Newbie Question - Mainsail slugs

[travellerw]

Alright...

My wife and I just completed our first ever sail this weekend (frankly first time ever at the helm). It was an amazing experience as I have been following this site (and others) for years as well as studying sailing books. Besides the rookie mistake of forgetting to tie a stopper knot in the jib halyard (fishing the line back through the mast on the water was fun), everything went fantastic. We even had a few people comment that we must have done this for years after loading it back on the trailer with ease.

but I digress... The question I have is about the mainsail. Our Edel 540 has a mast track that slugs on the mainsail fit into. The problem is that the slugs slip out of the bottom when the sail is lowered. This means that someone has to be standing at the mast feeding the slugs into the track as the mainsail is raised. I know this can't be right, there must be a clip or something to retain the slugs once all the slugs are fitted. What am I missing? All the other boats at the marina have the mainsail sitting on the boom?

I look forward to your answers..

[jackdale]

There should a cover for the gate that will prevent the slugs from coming out.

Unless this an Edel 540 design "feature."

[Stu Jackson]

DAVIS INSTRUMENTS Sail Track Stops | West Marine

There are also mast gates available, Google it.

I also suggest you get a Defender or WM catalog, and start to leaf through it so you know what's out there.

Welcome to our wacky little world. It's tons of fun, ain't it?

[travellerw]

Thank you guys so much... Sail track stops are exactly what I need..

Answered in less than an hour...

FYI.. The Edel 540 just has a larger hole in the slot for a gate. You simply push the slugs "in", then "up" the track.

[Kevin84]

Originally Posted by travellerw

Thank you guys so much... Sail track stops are exactly what I need..

Answered in less than an hour...

FYI.. The Edel 540 just has a larger hole in the slot for a gate. You simply push the slugs "in", then "up" the track.

I'm going to guess it was a design "innovation" that someone who had never sailed before thought was a great idea. Make it easier to derig and stow back on the trailer.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[CharlzO]

I had the same issue on mine, and for a quick fix this weekend, took an 8-32 stainless screw and wingnut. Turn the wingnut backwards, and threaded the bolt into it that way. That way the "wings" on the nut can slip from inside the mast, into the track to keep it from spinning while you tighten the screw down. Slide the slugs up, put in the new screw stopper, and voila. Works for now, until I can actually get my stop ordered.

[travellerw]

CharlzO - you gave me an idea until I can get a stopper ordered and delivered.

I'm gonna use a carriage bolt with a wingnut. I will pick a carriage bolt with the right size head to fit in the track, then just tighten the wingnut.

This is why I love this site..

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app