Genoa cars/Tracks and Instruments....money money money !

[Roger]

I'm guessing we all have different fittings on our boats as it seems most of the boats were not fitted out by Solaris, only built by them.

Anyway, my genoa cars/tracks are made by "Main" and one of the blocks has now seized. (see attachment)

I've not managed to locate a replacement to date, so its looking horribly like replacing the whole track and cars with something new (I'm guessing no other manufacturer would make something that would fit!). The only other alternative will be some sort of "bodge" allowing me to fasten another block to the car.

I have a similar problem with my instruments. They are the Silva Star range and the propellor (which it had instead of an anemometer type thing) blew away in last winters gales.  Again, it seems that replacements are no longer available, and of course with todays integrated instruments you are looking at replacing not just the wind indicator but the log etc so you can get proper true wind indications.   In a cruising monohull I would have probably done without as you soon know when you are carrying to much canvas. Unfortunately it doesn't seem quite so easy when you only heel 10 degrees!

[Jadzia]

Hi Roger, what part of the block has seized? If its the sheave can you not drift out the pin, clean things up and replace the pin with a stainless machine screw/self-locking nut? If the car is seized on the track what about copious amounts of release agent (eg. WD40)?
Ok, it may take some effort to remove the pin or free up the car but still infinately cheaper than 2 new track assemblies.

If the instruments use NMEA language (0183/0184) maybe there is a replacement that will talk to your existing wind/speed/log. Have you tried an internet search for compatible makes?

Good luck.

Nigel.

[Roger]

Its the sheave, no problems with the car.

I could be wrong and will have a closer look at the other ones but I had assumed by the way it was jammed that it was a ball bearing block and had some mangled bearings in there. Of course I have nothing to lose by drifting the pin out anyway even if I end up fastening another block to the car so I might as well give it a try.

Mind nothing is ever easy - the way the tracks are fitted, its impossible to remove the cars off the end without removing the whole track - and thats a lot of bolts to undo!

The log interface with the wind instrument is just done via a pulse wire, but looking deeper, the Star wind tranducer seems to be shared with the NX2 series. Even then they seem to be asking silly prices for a new one.