http://www.tidesmarine.com.au/product.php?id=sail

Im going to bite the bullet and order the sail track and slide system hopefuly here for Christmas so I can fit it while out at remote islands. Approx 45ft at $35.50 per foot. I think it will be a fine investment as currently raising and lowering the main is a bit of a pain.

Has anyone here fitted the same system?

Watched some videos of it. Looks great. Sure your masthead sheaves are ok?
I just changed mine and the exit halyard sheaves and am pretty sure hoisting and lowering will be a fraction less friction hopefully more than a fraction.

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southace said..
http://www.tidesmarine.com.au/product.php?id=sail

Im going to bite the bullet and order the sail track and slide system hopefuly here for Christmas so I can fit it while out at remote islands. Approx 45ft at $35.50 per foot. I think it will be a fine investment as currently raising and lowering the main is a bit of a pain.

Has anyone here fitted the same system?

Mines in the storage till december waiting for the rigger to finish the masthead
Its my old age insurance policy so my kids cant say Dad you can't even raise the main halyard plus for reefing
Ill be saying to them" take a long walk on a short pier"

I bought one of these to use when I'm on my own to raise the main from the cockpit - works great. I just use my 18V Hitachi cordless drill.

I'm so unfit I have to have a rest if I raise the main manually!! I use it for the furler as well :)

www.winchbit.com/

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Lazzarae said...
I bought one of these to use when I'm on my own to raise the main from the cockpit - works great. I just use my 18V Hitachi cordless drill.

I'm so unfit I have to have a rest if I raise the main manually!! I use it for the furler as well :)

www.winchbit.com/

Brilliant. I still think checking sheaves/anything offereing friction is important too but i want a winch bit!

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Sectorsteve said..

Brilliant. I still think checking sheaves/anything offereing friction is important too but i want a winch bit!

I only just installed my s/h mast & checked all sheaves etc.

Running the halyard back to the cockpit adds more friction/load even with new blocks so using the drill just makes life easier for an unfit old fella!!

I'm hoping when I move aboard & am continually sailing I will get a bit "match fit".

You need a fitness regime Laz. Just do what I do, first thing in the morning it's up,down,up,down.
Then I do the other eyelid.

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samsturdy said..

You need a fitness regime Laz. Just do what I do, first thing in the morning it's up,down,up,down.
Then I do the other eyelid.

Its palms on the floor for me and general stretching . Don't do 500 leg kicks for each leg any more or karate to old for that
Body couldn't cope

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HG02 said..

samsturdy said..

You need a fitness regime Laz. Just do what I do, first thing in the morning it's up,down,up,down.
Then I do the other eyelid.

Its palms on the floor for me and general stretching . Don't do 500 leg kicks for each leg any more or karate to old for that
Body couldn't cope

Thanks Sam

My right elbow is pretty good - that gets a bit of a workout!!

Hehe. I reckon that winch bits a great bit of kit. When cruising the drill is a useful tool

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Lazzarae said..

HG02 said..

samsturdy said..

You need a fitness regime Laz. Just do what I do, first thing in the morning it's up,down,up,down.
Then I do the other eyelid.

Its palms on the floor for me and general stretching . Don't do 500 leg kicks for each leg any more or karate to old for that
Body couldn't cope

Thanks Sam

My right elbow is pretty good - that gets a bit of a workout!!

I believe some appendages you cant see any more as you hit 65
Any way my choice of a boat under 30 foot meant to me I can still raise it sail near the end of my life and maybe sail it well still

That's absolutely true HG. Missus and I are very happy with our 28 footer for the very
reason that we can handle it easily and have FUN.
One advantage for novice sailors like us is if we want to change what we're doing while
out, it's no big drama. Sails are easily raised and lowered, the boat's easily steered, the
motor's easily started. We go out and have a good time. And hopefully will continue to
do such for a good deal longer.

This is my answer to getting the main up, a Maxwell pot hauler. I let it spin continuously with one turn on so I can work it as a slipping clutch, poke my head out to see the sail clear the lazy jacks. i am past my use date at 85 and this kind of gear keeps me sailing. I am a real wuss, got a pair of Harken electric sheet winches too. The Maxwell works the topping lift, vang and main sheet too.

That looks so simular to my cockpit set up phoenix. I may have mentioned that before. The problem is the plastic slugs they jam up on haul up. I suspect dirt and crud.
If I had a mechanical tool to polish and clean the inside of the slide it might improve the situation. But I feel lazy about that.
have inspected the old plastic lugs and they are blackish and gumby.

The replacement slugs made it a bit better! I'm over it.
I looked at electric winch option but it's not the weight that's the problem. And most properly make it worse or cause breakage.

Yeah, I went down the track with some wet and dry and followed it with a dry lube spray - helped a lot. It's an old mast so I guess I will have corrosion back again soon.

I wrapped the wet and dry around an old slug. A fair bit of elbow grease was lost.

I think what I'm in the process of ordering is going to solve my exisiting problems! Next will be new standing rigging....I wish I new when the last standing rigging was replaced. Although I have heard that new standing rigging can fail we before the old.

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PhoenixStar said..
This is my answer to getting the main up, a Maxwell pot hauler. I let it spin continuously with one turn on so I can work it as a slipping clutch, poke my head out to see the sail clear the lazy jacks. i am past my use date at 85 and this kind of gear keeps me sailing. I am a real wuss, got a pair of Harken electric sheet winches too. The Maxwell works the topping lift, vang and main sheet too.

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PhoenixStar said..
This is my answer to getting the main up, a Maxwell pot hauler. I let it spin continuously with one turn on so I can work it as a slipping clutch, poke my head out to see the sail clear the lazy jacks. i am past my use date at 85 and this kind of gear keeps me sailing. I am a real wuss, got a pair of Harken electric sheet winches too. The Maxwell works the topping lift, vang and main sheet too.

Phoenix your picture has given me a great idea . You can see my picture below where someone has installed the raymarine interments? Very painful!
i have looked at a pod system on the pedestal or moving them above the hatch inside the dodger but it's a tight fit both big jobs.

have you mounted them on a angle so they are level when sailing? That would enoy the hell out of me when under motor like they do at the moment where they are currently placed.

Regards

Get one of these



last longer than a drill in a marine environment, has 240V and 12V trickle charge and you make every winch on your boat electric!!!

I already have a cordless drill (Bosch) on the boat, not particularly powerful, but does most things asked of it. We currently run the anchor line back to the spinnaker winches on the top of the cabin and hand winch it. Assuming the drill has enough grunt, would the Winch Bit be strong enough to handle a 25kg anchor with 10m chain? For the small number of times we anchor, it would save us a lot effort and maybe let us anchor a little bit more often.

The Winchrite looks good, but is probably a bit pricey for the use I will give it.

There are waterproof cordless drills too....also good for hull cleaning.

nemopowertools.com/product/nemo-v2-boat-yacht-socket/

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EC31 said..

I already have a cordless drill (Bosch) on the boat, not particularly powerful, but does most things asked of it. We currently run the anchor line back to the spinnaker winches on the top of the cabin and hand winch it. Assuming the drill has enough grunt, would the Winch Bit be strong enough to handle a 25kg anchor with 10m chain? For the small number of times we anchor, it would save us a lot effort and maybe let us anchor a little bit more often.

The Winchrite looks good, but is probably a bit pricey for the use I will give it.

Yeah, I couldn't warrant paying for the WInchrite - the winch bit in my drill does nearly the same thing, just not as pretty.

If your spinnaker winches are two speed I reckon your drill should handle it.

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PhoenixStar said..
This is my answer to getting the main up, a Maxwell pot hauler. I let it spin continuously with one turn on so I can work it as a slipping clutch, poke my head out to see the sail clear the lazy jacks. i am past my use date at 85 and this kind of gear keeps me sailing. I am a real wuss, got a pair of Harken electric sheet winches too. The Maxwell works the topping lift, vang and main sheet too.

I like the pot hauler idea a lot as I want to run my ropes on the outside edge of the cabin in case I need the cabin roof for a dinghy plus with a spray dodger a winch handle will interfere with it.

If I was to use winch bit ,pot hauler or any other device you guys are suggesting I would likely do dammage to the sail or lug slides.

I have found this this slide in the locker and I'm keen to try this style before I order the tide marine track system ....you can see the black gug build up on this slide.

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rumblefish said..
Get one of these



last longer than a drill in a marine environment, has 240V and 12V trickle charge and you make every winch on your boat electric!!!

Select to expand quote

rumblefish said..
Get one of these



last longer than a drill in a marine environment, has 240V and 12V trickle charge and you make every winch on your boat electric!!!

Select to expand quote

EC31 said..

I already have a cordless drill (Bosch) on the boat, not particularly powerful, but does most things asked of it. We currently run the anchor line back to the spinnaker winches on the top of the cabin and hand winch it. Assuming the drill has enough grunt, would the Winch Bit be strong enough to handle a 25kg anchor with 10m chain? For the small number of times we anchor, it would save us a lot effort and maybe let us anchor a little bit more often.

The Winchrite looks good, but is probably a bit pricey for the use I will give it.

Don't touch a winchrite they are total rubbish, I know where you can get one dirt cheap. The bloke that has it has just bought the 28volt Milwaukee and is wrapped with it. I also ordered a 28volt Milwaukee today.

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southace said..




If I was to use winch bit ,pot hauler or any other device you guys are suggesting I would likely do dammage to the sail or lug slides.

I have found this this slide in the locker and I'm keen to try this style before I order the tide marine track system ....you can see the black gug build up on this slide.

Tides marine slides below

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HG02 said..

PhoenixStar said..
This is my answer to getting the main up, a Maxwell pot hauler. I let it spin continuously with one turn on so I can work it as a slipping clutch, poke my head out to see the sail clear the lazy jacks. i am past my use date at 85 and this kind of gear keeps me sailing. I am a real wuss, got a pair of Harken electric sheet winches too. The Maxwell works the topping lift, vang and main sheet too.

I like the pot hauler idea a lot as I want to run my ropes on the outside edge of the cabin in case I need the cabin roof for a dinghy plus with a spray dodger a winch handle will interfere with it.

A great idea - I did some homework & now I'm waiting for mine to arrive

Still use the Winch Bit too.

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southace said..


If I was to use winch bit ,pot hauler or any other device you guys are suggesting I would likely do dammage to the sail or lug slides.

Nah, you'd probably just break your wrist!!

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HG02 said..

southace said..




If I was to use winch bit ,pot hauler or any other device you guys are suggesting I would likely do dammage to the sail or lug slides.

I have found this this slide in the locker and I'm keen to try this style before I order the tide marine track system ....you can see the black gug build up on this slide.

Tides marine slides below

Com on Ho2 your the only one that has tide marine mast track and it's not even fitted yet what you waiting for bloody Christmas or something?

this demo has the tides marine.
I'm not as well endowed as some lack of funds I'm a bottom dweller a bottom feeder South Ace But if you would like to sponsor me me Id order tomorrow

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samsturdy said..

You need a fitness regime Laz. Just do what I do, first thing in the morning it's up,down,up,down.
Then I do the other eyelid.

Doesn't everyone move about their boat like this?

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HG02 said..

this demo has the tides marine.
I'm not as well endowed as some lack of funds I'm a bottom dweller a bottom feeder South Ace But if you would like to sponsor me me Id order tomorrow

That's the same as my set up except my cover is blue. I don't have a rod kicker but will get around to it soon. The weight of the full length battens is what brings the sail down so fast. I winch on the last foot or so raising the main but looking at PhoenixStar's pot hauler idea I might have to have a re think.


This post is in reference to the Doyle video HGO2 posted above.