Association Forum - Sail slides (slugs) *update*

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Sail slides (slugs) *update*

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/25/2009 : 11:55:46

I have about 3 slides that broke, so I need replacements. However, the current plastic ones don't seem to slide up the mast very well. If there's ANY kind of wind blowing, then they get stuck and make it impossible to raise the sail. Is this normal? Should I just buy them all?

Also, I'm not sure what size I need. I'm not sure if I have the original main, even though it has all the markings and hull #. The previous owner ordered some from CD and they were too big. He probably got the wrong size, but I'd like to know it so I won't make the same mistake.

1989 C-25 TR/WK #5894
Miss Behavin'
Sittin' in LCYC on Canyon Lake, Texas

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/20/2009 13:17:48

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 12:52:18

they are 3/8 size. Sold at West Marine. My plastic ones work fine. When they start binding it's time for a good spray with Sail Kote. Or I use dry silicone spray from Home Depot at 1/5 the price.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 13:02:56

Aren't these a bi-annual replacement item, or something like that?

Edited by - Prospector on 06/25/2009 13:03:19

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2009 : 14:38:35

Replace them if they look worn with grooves or UV damaged (Do you have UV that far north? :-) ), I don't think I would routinely replace them. Every season and when things seem tight, I spray and clean the the track as far up as I can reach, then attach a rag to my downhaul near the halyard eye, soak it in Sailkote, pack it into the track and pull it up and down several times.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2009 : 08:31:52

Not to state the obvious...but you are into the wind when raising the main - right?

Edited by - on

cat25
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2009 : 04:18:54

5/16 works on my 1990 trwk works well. The 3/8 are too big they dont fit into the slot.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2009 : 07:22:22

If only one plastic slide breaks, then I only replace it, but if three break at once, or if they start breaking one-after-another, then I assume that they're generally wearing out or deteriorating from UV, and replace them all.

The plastic slides are OK for daysailing, or sailing on sheltered waters, but on bigger waters, I think the steel slides are a better choice.

Edited by - on

Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2009 : 09:42:42

I agree with most of the comments above.
More than one breaking is probably an indication that you should replace all of them.
Steve's method of cleaning the mast slot is good.
There is a product called Fast Track that gives you a metal slide that fits in the track, a soft cloth cover and loop that you attach to a (an?) halyard and down haul. You coat it with the Fast Track and run it up and down the slot. I go the extra step to wipe each slug with the product. I've used it for years and the mail falls down swiftly all season.

You might also look at nylon, stainless slugs instead of the plastic ones.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2009 : 17:52:10

Yea those are nice and I was thinking of using stainless shackles also instead of the plastic ones. Everthing plastic has been breaking so I need to just order all 10. There are about 3 others that are held by a plastic casing screwed together to a strap. Do you know what that's called and where I can order it? I haven't seen that anywhere. I can provide a pic if necessary.
Thanks!

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 08:56:52

Here's the slide and case I was referring to. How do I replace it and where do I buy it?

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 10:42:44

Mine were kind of tough going up until I used some of that dry lubricant, now they slide up and down no problem. I have a problem with them all falling out of the bottom of the track when I drop the main. Going to see if a bungee cord strapped on the mast, right at the slot helps.....

Edited by - PCP777 on 06/29/2009 10:46:00

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 10:52:09

A slug stop stops the main from coming out. I drilled the know and added a lanyard to keep it from falling overboard.

"Sail Track Stop"

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/1757/377%20710/0/sail%20slug%20stop/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=sail%20slug%20stop&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=sail%20slug%20stop&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=175&subdeptNum=272&classNum=272

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 11:34:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 A slug stop stops the main from coming out. I drilled the know and added a lanyard to keep it from falling overboard.

"Sail Track Stop"

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/1757/377%20710/0/sail%20slug%20stop/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=sail%20slug%20stop&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=sail%20slug%20stop&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=175&subdeptNum=272&classNum=272

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

<s>Thank you, I'll pick one up on my way home today.</s>

Ha, picked one up at West, hopefully it's the right size.

Edited by - PCP777 on 06/30/2009 12:25:07

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 12:28:55

I thought it was my lack of skill in dropping the main quickly enough heading directly upwind. But after lubricating the sail track with black molybdenum sulfide gook for my mower (same as Sailkote), the sail drops twice as fast under all conditions.

You asked HOW to replace a sail slide.

I cut the stitching apart that held the nylon webbing, and after feeding the webbing through the new slide, sewed the webbing back together. To do this I drilled a series of tiny holes and used many stitches of 8-fold polyester sewing thread. Hemp cord is also very sturdy. Nylon or fishing line is no good since it is degraded by sunlight. Waxed sail twine is more resistant to wear and tear than plain twine.

On the very last page of Don Casey's book on sailboat maintenance, he suggests you re-attach a slide or hank the way it was originally attached, but if they continue to break, then try one of 5 other ways shown:<ul><li>lashing with fine cord
</li><li>adding a piece of webbing </li><li>buying a new attachment that clips on </li><li>buying a special shackle that fits
</li> <li>sewing directly onto the sail</li>
</ul>

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2009 : 12:41:19

Add a line to the knob or something. They get loose and when the main drops down they come out, bounce on the deck and go plop into the water.

I think I lost 5 before I got my round to it and added the lanyard.

Edited by - on

farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 09:45:03

If your all sail slugs are attached to the sail with webbing, when you replace them, don't use the old webbing. If the webbing is more than a few years old, it has been damaged by UV and will be rotted.
My friend with a '27 had an nice quality after-market sail that had slugs attached with webbing, like your picture. He had three slugs come loose in a microburst wind. Upon inspection, we noted that the webbing on all the slugs was dry an rotted and they would just flake away if you rubbed them with your fingernail. Subsequently we found out the his sail maker used polyPROPOLENE webbing, the worst for UV rot, and we had to replaced the webbing on every slug with polyESTER, the best for UV rot. The black stripe in your webbing indicates that is polyester, which is good, but if you are going to replace the slug, webbing is cheap and might as well be replaced. You can get a heavy-duty sailmakers kit that has needles, polyester thread and a palm pad for pushing the needle through the webbing without drilling (about $35). Harbor Freight even has a sewing awl with needles (not great quality, but adequate) and a large spool of the good polyester thread that can be used (and can be used for whipping line ends also). It's not a hard job, once you get the hang of it. We had an old sailmaker teach us how to do it and it took us about two hours to replace all the webbing on all his slugs.
Just remember, for UV damage;
--Polyester is the most UV resistant.
--Nylon is next.
--Polypropolene is the worst.

The same is true for cordage, unless you get into the exotics.
By doing it yourself, you can save money and replace the slugs with the ones that Peregrine has pictured above, because the plastic probably has some UV damage and wear also.

Good luck.

Paul

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 10:50:04

^^^Thanks for the info on the webbing. I bought a dozen shackles and slides of the right size to replace the 10 that are not attached with webbing. (SS shackles and slides like the ones Peregrine shows, from Sailrite.) So far the webbing slides are holding up. I'll leave those for another day after I purchase the equipment you mentioned.
I also bought deck sheaves and an exit block to replace the broken plastic ones. So hopefully the mainsail will go up/down a little easier.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/01/2009 10:53:32

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 11:25:02

I have used dental floss to replace sail slides, when I didn't have polyester thread, and never had it fail. I believe it's usually nylon, and not ideal, but it was readily available, lasted a long time, and got me out on the water.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2009 : 12:55:25

Bump to Update:

I bought all new slide hardware from Sailrite and the exit block from CD. I then went to Lowes and bought a $4 can of Teflon/silicone spray and sprayed it as far as I could get it. Beats the $25 can of sailkote.

OMG!!! The main sail pulls up very easy, and drops all the way on its own. Worth every penny.

Here is what I bought from Sailrite to replace all the old slides:

#23312 (12) Slug Bail SS With Rocker 5/16" $1.50ea.
#100043 (12) Shackle Stainless 3/4" Long x 1/2" Wide $1.20ea.
#100041 (12) Insert for 3/4" Shackles $0.30ea
$45 total shipped.

Great customer service and it got to my place in 3 days with Priority Mail.

Now I need to replace the broken plastic deck sheaves.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/20/2009 13:23:26

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2009 : 17:07:31

Sounds like you bought what I have, The slides are easily replaced by unscrewing the little screw and put a new one on. Now get a mast gate cover from CD or you can make your own like in the photo. The slides will drop all the way down to the boom for better reefing and will never fall out the slot. Much better than a track stop.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2009 : 05:17:47

Yea, I just have a screw in track stop. That gate cover looks nice though.

Those do look like the shackles I bought. The slides I bought however have a SS bail. It seemed as though my old ones failed due to the thin plastic bails. So I thought SS would last longer. They look exactly like the one Peregrine posted above.

I do love the shackles and how they will make it so easy to replace slides in the future. The plastic snap ones I had were a PITA to break apart.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/21/2009 05:18:50

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