Mainsail slides/longer ladder/motor drags...

[Jack Kelly]

Three quick things:1. We have "Thistle" on a slip - raised the mainsail and found three broken plastic slides - sails are vintage 1986 - time to replace all? Best source for these parts?2. The portable 3 step ladder that came with it is too short - I added three steps( 2X4 with knotted rope ) - worked but is awkward - suggestions?3. We had four in the cockpit yesterday- best day of sailing in my life! Noticed the motor when in highest "horizontal position" still dragged in the water. It's a Johnson 9.9 Sailmaster - live with it orany suggestions? Thanks!!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

sail slides

Suggest that you take one of the slides to a sail loft, West Marine, Boat US, Boaters World , etc to match up the ones you have. I have a feeling it is a 3/8 inch sail slide.On the Hunter 23 wing keel, I use to install a permanently mounted 5 rung ladder with the two bottom rungs that could swing up or down. When installing, I used backing plates on the inside of the transom wall and do caulk very well. All others were a pain in the butt.Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Carol P]

Get some heavy duty sail slides!

When we bought our 95 Hunter 26 in March, it had a number of broken sail slides. Never having sailed before, it took us a few turns around the lake before we realized that the sail flapping wildly was not normal!!! We bought replacements that were just like the ones on the boat; they worked fine until we hit a storm and a number broke again. To make a long story short, we bought new heavy duty ones from Sailrite and they're great. They're some kind of black material and they cost about 5 times as much, but we have had no trouble with them. We ordered them online from Sailrite.Carol

 

[Hayden Jones]

About the motor dragging.

I had the sam eproblem. I cut off the end of a broom handle, raised the engine as high as I could and slide the broom handle between the motor and the pivot point. It keesp the morotor rasied higher than with the standard motor raising mechanism. Also, to avoid losing it overboard (and cutting the end off all my wifes brooms) I drilled a hole through one end, tied it with some heavy cordage and then to the pulpit. When the motors in the water, I simply keep the handle insdie the cockpit. It's simple and it works.Fair windsHayden

 

[Jim Maroldo]

Sail slides & ladder

I can't speak about the o/b, cuz our Nissan pulls up and out nicely. As for the ladder, I gotta go with Dave on that! We got a 4-step hang-over-the-transom ladder from Boaters World; it works OK, but it really is a pain! You have to be very careful climbing up or down or else the little standoff legs fold up and your fingers get pinched! As for the slides, I was all set to change over to a new sail slide system, but thanks to Carol, I'm gonna give the Sailrite slides a try! BTW: the ones sold by Boaters World & West are pretty poor. ENJOY!!!!!Jim Maroldos/v: Lil' Wass Ett

 

[Carol P]

Might also need bigger shackles

One other thing about the heavy duty sail slides. We ended up replacing our shackles as well. We bought the self springing ones from Lowe's for $1.20 each and they have been fantastic! Jim, if you need more info, we'll be up at the lake this weekend and I can measure them for you.Carol