Strong Track System

[so40gtb]

Has anyone installed a Strong Track system on the mast? If so, what has been your experience?

--Karl

[MalcolmP]

I put on Selden MDS cars last year when I had a new full batten mainsail made a massive improvement in raising an lowering the mainsail. Overall it has been fantastic, anything that you can do to avoid friction will help. I would guess on your boat you will have a French made spar Z Spar, Isomat or similar, so wont take the Selden MDS system. I hadn't heard of the Strong system before, but as you may already have found there is quite a long thread and positive thread on it here:
www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f116/strong-sail-track-and-slide-system-92389.html

Looks like it should do a good job

[hoppy]

When I replaced my main with a full baton main I fitted Rutgerson battcars www.rutgerson.se/default.asp?id=10&ShowGroup=104&DisplaySubs=1&ChildTo=

No problem using them on a z-spar mast. On a good day I can hand haul the main up beyond the 1st reef and when dropping about 75% of the sail comes down before I make a quick visit to the mast. Usually when I don't have a good day, it's because I have not done the autohelm or throttle right and I drift a little too far off dead into the wind (soloing)

[On y va]

You don´t need a tracksystem for that! Just a bit of dry teflon lubricant will achieve exactly the same. Just apply like 2x per season.
I virtually hoist my main up all the way and it drops like lighting. I have only the top two battens (full battens) on cars. The rest on sliders. No problems whatsoever.

Don´t forget that a full track on your mast + the cars, means losing approx 200kg on your keel efficiency.

[jdl01]

I installed a strongtrack system on my previous boat - a C&C 99 - with a carbonfiber mast. I received good and prompt advice from the manufacturer - the big issue is picking the correct template for the existing track width. It can be installed with the mast in place but it is much easier with the mast down. The system was satisfactory and very easy to use - I could do a full hoist without using the winch. Because you are in effect adding 2 1/2" to the width of the main. you might have full batten clearance issues with your backstay depending on how close to max the cut of your current mainsail is. All in all, it was good value for the money and I would do it again.

[so40gtb]

Thanks for the link, Malcolm!

I had a close look at a friend's Catalina 380 this morning, which has a Z-spars mast (as does my SO40) and full-length battens in his new main, with Rutgerson sockets and roller slides attached to them. He has had rare issues raising and lowering ... only in rather big wind/waves ... and I think I know of some slides for the rest of the sail that will perform better than his.

As we're acquiring new main and #2 genny, we have a "blank slate" and can specify whatever we want.

--Karl

[DUET]

I recently installed the Strong System on my 50DS and am pleased with the result. The sail comes down very quickly with the result that it falls much better into the cover (classic sail with stack pack equivalent). Still have to stuff the last four feet forward to be able to zip the cover and throw the reef lines into the cover. Being either single or double handed, the Strong System makes the operation safer and hassel free. Hugh improvement over factory system.