often have more roach than the average sailing vessel of 15 years ago. This type of sail shape puts far more load on the Tides Track and rigging.
If you have any questions regarding your particular application, please contact Tides Marine.
Multi-Hulls
The average sail area supported by Tides Track systems is between 350 and 600 square feet. Multi-hulls sail much stiffer than monohulls. This, coupled with the large roach area on the sails of today’s multi-hulls, places far greater load on the Tides Track system.
Many multi-hulls require the use of an alternate headboard car
(see Alternate Headboard Cars.) The loads created by large roach areas and full battens can cause conventional Tides Marine headboard slides to pull out of the Tides Track while underway.
Storm Tri-Sail Track
Tides recommends that its track system not be used to support storm tri-sails. When these sails are deployed, weather conditions are abysmal.