Sail slugs & stops

[Jonah]

Hi all, my sail slugs are sewed onto the grommets.  Which to me makes them more prone to binding a little when you raise or lower the main??  I'm thinking that grommets connected with a metal type shackle would not bind as much??  Your thoughts please.  What is the size of sail stop that goes in the track?  Would that be a stocked item at Com Pac Yachts

Thank you, blessings,  'J'ene  ;-)

[skip1930]

Squirt 'em with some sail slide from Harkin.

Thanks Capt_nemo could not think of it to save my life-->Team McLube "SAILKOTE", a spray can dry lube, available at West Marine and other Chandleries, is a good product to use for this purpose.


skip.

[capt_nemo]

Jonah,

Agree with Skip. If it ain't broke - don't fix it!

As long as the slugs are in good shape and the stitching to the sail is intact, just try lubricating BOTH the sail slugs AND the mast track. Team McLube "SAILKOTE", a spray can dry lube, available at West Marine and other Chandleries, is a good product to use for this purpose.

If you can't find a purpose made sail stop you can make an INEXPENSIVE one quite easily. Find the smallest short Stainless Steel (SS) bolt whose hex head will stay captured in the mast track. Add a large diameter rubber washer, followed by a large diameter metal washer, and finally a metal wing nut on the end (metal all SS). After the sail slugs are inserted, slip the head of the bolt in the track leaving everything else outside - rubber washer, metal washer , and wing nut. Tighten up snugly and you're ready to go. If you want to go a step further you could insert the bolt with countersunk head through a hole drilled in a spare sail slug and then add the other items as specified above. Make two while you are at it 'cause one is sure to find its way overboard. Unless, of course, you attach a short lanyard connecting the sail stop to the mast close to where you will use it. Over the years I've made and used both types.

Just the voice of experience talking.

capt_nemo

[Jonah]

Cool, I'll give those suggestion a try.  Getting close to going for an honest to goodness sail in a few days.  I will be solo most of the  time and want to make sure I can raise and lower the sails quickly and easily.   thanks a lot guys,  blessings, 'J'ene  ;-)  __/|\_

[brackish]

Agree with the SAILKOTE advice that stuff will work wonders on slides and tracks.

Another alternative to purchased sail stops which are expensive and easy to lose is below.  If you are using it in a fixed position as I do to hold my sail in the track when lowering or to drop a couple of slides off when reefing this works well.  It all came from either Grainger or MSC I think, about 5 bucks.  

[capt_nemo]

brackish,

Excellent solution to a vexing problem! (And great photo.)

I especially like the lanyard attaching the lock pin to the mast near point of use like I mentioned in my post. I see that you too believe in Murphy's Law.

capt_nemo

[hinmo]

not sure I saw Jonahs original question answered

what size sail stops fit a 1982 CP16 mast? I see several sizes on Google (.42, .50....etc)

I need some ASAP (can't find them in my disarray and am planning to launch next week)

[Salty19]

Brackish, thanks for reminding me of a project I've been "meaning to do" for, well, a few years now. Every sailor has such projects.

It's not because I don't have the parts, the time, the motivation, or the constant reminders of said need for project when those pesky sail stops misbehave.  And they do misbehave.

Just haven't built up the nerve to drill into the mast at that angle with a hand drill.
Guess I better get a drill press with gate...yep, I don't have one.     Or make a drilling template of wood??
Hmmm...

I believe the 82 CP16 would need 1/4" sail stops.  5/16"  MIGHT fit, but if given the choice, go 1/4"

In a pinch just use a stainless bolt, head of bolt inside the track, threaded end out with a wing nut to tighten, and a washer between wing nut and mast.

[hinmo]

Can anyone confirm Salty's 1/4 inch recommendation (seems small....assume that's the diameter of the cylindrical slide)

[skip1930]

1/4 inch fits the slot on my CP-19.

skip.

[hinmo]

ok thx - I will see if West has them in stock

[crazycarl]

i went the "mast gate" route.

not cheap, but i don't have to worry about dropping stops overboard, it's always there, and when lowered, the sail sits all the way down on the boom.

no regrets... cc

[hinmo]

Folks - I don't see 1/4 diameter sails stops anywhere on Google. Can anyone toss me a link?

Thanks

[carry-on]

hinmo,
Google: Davis track stops. I think you want the 1/2 inch round stop, about $10. I don't have a stop available to measure. Could measure this weekend.
Usually available at West marine, $10.99 in their catalog.

[hinmo]

Thanks