Hi - I got by borrowing Cat Trax for as long as I could (usually tried to find a launch ramp), but finally bit the bullet and bought a pair with a new boat last year. They are pricey ($400), but they are very high quality and last a lifetime. They are worth every penny.
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<br>It is possible to make a home-made set of cattrax, but it will take you many hours of trial and error to find all of the parts, get the right ones that fit together, return wrong parts, etc. Even then, figure on paying up to $200 just for the parts (wheels, tube, bearings, cradles, etc.), not to mention all of the headaches etc. just to end up with a cheap copy. One guy here in San Diego did that, and it works, but his wheels are considerably heavier than real CatTrax and don't roll as easily.
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<br>As for raising your main, carefully clean out the luff groove in the mast, then spray the luff rope on the sail with McLube SailKote a couple of times per year (this stuff works like magic).
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<br>Sail fast and have fun,
<br>Alan Thompson
<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>