Hi All,

I'm in the process of pulling my timber boat apart in preparation for a paint job. (Interesting the things you find when you buy someone elses boat <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />)

The silly question is:

It seems I have to remove the track to get to the inside bolt on the beam.

The track for the traveller (Ronstan I section with ball bearing car) is fixed to the rear beam with a multitude of allen screws with what look like self locking nuts on the inside of the beam, all along its length.

I can't for the life of me see how to get the track off if the nuts are turning, and more confusingly, how do you get it back on? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Cheers

You tape a wrench or similar to a long batten and use it to hold the nuts. With some practice it's no big deal. But are you certain you need to remove the track? It sounds a bit unlikely.

Thanks Rolf,

I'm hoping I don't have to remove it. The problem is that I dont have room to turn either the bolt inside the beam, or the nut inside the Hull.

Hopefully another Mosquito sailor will tell me how it's done. Failing that I'll give your method ago. Should be good at it by the last bolt!

Perhaps it will all seem clearer in the morning. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Cheers

There's another post on here about it somewhere, just do a quick search. I had the same trouble, but it was no biggy in the end once you work out a system.

Hi Simon,
In the past I have used the method Rolf was talking about until I worked out tapping the thread into the beam was a good idea (this does not help you on this boat). Do you have to take the beams off? If you take the tramp off, mask up the beams paint the bottom of the hulls when dry turn the boat over paint the decks. Just a thought to save time and frustration.

Ross

Hi Simon,

The rear beam bolts on my Mossie were underneath the I beam and had a flat square stainless piece welded on them instead of a hex head. I had a bit of a time getting to the nuts on the inside, however I found that a long tube socket attached to one of those flexible shafts with the socket bar on the end of that did the trick.

It took a hell of a long time to do each one as I was lucky to get one click out of the bar each time <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />. By the time I had finished it I had no skin left on my arm where it went into the hatch hole. Looked like I'd been ringbarked! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I have skinny arms, but found I had more room when I removed the hatch frames. Perhaps enlist one of the neighbourhood kids if your arms look like Arnies. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

I to have skinny arms but unfortunately for this job they are rather long! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />


On the plus side, I'm finding the challenges that repairs and improvements throw up to be nearly as enjoyable as the challenges of sailing her! "NEARLY" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Simon, Can you have a close look at the beams bolt to check they are Hex or Alan Key Head. If it is a hex head taking the track off will probably not help because the hole in the top of the beam will have top be to big and the beam would fail. In this case the bolt would have been held inside the beam with a spanner on a stick of some kind and tightened with the nut.
On the other hand if the Bolt head is an Alan Key head just drill a 7mm Dia hole through both the track and beam and undo it that way. This is the method we use on the new boats.
Peter

How about I pm you the phone number of the builder? You could ask him, I wouldn't assume anything about the way that boat is built.

Darryn
Fleet Owner, SA rentamozzy

Thanks Darryn.

Impressive new signature, but isn't "Admiral" more appropriate for a man with multiple boats? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cheers

Simon,

There is more info regarding replacing beams and traveller tracks on the Broken Beam thread on Page 12 of the Mozzie forum. I just can't think of how to link this thread to the other thread. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The alternative would to use a flatter, wider traveller section than the Ronstan standard, I can't remember which brand <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> then simply drill a hole through the traveller and top face of the beam for a capscrew. I've seen this method on some of the newer Mozzies.

Regards,


Peter

Windslyce traveller track extrusions have a channel on the underside which captures the head of the beam bolt preventing it from turning.
http://www.windslyce.com/

Darryn

Darryn,

I've never heard of Windslyce before. It looks like they make some good gear.

The track I had in mind was Harken.

http://www.harken.com/charts/smboatcbtrackdim.php

Simon,

You may not need to take the track off at all. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just put a long ring spanner over the inboard bolt head from inside the beam and just undo the nut from inside the hull and lift the whole beam assembly off with the track still in place. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter

Windslyce tracks and cars are Australian made and cost about 65 percent of the equivalent Harken or Ronstan system.
I have a Windslyce track and car on Top Gun and Harken track and car on Bullet, the Windslyce car runs smoother under load because it has twice as many balls.

Disadvantage of the Windslyce is the balls are not captive but that is easy to work around during removal.

Darryn

Disadvantage of the Windslyce is the balls are not captive but that is easy to work around during removal. yes if you bought the track and car new you would of been given the tool that the car slides on, this track should be kept, so if you ever need to replace the balls in it, or just take it off the track. if you need one of these bits of track contact Discount sea mart. 9347 4744.

I agree with that, tricky to do without the small piece of track it comes with. It is possible though and I have done it when away from home when I broke a ball, I would rate it a two beer job. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Darryn

I think it would be more than a 2 beer job if you broke a ball.
You would need at least a six pack to numb the pain of that <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />