Boom Car Binding

[Mike Brown]

Anyone had an issue with the boom car on the roller furling mast binding and not allowing full unfurling of the mainsail? It's occured before but lubing with Sail lube and cleaning the track has taken care of it. I have the short piece of track that will allow me to remove it without loosing the torlon balls and will do so this weekend. Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with it.

Mike

[Michael Cioffi]

Hi Mike

I had the same problem on my second season 2009. I untied the main from the car and clean the track. then I used a lightly weight rubbing compound to remove any oxidation and salt on the car and track then sprayed with lube. it has been perfect since.

[Mike Brown]

Mike thanks that's the kind of info I was looking for. I already cleaned the track but didn't think to use a light compound on it. No doubt there's a build up of all sorts of crap on it.Think I'll do a thorough cleaning as you suggest and see what happens.

Mike

[Jeff Shukis]

I'm surprised that the track would get gunked up at all. My 2007 vintage boom stays absolutely clean and corrosion free with just a quick hose-down after sailing and the usual periodic boat washing. It gets waxed twice per year along with the rest of the boat.

Actually, here's a question: Around here a post-sail rinse is standard procedure. There are a few boats that seem to never rinse, but they are a tiny (and rather rusty) minority. What about elsewhere?

[Mike Brown]

Jeff, I wash and wax the boat on a regular basis, especially after being in a lot of salt spray. If I cant wash her then at the very least she gets a good fresh water wash down with extra on the blocks, etc. I do not however wax the boom or track. Likely to start doing the boom track though. We keep the boat on Chesapeake Bay in Inner Harbor Baltimore and get the usual city dirt plus a bit more from the Domino Sugar plant across the harbor from us. It requires constant care but sure beats the bird crap and spiders I dealt with for years on the Eastern Shore side of the bay. BTW most of the boats on our marina are well cared for on a regualr basis, some professionally.

Mike

[Jeff Shukis]

If you are a regular washer and are getting that much corrosion then there must be something "in the air" so to speak. Interesting. Hopefully some good hard wax will help.

[Mike Brown]

Turns out I needed to add some bearings to the race. Cleaned the track, which wasn't really too bad, then removed the car when it still kept hanging up. Only had apx 20 bearings in each side of the race. Went to West Marine for extras and added them to each side. Now it runs right out to the end of the boom like it should.