Where to buy Zodiac tie-down runners?

[Wild_Bill]

Where do I buy tie-down runners for Zodiac boats with aluminum floors? I'm looking for the things that slide in the rails, like the black things at the end of the ropes here:

Zodiac Marine - Accessories - Runner and strap tie down for floorboards (4)

USA sources would be ideal, but I'd consider buying from UK/Europe.

I feel like I'm searching for hen's teeth.

[kelson]

It is hard to find these anywhere in stock. I got a few with my boat and picked up some on E Bay. Run a search with the part number and you will find a a number of places that offer them. The Inflatable Boat Center and shipstore.com -Part of - ShipStore.com ™ . I have had good experiences dealing with both companies.

The plastic slides are okay. They have a very small eye that you need to attach to. They use a pin that fits the holes in the track to fix their position. Might be fine for your needs. Here is a pic of the track runners up close. If I could find them I would offer them up! I'll take a look in my garage...

What I did was buy a stainless steel sail track stop from West Marine. It fits nicely into the track. I took a terminal eye stop (also West Marine) and used that loop for my attachment point (trimmed the excesses strap length off). Add one stainless d ring and you can use the stop at any position on the track, with hooked end cam straps or regular straps, they are easily obtained and pretty much indestructible. The zodiac stops are around $120 plus shipping for a set. So the stainless version wasn't uncompetitive. Just a suggestion.

Absolutely love the track system. Don't use it for my seat mounts anymore, but use a series of my ss stops to carry ridiculous loads on expeditions. Have fun out there!

[Peter_C]

I made a couple of my own out of stainless *shrugs* One is made to hold the other side of my gas tank strap that is sewn to it, and my tag line for my scuba tank in the back is tied to another one. Never did trust those plastic ones, but I haven't had one fail yet either.

[Wild_Bill]

Thanks, kelson. I'm going to give the Davis Instruments Flat/Lrg Sail Track Stops a shot.

Here are some links I found:

Flat/Lrg Sail Track Stops by Davis

West Marine product #11083

Peter_C, yeah, I considered throwing some 1/4" aluminum in a sheet metal brake and seeing what I could come up with. That's plan "B" now.

[kelson]

Still can't find those plastic track stops. Have to clean my garage!

Yes. The large flat track stop (3/4" x 1") fit the track great. The West marine part # 108357 for the stop, 111898 for the eye stop and 534222 for the ss d ring. A big 18.44 for each stop. I'm sure there are cheaper ways to do it (maybe cheaper places to shop), but it was fast, easy, strong and stainless steel. Beat waiting on an order from Zodiac. Be sure to post up if you try something different.

[SpearRib]

Is there no other house hold items that can be used at a pinch to fit in the stringers? Im curious as Im sick of my tank moving about.

[Wild_Bill]

kelson, I made up a track tie-down thing from parts from West Marine. They only had one of each in stock, so I had to order more, but at least I have a proof of concept. I used:

Stop-Sail Flat Groove Large 108357 US$9.99
Eye Strap-Flared Top 9/16 149286 US$3.89
Ring-'O' SS 3/16x1-1/4in 534156 US$2.99

So, US$16.87 per track-piece and everything is sturdy stainless steel. I got a couple of lashing straps for US$3 at Harbor Freight Tools (seller of inexpensive, Chinese-made tools), and now I'm rockin' with the tangy flavor of cheddar. I also got a couple of wheels that I'm going to make landing wheels out of, but that's a topic for another thread.

[Glow]

If you find any in the UK that won't ship to the US I would be happy to send them on to you.

[Wild_Bill]

I just wanted to add that for my Americanski friends, you should check out Home Depot (a large chain of warehouse-style hardware stores in the US). They sell stainless steel rings and eye-straps for about half the price of West Marine. I wish I'd checked there first. I did, however, buy some stainless snap hooks / spring clips and stainless chain to connect my outboard to the transom loop.

[Peter_C]

Unfortunately there is a difference in the quality of the stainless. Typically the expensive ones from West Marine are 316 stainless and won't rust. The Home depot 304 stainless ones have more iron in them and can rust. Sometimes it is so little it doesn't matter.