Mainsail Slides Fall out of Mast Track

[mystic]

Hi All,

When getting underway on our CP 16, to raise the mainsail, one person must go up to the foot of the mast and thread the slides attached to the luft of the mainsail into the track of the mast while the other person pulls on the main halyard to raise the sail.  If we do not do this, the mainsail slides fall out of the track through the notch through which the boom and the mainsail slides are initially inserted into the mast track

First, does this sound right – do other people do this, or are we missing a part?  At the base of the mast is a track, then an opening (notch) of several inches,  and then the track begins again up to the top of the mast.

We are thinking of drilling a hole in the mast where the track begins again above the notch, feeding the mainsail slides into the mast track above this hole (and notch), and inserting a pin.  This way, the mainsail slides can be loaded in the track, and will be stopped by the pin above the notch so they do not fall out of the track when raising the sail.  Also, we think we can leave it like this and there is enough room under the sail cover to fit the mainsail when it is down.  Whenever we need to take the mainsail off, we will just pull out the pin.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

[pchupik]

You need a sail track stop.  Check out westmarine or even compac.  You are simply missing a piece. It fits in the track and tightens up with a screw to hold the stops up.
Good luck.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/1757?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=1757

[Mundaysj]

Hi Mystic,
I  have a 23 but experienced the same thing.  I found it especially frustrating when lowering the main and the slides would all fall out.  I suppose there is a part that will do the trick, but I just use a bungie cord tied tight around the mast just above the slot.  When the slots fall, they now stop just above the bungie cord.
Good Luck.
Sherie 

[mystic]

Thanks Phil & Sherie for your replies and advice. 

Phil, ah, now this makes sense.  We actually do have a sail track stop that is below the boom, and it didn't dawn on us that we could use the same thing to fix our problem.  Thank you so much for your tip!!  This is going to make getting underway so much more enjoyable.

Now, on to a more detailed question.   We always assumed the sail track stop we have was to hold up the boom at a particular height.  We just looked at it, and are thinking that the boom (which, as I'm sure you know,  is in the track on the mast but in the track below the notch) will stay in place, and we should be using the sail track stop for our sail slides problem, and then when we raise the mainsail, the boom will lift up a bit, and we can use the down haul to tighten the luft. (which we never used because it wasn't needed because the boom was always sitting on the sail track stop).

So, in a nutshell, the question is:

Should we have 2 sail track stops, one to keep the boom at a particulat height, and one to keep the sail slides in the track, or just one for the sail slides?

Thanks!!!

[Paul]

Thought I'd chime in.  First, Phil is correct.  Good link.

I like to use the sail stop between the notch and the sail slugs.  It's a very rare occasion when the gooseneck slips out of the notch.  Keep the boom on a leash.    I use a down haul such that the line is tight when the gooseneck is just about to come out of the notch.  Keep the line cleated at that length as a starting place prior to raising sail.  That way it prevents the gooseneck from slipping out.  Raise the sail, then adjust out haul and down haul accordingly.

Those sail stops have a way of jumping ship, so consider having a spare on hand.

[Bob23]

Mystic:
  Don't drill the hole! Instead, buy a sail track stop. Check out Defender part # 613631. On my 23, I have 2- one to hold op the boom and one to keep the mainsail from exiting the sail track in the mast. That'll do ya!
  Bob23, glad to help

[mystic]

Thanks Bob, Paul, Sherie, and especially Phil -- no holes will be drilled -- just feeling kind of stupid that we didn't see that the sail  track stop would work -- and you learn something new every day, never knew the name of that thingy

So, for leaarning sailing vocab, can we just say sail stop instead of sail track stop & instead of the slides/hooks/etc  is the correct term sail slugs?

Thanks!!

[Paul]

Yes, if the sliding objects that are attached to the luff of the main sail are roundish plastic things, then they are called slugs.  If only a rope is sewn in the luff, then they call it a bolt rope.  The things that look like clips on the luff of the jib are called hanks.  Hence, you hank on a jib.  Unless, of course, you have a rolling furling.  Then you unfurl the jib.

But, call them what you like, and we'll figure it out.

[Rick Klages]

He said slugs, heh heh!

ick

[LConrad]

The track stops wanted to pull out whenever I reefed so I fabricated a mast gate out of aluminum carpet strip.  I got the idea from
 
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/f_rigging_tips/f07.html

Also you can buy Keynon and Mainsail Gate Assembly: K-9619K: found on http://www.rigrite.com/spars/Kenyon_Spars/3650-mast.html

I installed my home made version on my 23  last weekend and am very happy so far.  I'll post a picture sometime.

[Craig Weis]

OK, an alert crew person makes feeding the slugs of the mainsail an easier job. As all the 'feedee' needs to do is start the slug and advise the crew person to pull the main up the mast till the next slug comes around. I lubricate each slug with Harkin SailCoat as this makes the 'squeak' go away.

Eventually the main is atop the mast. The halyard has already been run through the pulley on the cabin top and through the deck organizer locking this line in a rope clutch.

Now the sail's tack ring is secured by the boom's pigtail and the rope sewn into the bottom of the sail can be fed and run to the end of the boom and tied by the outhaul. So pull the sail up and tie the boom down. No wrinkles in the sail and a boom that is horizontal.

HERE IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.
Sail Stops!! Buy them~use them.

And a "Poor Man's" topping lift. Just a piece of stainless wire rope clamped onto the back stay with a quick release at the boom. Mine holds the boom slightly raised in the back for no good reason other than to get it out of the way when the boat is parked or "put-to-bed'.

One needed to hold the front end of the boom up off the cabin top. But a down haul is also needed to keep the boom from traveling up the mast's kerf [slot] and out of the feeder opening. You do have a cleat or something to tie this downhaul to at the base of the mast correct?

One needed to hold all the sail's slugs up and from falling out of the feeder part of the mast's slot located above the boom. [Is this what this post is suppose to be about? I forget.] skip.

[LConrad]

Here is the picture of what I fabricated for the slot gate. I don't always have the alert crew to feed the sail every time, and it reefs a little better. Might not be for everybody, but it works for me.
http://com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=10644&pos=-1641

[mystic]

Thanks LConrad -- but I can't really see how that is configured -- can you explain a little how it works and how you did it -- thanks!!

[Rick Klages]

I use a sail track stop!  No need to drill more holes in your mast.  It looks like a slug with a projecting  threaded rod that is tension adjusted with a finger adjustable nut. Get 2 and carry a spare!

ick

[LConrad]

It literally is a piece of carpet strip that holds the edge of carpet to the floor at a transition to hard flooring.  The two curved lines are cuts in the aluminum to so the center section can bend inward slightly.  I carefully bent the center section in so it aligns perfectly with slot.  The upper and lower portions are unchanged and fit snugly to the mast.

When you are done, you'll have one or two spare track stops like me.  If you like, drill and tap the holes in the mast so the knurled part of your "spare" track stops can be the thing to hold the gate in place.

I guess we both should be careful as I seem to have touched a nerve about doing this. ;-)  I only use one main sail and leave it on all summer, so I am still happy with this modification.  Reefing is cleaner and the track stops don't pull out. I'll let you know if it causes any problems.