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Another noob questions: when I tried raising reefed sail on my new 26D I realized that when lowering many of the plastic hooks slide out of the mast groove. Im I missing something? Is there a way to lock them there and prevent them from sliding out? See photo:



It's OK when the main is reefed like that, but when I was struggling to get the sail going, I had them slide out on me every time I touched main halyard. So when I'd just lower the sail - won't they slide out?

you have to install a mast gate over the sail feed opening. The gate is in the shape of the groove/mast and provides a temporary continuous run for the sliders. I got mine from BWYachts. Its a nice simple stamped stainless design that is secured with little shock cords that allow you to open and close it easily for rigging and derigging. Most normal keelboat ones are screwed on into the mast with sheet metal screws, or have more complex hinge systems, because they don't completely de-rig that often. Before I bought one, I used one that I made myself from sheet steel. I don't have a metal bender, so it was pretty tricky to make the right shape to prevent interference with the sliders, and it never worked all that well.

Any boatyard that has fabrication capabilities can make you one, but you'll pay a fair amount because its custom work. The BWY one is definitely the best deal going. It works fine and you don't have to keep putting screws in and out of the soft aluminum mast every time you de rig.

romandesign wrote:Another noob questions: when I tried raising reefed sail on my new 26D I realized that when lowering many of the plastic hooks slide out of the mast groove. Im I missing something? Is there a way to lock them there and prevent them from sliding out? See photo:


It's OK when the main is reefed like that, but when I was struggling to get the sail going, I had them slide out on me every time I touched main halyard. So when I'd just lower the sail - won't they slide out?

All you need is a sail track stop. $9 on Amazon. It slides in just like your sail slugs then tightens up by hand with a knurled nut. Easy to remove won't slip, and no modifications. Install your sail, slide in the stop a few inches above the wide part and hand tighten. It's that easy.

Oh, I forgot. You can also install a $5.00 sail stop that has a plug and screw tightener that will block the sliders from going all the way down to the opening. The disadvantages of this choice depends on the height of the sail feed opening. On the M and X it is so high that the mainsail won't come all the way down when you furl it and there's still enough sail up stuck up hight that it can cause problems. Also the lowest slider has to be below the sail feed opening. And of course the major convenience factor. I'm not sure on the C/D.

If your really cheap and low on boat bucks wrap the mast with a bungee cord

Sail stop

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/davis-ins ... 68_001_505

Bayou wrote:If your really cheap and low on boat bucks wrap the mast with a bungee cord

I just read all suggested info and some posts about mods and masgates etc. here, and came to the same idea I think a piece of bungee cord should work as efficiently as more complicated solutions. The sail would not fold as flat, but it's not a big deal I guess, I don't keep it on the water.

Sail Stop...genius!

There is one on my mast and I had no idea what that sliding thing was for. Poor transfer of knowledge from PO, that is my excuse. That and I'm occasionally daft.

Be very CAREFUL! Sail stops like to jump out of your hand while you are moving them. They take two quick bounces off the deck, and SPLASH.

I got tired of buying them, so I used a short piece of electrical wire and a crimp connection. placed the crimp connector below the knurled knob, and tied the wire to the jib cleat on the mast.

Now when they try to go swimming, the wire prevents it.

Ron

captronr wrote:Be very CAREFUL! Sail stops like to jump out of your hand while you are moving them. They take two quick bounces off the deck, and SPLASH.

I got tired of buying them, so I used a short piece of electrical wire and a crimp connection. placed the crimp connector below the knurled knob, and tied the wire to the jib cleat on the mast.

Now when they try to go swimming, the wire prevents it.

Ron

Necessity is the mother of invention

Ray

I built a mast gate or slug slide (sort of based on Sumner's design). It is in two pieces and made from two pieces of thin angle aluminum. Each piece is held on by two screws and only takes a few seconds to secure. It allows the slugs to fall all the way down to the bottom. I am trying to find some pictures...I post them when/if I find them.

Mast Gate is the best way to deal with that. I have the stock mast gate that came with the boat which is secured with two screws but really the best way to do a mast gate is to hinge it to the mast. I have the aluminum rivets and the rivet tool to do it but I have not yet found an aluminum hinge, (any one know where I can get the right kind of hinge?), so I hope to have that done soon.

BOAT wrote:Mast Gate is the best way to deal with that. I have the stock mast gate that came with the boat which is secured with two screws but really the best way to do a mast gate is to hinge it to the mast. I have the aluminum rivets and the rivet tool to do it but I have not yet found an aluminum hinge, (any one know where I can get the right kind of hinge?), so I hope to have that done soon.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/m ... ohinge.php

grady wrote:

BOAT wrote:Mast Gate is the best way to deal with that. I have the stock mast gate that came with the boat which is secured with two screws but really the best way to do a mast gate is to hinge it to the mast. I have the aluminum rivets and the rivet tool to do it but I have not yet found an aluminum hinge, (any one know where I can get the right kind of hinge?), so I hope to have that done soon.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/m ... ohinge.php

Of course, the pilots know where to get the stuff - I never thought of the airplane places because I am not a pilot. That looks like the right stuff!

captronr wrote:Be very CAREFUL! Sail stops like to jump out of your hand while you are moving them. They take two quick bounces off the deck, and SPLASH.

After the first season or two, I started buying them in bulk.

captronr wrote:I got tired of buying them, so I used a short piece of electrical wire and a crimp connection. placed the crimp connector below the knurled knob, and tied the wire to the jib cleat on the mast.

I've been trying to do this but haven't yet figured it out.

Also, for anyone reefing, I keep a bungie handy to secure the three feet of sail lolling loosely under the reefing cringle so it doesn't flop about in the wind. I wrap the bungies around the base of the mast when not in use, so it's always there when I go forward to reef.