Sail Slides

[John]

I have my halyards leading aft but I can't get the main up from the cockpit. The sail slides keep getting stuck in the gooseneck. (Specifically the mastgate + gooseneck.Anybody have a solution? Thanks John

 

[Dan]

Stop

You need a sail slide stop in the track above the gate. Catalina Direct?

 

[Aldo]

Lube

John: If what Dan suggested, having a slug stop hold the slugs above the opening in the mast, doesn't help. I have another suggestion. I don't know anything about having the halyards led back to the cockpit, but I do know that the slot that the slugs go into must be lubed. I lube mine every spring. In the past I used a silicone lubricant, but now I use a Teflon Triflow lubricant. I feel this is almost a safety issue, because if you can't get your main down when a storm is approaching, you will be in for a real exciting time. (Once we chartered a 30 footer, and couldn't get the main down, and it left me with a really bad feeling, and a little crazy about this issue). Anyway, the way that way I lube the slot is to get a cotton ball, and wrap a piece of soft copper insulated wire around it (telephone wire), and soak it with the lubricant, then lube the slot up and down a few times. The sail will just fall down when the halyard is released. I'm not sure if this is your problem or not, but I hope that this helps you or someone else.West Marine also sell the slug stops that Dan mentioned. I usually have to file one of the sides flat to get it into the opening. Aldo

 

[Bayard Gross]

Do you have the correct sixe slugs?

Sails slugs come in various sizes. You may have replaced one of the upper sail slugs with a new one that is slightly larger than the others. The size for a C-22 is 3/8 inches, I think, but I am not completely sure. Check to make sure all your sail slugs are the same size. If one or two are too large, take the smaller correct size to the chandeler, not the too large size.Also, you mention mastgates. As mastgates on a C-22 are a custom fit and owner installed for each boat, you may have to tinker with the opening on your mastgates to allow the slugs to pass through easily.Note also, there are sail slugs with a plastic (nylon?) bail and sail slugs with a metal bail (the opening on the aft side of the slug). The metal bail slugs are smaller diameter than the plastic ones and may go through your mastgates more easily than the plastic bail ones.I use a main sail jackline to avoid the custom fit issues of the mastgates. This is best performed with a sail stop consisting of a machine screw Phillips pan head no. 10X24 3/4 inch with a wing nut holding it in place in the sail groove.

 

[Alan]

Aldo's got it right...

I've also noticed your problem. I installed my own mast gate along with lubricating the sail slugs. However, if your sail slugs aren't correctly sized or your mast gate isn't properly fitted, they will hang up somewhere along the mast. I picked up some aluminum door trim at the hardware store and fashioned them to size at the gate (temporarily). Cost me $5.00 and works like a charm since I no longer have to feed the slugs when I raise the main sail and it works great, especially if your single handed sailing. I have manufactured mast gates on order from Joe Martinek@starband.com. His cost is $25.00 and should proved to work even better. Some people recommend using a main sail downhaul, but if your lubricate properly and your slugs are okay, there's no reason the main sail won't fall down freely. Of course, having a down haul on the gib is an entirely differnt animal, you gotta have a down haul.