Replacing Sail Slides

[srogers]

Hi! My stronger-than-he-looks teenage son, hoisted the main of our Cat 250 recently and broke 3-4 of the sail slides. I bought replacements but the slides appear sown in to straps on the luff.
It looks like I need to cut the stitches to remove the broken slides and replace with the new.
Has anyone had experience replacing sail slides on the 250 and can give me some pointers?
I don't want to start cutting and end up ruining the sail. Also, if I need to re-sow the strap, what thread do I need to use?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[sinnettc]

Might contact Sailrite for advice, especially if you bought your parts there - or will buy the thread/needles from them. www.sailrite.com

 

[watercolors II]

Add grommets

I would purchase a Grommet kit and add grommets to the sail. They make a small metal shackle with a set screw for attaching the slide to the grommet.

These plastic slides can break very easy during a bad jibe, with this setup they can be changed in about 10 minutes in stead of ruining your day.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=70&ParentCat=211

 

[Solace of Freedom]

Don't cut the sail. It does not make sense that you would have to cut it to replace these. The slides have a lot of tension on them, I believe they are re-inforced. I have an '88 C22. I replaced 2 of these slides a few yrs ago, it seemed simple. I don't remember exactly how I did it, but I would suggest trying to install just the plastic slide into what I vaguely recall is a metal loop sown into the sail (even though you may have purchased the whole slide-metal loop new).