bolt rope main foot (bare bones)

[Royal Flush]

Just removed a broken down roller furler main and I'm going with a conventional setup. I have a internal 7/8 slide system w/ a bolt rope foot. I do not have a lazyjacks or a dutchman as of yet. I need to learn how to prep that main for the maiden voyage. ie. Thread the bolt rope, flake the sail, and secure it so it stays put until time for deployment.

Books, videos, photos and suggestions are appreciated.

 

[BobM]

My 2c

First, do yourself a favor and get someone to help you fold the sail properly before taking it on board. It will make the job much easier. Also, a day with little wind goes a long way towards easing the task. This isn't perfect, as it is from memory, but it shouild get you started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXwnuuCBSS4

The above video is basically correct. The point is to end up with something you can unfold easily on deck with the foot of the sail on the top of a pleated pile of folds with the clew aft. If you main is stiff, like mine made in 2005, it makes life more challenging.

Since you have no lazy jacks or other system like that, just feed the slug near the clew into the slot and feed the bolt rope in after it. You may find it easier, if doing this solo, to attach the outhaul at this point. If your boom is like mine, it terminates in a line exiting the boom about a third of boom forward from aft on the starboard side. You can pull on the outhaul while feeding the bolt rope into the slot.

Once the rope is all the way in, locate the head of the sail and attach the main halyard to it, making sure it isn't twisted. Given that you aren't going anywhere it probably doesn't matter if you leave the topping lift in place to hold the boom up. Beginning raising the sail, feeding the slugs into the slot by easing one side of the tee shape into the open area in the slot designed to accept them. The area is routed out on one side to allow the tee shape to fit in after fitting one side in. Continue to raise the sail, fitting all the slides into the slot. If it is windy and the sail is being pressured by the wind, release the main sheet if necessary, but watch out for the boom upon doing so. Once all the way up, there is a fitting in the slot with a knurled nut on it. You slide that up beyond the slot you fit the slides into and tighten the nut. This stops the slides from falling out when you lower the sail.

Lower the mainsail. To flake the main, with the topping lift hardened and the mainsheet hardened with the boom on the centerline, go to the aft end of the boom. Grab the leach of the sail closest to the boom and pull back hard and to one side forming your first fold. Then grab the leech about ten inches further up and pull hard to the opposite side to create your second fold. Repeat until you are about a third of the way forward and apply a sail tie. Continue moving forward towards the mast folding as you go until you can apply the second time near the middle and the third tie forward. Cover the sail.

Bob

 

[Royal Flush]

First, do yourself a favor and get someone to help you fold the sail properly before taking it on board. It will make the job much easier. Also, a day with little wind goes a long way towards easing the task. This isn't perfect, as it is from memory, but it shouild get you started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXwnuuCBSS4

The above video is basically correct. The point is to end up with something you can unfold easily on deck with the foot of the sail on the top of a pleated pile of folds with the clew aft. If you main is stiff, like mine made in 2005, it makes life more challenging.

Since you have no lazy jacks or other system like that, just feed the slug near the clew into the slot and feed the bolt rope in after it. You may find it easier, if doing this solo, to attach the outhaul at this point. If your boom is like mine, it terminates in a line exiting the boom about a third of boom forward from aft on the starboard side. You can pull on the outhaul while feeding the bolt rope into the slot.

Once the rope is all the way in, locate the head of the sail and attach the main halyard to it, making sure it isn't twisted. Given that you aren't going anywhere it probably doesn't matter if you leave the topping lift in place to hold the boom up. Beginning raising the sail, feeding the slugs into the slot by easing one side of the tee shape into the open area in the slot designed to accept them. The area is routed out on one side to allow the tee shape to fit in after fitting one side in. Continue to raise the sail, fitting all the slides into the slot. If it is windy and the sail is being pressured by the wind, release the main sheet if necessary, but watch out for the boom upon doing so. Once all the way up, there is a fitting in the slot with a knurled nut on it. You slide that up beyond the slot you fit the slides into and tighten the nut. This stops the slides from falling out when you lower the sail.

Lower the mainsail. To flake the main, with the topping lift hardened and the mainsheet hardened with the boom on the centerline, go to the aft end of the boom. Grab the leach of the sail closest to the boom and pull back hard and to one side forming your first fold. Then grab the leech about ten inches further up and pull hard to the opposite side to create your second fold. Repeat until you are about a third of the way forward and apply a sail tie. Continue moving forward towards the mast folding as you go until you can apply the second time near the middle and the third tie forward. Cover the sail.

Bob

That was great Bob!!! I've just realized I do not have that slide preventer with the knurled nut. What is it called? I'll have to have one sent to me fairly quickly.

 

[Ron20324]

Mac, that's called a "track stop". about 10 bucks from West, page 677. You want to know your slug size (mast groove size). Not everybody needs one, though. You may have a "gate" alongside your mast groove to keep your sail slugs in the groove.

 

[Royal Flush]

Mac, that's called a "track stop". about 10 bucks from West, page 677. You want to know your slug size (mast groove size). Not everybody needs one, though. You may have a "gate" alongside your mast groove to keep your sail slugs in the groove.

Thanks Ron. I'm feeling better prepared. Plus it was kinda satisfying being able to refer to the catalouge knowing that I kept it for important moments like this.

 

[Warren Milberg]

If you don't have a track stop as yet, a temporary fix is to simply take a stainless bolt with a head small enough to fit the sail track and put a washer under it. Slip it into the track and put a wing nut on the other end. Or, in an emergency, you can just tightly clip a correctly sized bungee cord around the mast just above the goose neck to keep the sail slides in the track.