Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

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Michael4
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Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Michael4 »

Is there an 'accepted' way of lubricating the luff groove on an old alloy mast?

I'm guessing the solution is either wax or soap based...my mind has turned to furniture polish, Pledge, hard wax polish, or alternatively a bar of hard soap, washing liquid etc etc. The various mainsails I am playing with are ancient, some fit far better than others but sod's law being what it is, the one that appears to set the best is the hardest to get up!

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phil58490
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by phil58490 »

I use Mclube sailcote, available on the bay or your local chandlers, seemed expensive when I bought it but it works very well and three years on I am still using my first can. A quick spray on the sail luff rope and perhaps the mast luff groove and everything slides beautifully.
Just across the Tamar in South East Cornwall

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Rupert
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Rupert »

Similar to the above, I use Holt Prolube, or a PTFE spray from the local ironmonger.
Rupert
JimC
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by JimC »

I agree that prolube or the like is easiest. I suppose if one wanted to be old school there's always candlewax, but the other is so much easier...
Pat
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Pat »

We use a silicon spray that's actually for spraying on cones of yarn to lubricate them for easier flow when machine knitting! I just happened to have some around and we tried it and it works well.
It gets sprayed on the bolt ropes of the sail or into the groove and it's also good on spinnakers and around the chute.
I get the knitting spray from BSK in Bedford or other machine knitting dealers and it's cheaper and larger cans than sailkote and pretty much the same stuff.
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Ed
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Ed »

just don't....

no, I won't go there...

eib
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neil
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by neil »

Ed wrote:just don't....

no, I won't go there...

eib
It was very funny though.
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Rupert »

Took me a few seconds to remember what you meant... Yup, v funny!
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Michael4
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Michael4 »

I shudder to think what you guys are on about...the topic is indeed a minefield full of excellent innuendo opportunities but you seem to be referring to a past event involving some if not all.

I guess I had better turn up at a CVRDA event to find out more!
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Ian Malcolm
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Ian Malcolm »

Be glad we are dealing with dinghies and keelboats here which are extremely unlikely to have any significant amount of flexible plumbing as the possibilities for innuendo and coarse humour when you need to get a somewhat too tight reinforced hose over a hose tail on a pump or whatever are extreme, especially when the best lubricant for the job, that is water washable and doesn't degrade rubbers and plastics is commonly available in every chemist.
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Michael Brigg
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by Michael Brigg »

Ian Malcolm wrote:Be glad we are dealing with dinghies and keelboats here which are extremely unlikely to have any significant amount of flexible plumbing as the possibilities for innuendo and coarse humour when you need to get a somewhat too tight reinforced hose over a hose tail on a pump or whatever are extreme, especially when the best lubricant for the job, that is water washable and doesn't degrade rubbers and plastics is commonly available in every chemist.
There's no shortage of things to get excited about, it just takes a one track mind.

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davidh
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by davidh »

Ah yes......Prolube.....

For sale...one tin, only used the once ( about a decade ago at Baltic Wharf).

Works extra well on sliding seats..........

(was that what you meant Ed when you said "don't go there"???)

hohoho

D
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Re: Luff groove (this time alloy mast!)

Post by roger »

neil wrote:
Ed wrote:just don't....

no, I won't go there...

eib
It was very funny though.

It was extremely funny and only pride was hurt in the making.
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