Powder Coating Genoa Tracks

gmacon

New member
15
1
My Schock 35 is nearing the end of a paint job and refit. I want to have the Harken and Schafer Genoa tracks re-anodized as they sport varying degrees of “off-grey” . The anodizer asked why not have them powder coated. Anyone have any experience here with this???

 

silent bob

Super Anarchist
9,249
1,692
New Jersey
It’ll get scratched off in a few months!  I had a customer that wanted to fix up a Harken Traveller track.  You don’t just “Re-Anodize” a part.  You have to “de-Anodize” it, fix it and then you “Re-Anodize” the part.  So, the cost triples!  As cheap of a bastard as he was, he ordered a new section of track for a few hundred dollars, much less than refurbishing an old, shitty piece of track!  

 

BGeff

Super Anarchist
3,508
265
Ann Arbor, MI
Just a question...why not get rid of the tracks (weight savings) and go to floating blocks and "soft" tracks using high strength line(s) instead?  Unless it is a class rule thing.

 

Foredeck Shuffle

More of a Stoic Cynic, Anarchy Sounds Exhausting
If it is indeed a genoa track and not a jib track as the title infers, the floating system would not work with the multiple headsail plans.

If it's all jibs, I agree.  Images online show Shock 35's with genoas and jibs.

 

Overbored

Anarchist
711
59
So. Cal
you could powder coat a jib track. the material you coat with would have to be selected for the purpose. there are a very wide range of powder coating materials that are tougher then the aluminum. I use a material called Silverstone, yes the same as in the non stick pans for a wear strip on one of the machines that we build that would work well on a jib track. it is applied by a powder coating method. it much tougher then anodizing and comes in black. it is a bit expensive and does have a minimum price which is about $400  to do a lot size of parts. $400 would do at least 4 tracks. so it might be a option. contact a coater that can do the Dupont coating products and ask you might be surprised what can be done with powder coating these days..  

 

Go Left

Super Anarchist
5,948
1,039
Seattle
My Schock 35 is nearing the end of a paint job and refit. I want to have the Harken and Schafer Genoa tracks re-anodized as they sport varying degrees of “off-grey” . The anodizer asked why not have them powder coated. Anyone have any experience here with this???
The bog-standard powder coat gets a scratch, traps water and the blisters start, especially if you are in salt water.  Oxidized aluminum has formed its own corrosion resistant coating.

 

gmacon

New member
15
1
Just a question...why not get rid of the tracks (weight savings) and go to floating blocks and "soft" tracks using high strength line(s) instead?  Unless it is a class rule thing.
This is a possibility for the #3 I hadn’t thought of. Thank you.

 

Varan

Super Anarchist
6,979
2,175
Powercoats can add thinkness, so make sure your blocks can accommodate any extra thickness.

 

From the Helm

Anarchist
558
24
Michigan
I have a powder coating line and would not do it on a salt water boat genoa track, too much abrasion and constant scratches will lead to coating failure, maybe 2 years, sooner if not prepped well.    A great shop that can prep the track would have to blast a profile in the surface as you have an anodized surface that likely would cause adhesion issues.    I have powder coated parts on my boats, usually stuff like speaker frames, mountings, non moving things.  

On a fresh water boat, you might get away with it for a few more seasons.

The powder coated tubes on my powerboat are 10 years old and look great, but they are not getting scratched and worn by shackles, pin stops, debris on the Delrin bearings etc.   Post pictures if you do it, might be a cool look with bright white tracks.

 

Onthelock!

Member
70
48
Just get it reanodized. Be aware that any spot corrosion will grow significantly when they chemically strip the old anodizing. Go & pick up the tracks & scotchbrite polish before anodizing. In saying all that, track are bloody cheap. 

 


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