I am having a bit of a problem getting the tramp of my 18-2. On the starboard (non lace side) the tramp does not want slide out of the track. I have doused it with soap and water, sprayed sailcoat down the track; as well as, silicone spray, & WD-40. Also tried pulling back and forth, tapping the aluminum track with rubber mallet but it just doesn't want to move. It doesn't appear to be hanging up on anything either. Any ideas?

If you have a power sprayer, try to shoot into the track/tramp 'luff rope' and clean it out as best you can. Else take the boat to a car wash and use its sprayer.

I suspect it's build up of brine salts jamming it. I've got no miracles to dissolve it. Hot water?

Also, check carefully along the track for bends etc...could be the issue.


BTW, I'm taking the T boat out on Sunday with a guy from work...will be his first time on a cat. Any chance we'll see you there?

Mike.

blow torch?

I have actually considered a thermo nuclear device (box knife)and going the track slugs route al la F-18. If if have to "go tactical" with this tramp I may just get a new one.

Mike - won't be down, need to get the tramp fixed for the Tri-Point - couple of lose seams, need new foot straps etc... have fun should have some great wind this weekend as it has been honking in the afternoons around hear. Head up to the point!!!!

Thanks Tami - I am off to the car wash in a few, the boat needs a good soaking. I'll let ya know.

I had a stuck tramp,, then I kicked her out <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If the power washer fails, take it to a car mechanic with an engine steam cleaner...the heat should help dissolve the salts while not being hot enough to harm the hull or alloy (blow torch will).

If the power washer fails aint nothing getting this thing out.

Have a neighbor that has one of the detail trailers with the heater for the powerwasher. He'll do it if he can detail the whole boat $450 bucks - don't think so.

I just cut mine off neatly and had a new bolt rope sewn on....oh, did I tell you I totally munted the track getting the rope out and replaced it too? Looked so nice I replaced the track on the other side and now it all works fine... : )

Now, what I did not tell you was that I backed the boat up to a post and hooked the track to a big nail I drove in.....I then grabbed the stuck side with big grips and pulled my hardest which was when the nail gave way and I flew through the air before crashing into a rough concrete wall and falling over and down a ramp! : )

oh, so then I nailed it down really hard and got a ratchet "cometome" and pumped the crap out of it which succeeded in tearing the track off the boat.

I suppose the bolt rope is still in that track at the dump.. : )

BTW yes I did heat it and freeze it and use soapy water and vinegar and water and other things first.

Next time if a bolt rope wont budge I will just take the sharp blade to it and cut it off and replace the track before I rip all that skin off.

John,

I didn't say, but after you clean the track and bolt rope very well with the power washer you will still need to apply liquid soap as a lubricant to get the trampoline out of the track. Apply liberally. Don't use other stuff, it's not any better and won't incidentally clean the track.

Try flexing the trampoline as best you can along its length, be patient, and work from one end to the other. EG don't just pull at one end, but work along the length of the track/boltrope.

Unless you can't get the trampoline out... when you do remove the tramp, be sure to take a bottlebrush and ream the track out thoroughly. I have found that the bottlebrush that came with our kitten nursing kit was just right diametre.

Tramp is off - went down last night and took boat over to the wash off area at the launch ramp. Hooked up the nozzle that I fashioned for sprinkler tunneling and aimed at the track - a whole damm Eco system came out the other end - we're talking mud and crud. What puzzles me is how did it get in there, but when a boat sits for 10 years unused one should expect these things. After that I took my extra large slotted screw driver and pushed against the bolt rope to break it free of the track, sprayed some vinegar/soap solution in the track and the thing slid right off.

Afterward I took a "scotch brite" pad and cleaned out the tracks on both sides and then nuked them with sail coat.

Off to the sail loft to get the tramp fixed.