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flaking main

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Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/19/2011 : 06:10:31

What is the main consensus for slug retention on the main? I have an 80 FK, SR. The slot is above my boom, do you keep the slugs above the slot and flake the main as such, or put a retainer cap over it so the slugs slide past without coming out? pictures of your setup would help. Do you lift the boom up, then use teh downhaul after raising the main?

If the slugs are left above, then the battens are not resting against the boom flat, rather are flexed when I flake the main.

s/v No Worries, O'Day 28
PO Moe'Uhane - C25 SR/FK #1746

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 06:23:54

This may be what you are looking for:

It will allow you to close the gate so the slugs can slide past.

Available at CD

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 06:24:32

I use the mast gate from Catalina Direct:

Works great, no stopper to loose and the sail drops right down to the boom. I'm sure you could manufacture something similar.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 06:39:53

Me too... I didn't have a full-battened main as I gather you do, but the gate plates also help get the slugs down to the boom for reefing.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/19/2011 06:41:20

JoshMcCullock
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 07:33:19

Just a different option... We use the sail track stop fro CD and have it place directly above the mast gate. Our boom rests on the pop top latch directly under the gate and is held down by the vang. Its not a perfect setup, there is a bit of adjusting before we sail but it works great. Plus it's cheap and there's no work involved.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 08:43:35

I have a track stop just above the gate for the slugs, one just below the gate for the boom and one below the boom to set the range limit. I position them all at the beginning of the season and it works well for me, but I keep thinking I'll add gate covers and eliminate the slug stop one of these days. I've been thinking that for years.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 09:45:07

I feel a main cannot be properly reefed without the slugs being hard on the gooseneck. I feel a mast gate is absolutely necessary to a well found boat.

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 11:27:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember
 I feel a main cannot be properly reefed without the slugs being hard on the gooseneck. I feel a mast gate is absolutely necessary to a well found boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Well, I am not sure I would go so far as saying a gate is absolutely mandatory (at least for me), but I know when I reef my main, if I do not open the gate on my mainsail slug groove and allow the slug(s) below the reefing tack grommet I am using to come out, the reefing tack grommet cannot get down close to the gooseneck and the reefed main shape is much poorer (i.e. not as flat).

I toyed with the idea of cutting the luff away a bit, and controlling the lower luff just with a luff line, but in the end removing the lower slugs and then replacing them when shaking out the reef was the easiest way to address the problem (at least for me).

Chuck

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 13:12:25

Mast gates will improve the shape of the sail when you reef. Your slugs will never fall out of the gate at the worst possible time and its an easy project. My gate only needed one plate but some boats need two. I don't think any two gates are the same. Look at my sail when reefed. The cringle is all the way down and the sail is flat.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 14:10:16

Scott--is that a loose-footed main? (Your robust out-haul sorta suggests it.) If so, I wouldn't tie your "bundling" lines under the boom, but just under the foot. If the outhaul eases for some reason, you could have three major rips. (If it's a bolt rope foot, never mind...

)

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 14:20:12

No Dave, Just a bolt rope.

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 15:53:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 Mast gates will improve the shape of the sail when you reef. Your slugs will never fall out of the gate at the worst possible time and its an easy project. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hi Scott,

Yes, your main does look nice reefed, but I think a gate only helps the shape when things are rigged like you have your tack rigged. We have different setups it looks like. The difference in our setups is I use a "hook" at the tack. The hook is attached to the boom at the pin for the normal main tack. Then I simply lower the main to the mark on my halyard and re-cleat it, then put the reefing tack grommet in the hook, and re-tighten the downhaul (a 6:1 purchase). This whole routine, for the tack, takes one person about 10-15 seconds. With a bunch of slugs stacked up in the way (i.e. at about the same place where the hook is), things seem to get in each other's way and the hook presses hard into the slugs when the boom swings out to the side (only happens on one side). At least that is what used to happen to me when I was set up with my tack hook and a gate closure to retain the slugs.

You are quite right that if you do not watch what is going on, you can lower the main too much and have extra slugs come out the gate. At least for me, the approach I use is MUCH faster than using the halyard to re-tension the main's luff and I do not have to have a winch handle at the mast with me when reefing (especially seeing I am as clumsey as I am!!!)

I guess all this should tell us there is no single "right" answer or "wrong" answer, but whatever seems to work for the particular sailor! Sharing each other's ideas is a great thing!!

Cheers!

Chuck

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2011 : 18:08:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 ...The difference in our setups is I use a "hook" at the tack... This whole routine, for the tack, takes one person about 10-15 seconds...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">One person at the mast. Things change for those of us who want to reef from the cockpit with either a single-line or double-line (my preferred) system, led to clutches. I like tack hooks, but I liked my cockpit even better.

Getting the slugs as far down as possible was helpful for a result like the one pictured. But then I never kept up with you on the racecourse, Chuck, and I never will! (...except maybe on Sarge.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/19/2011 19:08:55

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