mainsail foot

[dlentz]

The aft section of my mainsail's foot keeps pulling out of the sail track on the boom. The clew is only held down by the outhaul line to the sheave at the end of the boom. There is only 1 small sail slug with a piece of webbing inboard of the clew that is suppose to act as an outhaul car. This webbing has broke and allowed the sail to lift from the aft section to about five feet forward where the boltrope is still in the boom sail track.My question is: Does anyone else have this problem and what's the best solution? I need to keep the foot of the mainsail in it's track and allow the outhaul to function as designed. As it is now the outhaul line is having to hold the clew down and out, and if eased it will allow the clew to raise, pulling more of the foot boltrope out of the boom.DwainH340-Dancy

 

[Frank Pratt]

Time to see your sailmaker

Sounds like a good repair to take to your sailmaker

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Bigger problem

Sounds like the boltrope in the foot has degraded and needs to be replaced. The bigger problem may be that the boltrope going up the mast may also be degraded, which could lead to a nasty rip under sail. Have the sailmaker look at both. Incidentally, these are the only "ropes" on the boat, all else being lines, halyards, sheets.