Sport Today

Those of you wanting a US source for teflon tape...here it is. Go experiment!!

Check with an electrical supply house.  Teflon tape is used for it's great
electrical insulative properties at relatively high temperatures.

PERMACEL makes rolls of 1 and 2 inch wide by 36 yard teflon adhesive backed
tape.  1" wide rolls are $23 and $46 for 2" ($US Albuquerque, NM).

I don't know if 3M makes an equivalent product.  Any of you electrical
engineers care to comment?

SailQuik,

I totally agree with you.  The embedding problem is just half the
problem... when the teflon tears the adhesive backing will become a sand
magnet. You probably missed my first reply to the thread regarding my use of
Teflon for uni/cup washers...it makes a slippery grinding disc.  The webbing
has the same embedding potential but to a lesser degree.  I use the webbing
option and it seems to help.  I use the webbing for wear minimization - not
friction reduction. Teflon mold release would help for friction reduction as
well as Silicone oil that one poster noted.  

My reply to the Windwing/Waddell user (probably a different Subject title) was
TO USE WEBBING BETWEEN THE MAST AND CAMBERS.  Windwing/Waddell/Aerotech cambers
are a one-piece rigid thermoplastic.  It's a simple elegant design...glued to
the batten so it doesn't fall off, only 1-piece, and they don't break (early
versions did).  They do have one problem: The mast will become worn if you get
a lot of sand in the luff sleeve.  The webbing helps minimize the problem.  

My post for the source of Teflon tape was just a courtesy for those that wanted
to experiment with the stuff.  It does have other great uses though.

Hope that clears up any misunderstanding.