T-Track Installation on Z-Spars Mast Front
Mar 16, 2015 3:24:41 GMT
Post by so40gtb on Mar 16, 2015 3:24:41 GMT
Has anyone installed a "standard" 3.2 cm (1¼") T-track on the front of at Z-Spars mast for spinnaker/whisker pole support?
Yes, I know that Z-Spars provides a track and cars with the mast. However, after reading all of the Forespar literature and discussing the matter with them, I decided that it was probably safer to use the "standard" width track and built-for-the-purpose Forespar cars, rather than the Z-Spars scheme.
I removed the Z-Spars track (mast is off the boat at the moment) and prepared the mounting holes for the new track. Well, it turns out that the base of the "T" is exactly the same width as the gap in the mast into which the Z-Spars track was mounted. So, upon tightening the mounting screws, the base of the "T" submerged into the front slot of the mast, thereby defeating the entire purpose of the track, as the cars won't fit it due to lack of sufficient clearance between track and mast body.
Two solutions are apparent. One is to put the Z-Spars track back in and attach the Forespar track to it. Not my favorite idea, as it would detract from the aesthetics of the front of the mast. The alternative is to shim the base of the "T" at each attachment point, so that said base lines up with the front outside edges of the mast. I imagine at least two different ways to accomplish that, though some difficulty is expected in both cases.
Has anyone else been down this road and have any advice to offer?
--Karl
Yes, I know that Z-Spars provides a track and cars with the mast. However, after reading all of the Forespar literature and discussing the matter with them, I decided that it was probably safer to use the "standard" width track and built-for-the-purpose Forespar cars, rather than the Z-Spars scheme.
I removed the Z-Spars track (mast is off the boat at the moment) and prepared the mounting holes for the new track. Well, it turns out that the base of the "T" is exactly the same width as the gap in the mast into which the Z-Spars track was mounted. So, upon tightening the mounting screws, the base of the "T" submerged into the front slot of the mast, thereby defeating the entire purpose of the track, as the cars won't fit it due to lack of sufficient clearance between track and mast body.
Two solutions are apparent. One is to put the Z-Spars track back in and attach the Forespar track to it. Not my favorite idea, as it would detract from the aesthetics of the front of the mast. The alternative is to shim the base of the "T" at each attachment point, so that said base lines up with the front outside edges of the mast. I imagine at least two different ways to accomplish that, though some difficulty is expected in both cases.
Has anyone else been down this road and have any advice to offer?
--Karl