[Public-list] sail track

[John Birch]

Would suggest you drill and tap the old holes and install machine screws 
with the new track - Schaeffer makes Sail slide 7/8ths track. If the holes 
don't align then drill holes in to the new track and align them to the old 
holes - drilled & tapped SS machine screws is better than rivets.

Slow job for sure but a quality end result - with the higher track loading 
of full batten mains it is the way Klacko Spars recommends.

Cheers,

John
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Connolly" <crufone at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 10:49 AM
Subject: RE: [Public-list] sail track


> John,
> Your concern should be to NOT drill any more holes in the mast to replace 
> the sail track!!!!  Find out what they used to fill the holes. 
> Fortunately, you have the old track to use as a template to locate the 
> original holes.  You will need to be very careful to determine the 
> sequence of the original pieces of sail track.  Then find the last hole at 
> either end and carefully relocate the original holes.  Either straighten 
> the original track and reinstall or use the original track as a template 
> again to drill
> holes in your new track.
>
> My concerns would be you don't want to weaken the mast by drilling another 
> set of holes.  If the holes were filled with some nonstructural filler, 
> i.e., resin then if you drilled a new set of holes helter skelter you 
> might drill the new hole partially into the diameter of the old hole and 
> the holding power of the fastener will be severely undermined. If the yard 
> guys were careful in drilling out the old rivets then the BEST solution 
> would be to go back into the original holes with the original size rivets.
> If the yard guys were careless and oversized the original holes then the 
> SECOND BEST solution would be to use the next size larger fastener into 
> the now oversized hole.  You then need to be cautious to size the head of 
> the fastener so that it will not jam in the sail slide.
>
> You might be able to determine where the original holes are located under 
> the new paint by taking a light and placing at one end of the mast and 
> then looking down the mast toward the light. It would be better to do this 
> at dark.  The 'raking light' might show the filled holes as darker 
> dimples. Once located, use a drill smaller than the hole to locate each 
> hole.  Then use a countersink to open the hole and carefully cut away the 
> new paint to just slightly larger that the original sized hole, only at 
> the sur
> face!!!  If you carefully rock the countersink in a circular motion as you 
> enlarge the hole it will normally center itself in the hole and not mess 
> up the new paint around the hole. Then go back with the proper sized drill 
> for the fastener you intend to use to open the hole thru the mast.
>
> These guys did you no good service by filling the holes prior to 
> repainting.
>
> If the yard welded the original holes closed, then you can throw away the 
> mast or use it for a flag pole because via the welding and heat they have 
> ruined the temper of the Aluminum.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Michael
>
> "Budington, Jonathan" <jon at globalprintinginc.com> wrote:
> The track was damaged when it was removed (bent) and the holes in the mast
> were filled before it was painted. I have the sail track and planned to 
> put
> it back on - the person who replaced the rigging told me I should replace
> the sale track.
>
> Jon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: George Dinwiddie [mailto:gdinwiddie at alberg30.org]
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 9:16 AM
> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
> Subject: [Public-list] sail track
>
>
> Budington, Jonathan wrote:
>> One thing I do need to do is replace my sail track. The mast was painted,
>> and they didn't do a great job removing the old one. Any suggestions?
>
> It's hard to make suggestions when I don't know what is the problem.
> The sail track is normally pop-riveted to the mast.
>
> Did they damage the old sail track in removing it? Is that the problem?
>
> - George
>
> -- 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> When I remember bygone days George Dinwiddie
> I think how evening follows morn; gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
> So many I loved were not yet dead, http://www.Alberg30.org
> So many I love were not yet born.
> 'The Middle' by Ogden Nash
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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