Attaching sails to slugs

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RobertV802

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Feb 24, 2010
6
Hunter 25.5 Catskill
Afternoon all _ I took down my mast to change masthead light and storage when I noticedA couple of the slides had broken rigging thread attaching to the sail itself. Question - how or what should I use to replace all of the thread (cord ?) loops on the slides .

Thank you foe any advice or knowledge.

Robert
 
dscribner

dscribner

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
Robert,

Not sure what you mean but once I looked up and watched my mainsail unzip itself from the mast. I went to Sailrite.com for parts. They also have a boat load of how-to videos on line. I'm sure they have what you need.

Don
 
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Ray Bowles

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Oct 6, 2008
857
Hunter, Island Packet, Catalina, San Juan 26,38,22,23 Kettle Falls, Washington
If you are talking about the plastic slugs with the stainless steel wire bail that is sewn to the sail and runs in the mast grove then what I did was to buy a palm glove, assorted sail needles and waxed thread from the marine store. Now you sew the new slugs in place of the old parts. It is really easy and a good idea to have these maintance tools onboard for future needs.
Ray
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,257
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
The easiest way is to use the plastic shackles designed for the purpose, available at just about any chandlery... but much cheaper online if you're going to replace them all. http://www.sailmakerssupply.com/prod_detail_list/28

Many sailors prefer attaching the slug to the sail with sewn on tubular nylon webbing.. a much stronger connection.
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
Joe said:
Many sailors prefer attaching the slug to the sail with sewn on tubular nylon webbing.. a much stronger connection.
Click to expand
Another vote for the webbing. It's stronger, and less of a hassle to do, even if you don't have a sewing machine.

A good sail loft charged us approx $80 (parts and labour) to convert our main from boltrope to slugs, using webbing to attach the slugs.
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I have sewed a few sail slugs back onto my main. I now have a bunch of sail slugs with the webbing stitched properly on it. When I need to put on a new sail slug it is really easy to sew the slugs on that way.

My slugs are attached by a long piece of tubular webbing doubled through the slug attachment and stitched together. It then feeds through pieces on the main sail.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,257
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
In a pinch, you could always use some 5/32 or 1/8 line, looped through slug and cringle twice and reef knotted. Yes you probably have some extra on board if you have a flag halyard.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,835
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Joe said:
In a pinch, you could always use some 5/32 or 1/8 line, looped through slug and cringle twice and reef knotted. Yes you probably have some extra on board if you have a flag halyard.
Click to expand
A sailor's duct tape!

Webbing is certainly neat. I've done this both ways, and functionally, there's little difference. What is not good is SS shackles. The PO used those; they don't flex and tend to mangle and break slides. Of course, that did allow me to salvage a good handlful of shackles....
 
B

bffatcat

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Jun 8, 2004
853
Pearson 26W Marblehead
There are lots of ways to do this as illustrated by the other posters
Webbing, D shackles, but Ive found that the simplest and tried and true is by far the most reliable is the old way, sewiing them on with marline. Its the cheapest and its trouble free. Webbing is ok if you have it. Those D shackles are a pain in the neck. They keep sticking in the grommets and have to be pulled out. Also the screws have to be tightened periodically.
 
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