Issues with sail slugs

[Mas]

The metal "tang" looks like an old Windex bracket.

It is indeed.

[RedBaron]

The metal "tang" looks like an old Windex bracket.

I had a feeling, I'm gonna be ordering a new windex one soon so I'll be replacing the bracket when I do.

[RedBaron]

Well I got the boat out on the water for the first time today and she didn't sink, so I'm happy. And after making sure I wasn't missing any slugs and spraying them all down with lubricant I managed to get the sail up, definitely need to add a topping lift before next year.

Biggest issue I had was with the boom popping up out of the mast track. I was trying to hold up the boom while also trying to raise the sail and it kept coming up out of the track. Is it supposed to lock into place or should I be tying it off to the cleat that is just below it on the mast? If it's not supposed to lock into place on the track then I definitely need to add something to keep it from coming up and out of the track.

[Jasmid53]

There needs to be a line from the boom through the center of the cleat, back up to the boom then back to the cleat so you can tie the line off. This will keep the boom in the track. I use two sail stops; one above and one below the opening.  That line is called the boom downhaul. It's to tighten and loosen the luff of the sail.

[RedBaron]

Oh ok thanks, I was only taking that line down to the first cleat on the boom, not down to the mast and back. I'll try that next time I take the boat out.

[5monkeys]

Jasmid53,
    I was just taking the line from the boom down to the cleat on the mast.. any chance you have some pics or a diagram of the back and forth sounds like it allows for finer tuning of the luff.

Regards,

Keith

[Dove16]

...Would you recommend I try and run the topping lift through the hole in the masthead itself, or attach it to the piece of metal on the starboard side of the mast?

That hole is exactly where my topping lift is tied.  I ran the line through the hole and tied a stopper knot on the other side.  I tie a tautline hitch on the end of the boom to adjust the tension.  I planned to add an eyebolt if it worked, but this has been working so great for a couple years now that I never saw a reason to.

[RedBaron]

That hole is exactly where my topping lift is tied.  I ran the line through the hole and tied a stopper knot on the other side.  I tie a tautline hitch on the end of the boom to adjust the tension.  I planned to add an eyebolt if it worked, but this has been working so great for a couple years now that I never saw a reason to.

What size line did you use and how much did you need? I'm planning on picking up some line this week for the topping lift (among other things) but I'm not 100% sure yet what thickness I need or how long I should get it.