DOJ, what I have for the forestay is a snap shackle, since this is a
trailer sailboat, and I need to step the mast every time I go out. If it were in the
water long-term, I would have a more permanent fixture on there for sure. But I appreciate the suggestion of tape - I had a similar idea, something to wrap the gate with to discourage accidental openings.
On the boom fixture, I'm not entirely sure how to replace it alone. I need to get up there to clean some things out from this trip, and I'll try to take some pictures of what I'm talking about.
As for my
sails, they are, by definition, second hand since they came with a 40-year old
boat, and I'm not sure how to tell how "crisp" a replacement set would be without actually raising them under
wind. My
jib is standard size, and adequately flat for its
work, but a larger
genoa for lighter winds would be nice. Off to Bacon to shop, I guess, this
winter. Maybe I can scare up a boom attachment fitting while I'm there. And a main sail with mast track lugs instead of a bolt
rope, so I can lower without removing it completely from the mast. That'd be nice.
BOAT=Break Out Another Thousand