Small projects

[SoSound]

Looking for advise and ideas on two small projects. Flag halyard and replacement sail slides and shackles.

I'm looking for ideas on rigging a flag halyard so that we can fly our club burgees when necessary and appropriate (club cruises and visiting reciprocal moorage locations). We don't have anything rigged so far. I have a small eye strap attached to the mast just above our starboard spreader, but no way of running a halyard up and back. I wonder how long a small halyard would last, rubbing on the edge of the eye strap? I'm also cheap enough to object to paying $60 for a halyard kit consisting of a couple of the smallest available blocks and line ... Any ideas or brilliant suggestions?

I also need to replace a couple of sail shackles and was wondering what dimension is referred to in ordering sail shackles and slides (L/W/D)? I can tell by looking at the ones carried by my local WM that they are not as large as the ones on my sail. They aren't expensive parts, so I assume that if replacing one that I should replace both components?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[catsailor]

I would suggest sewing the slugs on with 1/2" nylon tape.

Looking for advise and ideas on two small projects. Flag halyard and replacement sail slides and shackles.

I'm looking for ideas on rigging a flag halyard so that we can fly our club burgees when necessary and appropriate (club cruises and visiting reciprocal moorage locations). We don't have anything rigged so far. I have a small eye strap attached to the mast just above our starboard spreader, but no way of running a halyard up and back. I wonder how long a small halyard would last, rubbing on the edge of the eye strap? I'm also cheap enough to object to paying $60 for a halyard kit consisting of a couple of the smallest available blocks and line ... Any ideas or brilliant suggestions?

I also need to replace a couple of sail shackles and was wondering what dimension is referred to in ordering sail shackles and slides (L/W/D)? I can tell by looking at the ones carried by my local WM that they are not as large as the ones on my sail. They aren't expensive parts, so I assume that if replacing one that I should replace both components?

Thanks,
Dave

Sailrite would have what you need.

Strong shackles tend to rub the sail or break the plastic slug. Weak shackles break. You seam to have one of these problems, I am guessing, so try something different.

And yes, plastic slugs do not last very long, perhaps 3-5 years depending on the boat. Sailrite.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Go to a Lowe's or Home Depot and pick up a small block and as much 1/8" line as you need for less than $10. Put the block on your mast eyestrap (or hose clamp it to a spreader). Even if you decide to buy some type of clips and a cleat, you can still come out considerably less than $60. -Paul

 

[sailingdog]

Looking for advise and ideas on two small projects. Flag halyard and replacement sail slides and shackles.

I'm looking for ideas on rigging a flag halyard so that we can fly our club burgees when necessary and appropriate (club cruises and visiting reciprocal moorage locations). We don't have anything rigged so far. I have a small eye strap attached to the mast just above our starboard spreader, but no way of running a halyard up and back. I wonder how long a small halyard would last, rubbing on the edge of the eye strap? I'm also cheap enough to object to paying $60 for a halyard kit consisting of a couple of the smallest available blocks and line ... Any ideas or brilliant suggestions?

Get some small blocks, like a Harken Micro or two...and some cheap polyester line. The micro blocks are pretty inexpensive and will last far longer than anything from the hardware store if you're on salt water. The Harken Micro single with shackle is about $12 each and will take up to 1/4" line.

Get a spool of 300' of 1/4 line, which is about $50, since you can always use some small stuff on a boat. Attach one block to the eyestrap, the other to something on the deck or near the mast base. Run line through them both and then tie the line to itself using a blood knot or something similar.

I have rigged a flag halyard on starboard and port this way, and also a radar reflector halyard, but that has two blocks at the top to prevent the reflector from chafing through the line.

I also need to replace a couple of sail shackles and was wondering what dimension is referred to in ordering sail shackles and slides (L/W/D)? I can tell by looking at the ones carried by my local WM that they are not as large as the ones on my sail. They aren't expensive parts, so I assume that if replacing one that I should replace both components?

Thanks,
Dave

Sailrite is the way to go to get replacement sail slugs. If they're plastic... and you had one break... replace it and order a few spares, since it is likely that the others are going to break soon. UV does damage to the plastic, and the ones that suffer the most are usually the ones near the top of the sail.