Hi everyone. It feels really strange to be doing anything boat related - as I stare out the window at a winter blizzard! But, it's time to start getting things together - and that includes an order to Sailrite. The slugs on our 26S have some wear and bind like crazy. In addition to one of the 'lubes for the mast slot, it seems like a good idea to replace the slugs. My question - what type should I use? There are one piece plastic, one piece plastic with rocker (these are what is on it now), plastic with SS wire, metal etc. Also, the existing ones look like 3/8. Is this the correct size - the mast slot looks more like a bit over 1/2 inch? Thanks, Chris
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Good Question
Would like to say I will be looking in on this this thread, as my slugs have given me some grief. I do know this however; that a busted sail loop that attaches to the slug persay, will destroy a beautiful day of sailing. Seems you cannot raise the sail when that happens. Good news I have found, is always carry along a few of those ty-wraps. The wide 3/8" ones are best. When and if you bust a slug loop, you can replace it out on the water within minutes! Also carry a pair of side-cutter pliers to snip off the unused portion of the ty-wrap. Tom 1980 MAC25 sv/Insagal
Would like to say I will be looking in on this this thread, as my slugs have given me some grief. I do know this however; that a busted sail loop that attaches to the slug persay, will destroy a beautiful day of sailing. Seems you cannot raise the sail when that happens. Good news I have found, is always carry along a few of those ty-wraps. The wide 3/8" ones are best. When and if you bust a slug loop, you can replace it out on the water within minutes! Also carry a pair of side-cutter pliers to snip off the unused portion of the ty-wrap. Tom 1980 MAC25 sv/Insagal
are you sure its the slugs?
ARE YOU SURE THE SLUGS ARE THE PROBLEM ? MY OLD SAIL ON MY MAC 23 FLEW UP AND DOWN AND WHEN IT GAVE UP THE GHOST AND I REPLACED IT . THE NEW SAIL CAME WITH THE SMALLER SLUGS ON IT INSTEAD OF THE LARGER ONES WHICH WERE ON THE ORIGINAL SAIL. I SWITCHED THE SLUGS MYSELF AS IT WAS AUGUST . I CUT OFF THE STICHING ON MY NEW SLUGS ( REAL CAREFULLY . LIKE PORCUPINES MAKE LOVE ) AND THE OLD LARGER ONES HAD NYLON TIES WITH SCREWS. THE BOAT IS A 1979 AND THE SAILS WERE ALL RE WORKED ONCE AT SOME TIME SO THE SLUGS WERE ANYTHING BUT NEW.I STILL WAS A SLAVE TO A STUCK SAIL MOST OF THE TIME. AND I SAIL ALONE OFTEN IN A BUSY HARBOR WITH FERRY BOATS AND LOTS OF MOORING FIELDS..THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE NEW SAIL HAD FULL BATTONS AT THE TOP AND THEY TWEAKED THE SLUG IN THE TRACK, JAMMING THE SAIL IN THE MAST. I REPLACED THE FULL BATTENS WITH SHORTER ONES (LIKE MY BOAT ORIGINALY HAD ) AND THE SAIL NOW DROPS RIGHT DOWN (WITH THE OLD SLUGS )..NO MORE T-9... CHANGING THE BATTEN SIZE IS ANOTHER STORY AS YOU DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE SAIL... IT WAS EASY IN MY CASE. I DIDN,T WANT THE ADVANTAGES OF FULL BATTONS AT THE TOP AS A TRADE OFF FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DROP MY SAIL IN A HEARTBEAT ...YOUR MAC 26 MAY BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SCENARIO FROM MY MAC 23, SEE IF " YOU -YOURS" SENDS A RESPONSE. ITS FREEZING HERE TONIGHT BUT I REPLACED THE HARNESS ON MY JEEP FOR MY MAY FIRST LAUNCH ..THINKING POSITIVE ANYWAY....GOOD LUCK....SMITROE
ARE YOU SURE THE SLUGS ARE THE PROBLEM ? MY OLD SAIL ON MY MAC 23 FLEW UP AND DOWN AND WHEN IT GAVE UP THE GHOST AND I REPLACED IT . THE NEW SAIL CAME WITH THE SMALLER SLUGS ON IT INSTEAD OF THE LARGER ONES WHICH WERE ON THE ORIGINAL SAIL. I SWITCHED THE SLUGS MYSELF AS IT WAS AUGUST . I CUT OFF THE STICHING ON MY NEW SLUGS ( REAL CAREFULLY . LIKE PORCUPINES MAKE LOVE ) AND THE OLD LARGER ONES HAD NYLON TIES WITH SCREWS. THE BOAT IS A 1979 AND THE SAILS WERE ALL RE WORKED ONCE AT SOME TIME SO THE SLUGS WERE ANYTHING BUT NEW.I STILL WAS A SLAVE TO A STUCK SAIL MOST OF THE TIME. AND I SAIL ALONE OFTEN IN A BUSY HARBOR WITH FERRY BOATS AND LOTS OF MOORING FIELDS..THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE NEW SAIL HAD FULL BATTONS AT THE TOP AND THEY TWEAKED THE SLUG IN THE TRACK, JAMMING THE SAIL IN THE MAST. I REPLACED THE FULL BATTENS WITH SHORTER ONES (LIKE MY BOAT ORIGINALY HAD ) AND THE SAIL NOW DROPS RIGHT DOWN (WITH THE OLD SLUGS )..NO MORE T-9... CHANGING THE BATTEN SIZE IS ANOTHER STORY AS YOU DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE SAIL... IT WAS EASY IN MY CASE. I DIDN,T WANT THE ADVANTAGES OF FULL BATTONS AT THE TOP AS A TRADE OFF FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DROP MY SAIL IN A HEARTBEAT ...YOUR MAC 26 MAY BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SCENARIO FROM MY MAC 23, SEE IF " YOU -YOURS" SENDS A RESPONSE. ITS FREEZING HERE TONIGHT BUT I REPLACED THE HARNESS ON MY JEEP FOR MY MAY FIRST LAUNCH ..THINKING POSITIVE ANYWAY....GOOD LUCK....SMITROE
I'll probably replace the slugs anyway...
I know the track lubricant will make a huge difference, but some of the slugs show wear. Since they're inexpensive and I'm placing an order with Sailrite anyway - might as well renew them... Smitroe - do you know what sixe your slugs were i.e. diameter? Maybe you can look at the link (to Sailrite) and let me know what type your are (note there are three pages of slugs). Thanks Chris
I know the track lubricant will make a huge difference, but some of the slugs show wear. Since they're inexpensive and I'm placing an order with Sailrite anyway - might as well renew them... Smitroe - do you know what sixe your slugs were i.e. diameter? Maybe you can look at the link (to Sailrite) and let me know what type your are (note there are three pages of slugs). Thanks Chris
Plastic with shackle
I used the 1/2" plastic slug with plastic snap together shackle. I had to put in rivets to the sail edge but my sail would absolutely fly up and down. I took a damaged sail to Sairite when they were still in Indiana and we came up with this arrangement first hand with them. it's a great way to go. Steve P.
I used the 1/2" plastic slug with plastic snap together shackle. I had to put in rivets to the sail edge but my sail would absolutely fly up and down. I took a damaged sail to Sairite when they were still in Indiana and we came up with this arrangement first hand with them. it's a great way to go. Steve P.
What size are those slugs?
You Yours - are they 1/2 inch? Mine are currently 3/8 but they seem small in relation to the slot size. Chris
You Yours - are they 1/2 inch? Mine are currently 3/8 but they seem small in relation to the slot size. Chris
sail slug comment
I had a real problem with mine jamming (Venture 25) and breaking. Ordered some from Sailrite and just guessed at the size. Got shackels part 137 and 13/32" slugs. These things were a lot bigger than the existing sticking breaking ones. Stuck em on and it was a whle new deal. Sail has never jammed nor has slug or shakel broke since in a year. Seems like those slugs are rockers, the bigger size is stronger and seem to slide without wedging in there at an angle. I think this is the one time I guessed at something and got it right.
I had a real problem with mine jamming (Venture 25) and breaking. Ordered some from Sailrite and just guessed at the size. Got shackels part 137 and 13/32" slugs. These things were a lot bigger than the existing sticking breaking ones. Stuck em on and it was a whle new deal. Sail has never jammed nor has slug or shakel broke since in a year. Seems like those slugs are rockers, the bigger size is stronger and seem to slide without wedging in there at an angle. I think this is the one time I guessed at something and got it right.
Just need warm weather now....
Thanks for all the advice. I'm inclined to go with 1/2 inch nylon "rocker" style slugs to replace the old 3/8 ones. That and a good track cleaning and lubricating - should be relatively easy when the mast is down. I like the reference to "goo gone" - thought we were only ones who used that stuff? Amazing what it can take off! Now if only it'll warm up outside... Chris
Thanks for all the advice. I'm inclined to go with 1/2 inch nylon "rocker" style slugs to replace the old 3/8 ones. That and a good track cleaning and lubricating - should be relatively easy when the mast is down. I like the reference to "goo gone" - thought we were only ones who used that stuff? Amazing what it can take off! Now if only it'll warm up outside... Chris
ok, how many slugs?
Ok, I went to Annapolis today in a quest for slugs. The help at Annapolis Performance Sailing were helpful but didn't have what I was looking for, at least that they could find. I then went to Fawcetts and found a couple of boxes of various slugs, track stops, etc. Great, "What size do you need?" Great question to which I had no answer. After reviewing posts on the forum I'm going to go with the 1/2" for my M25. Now another question, How many slugs are recommended and what is the spacing? Closer farther down for the extra load and farther apart up high? Is 12" spacing for the first 8 or 10 feet and then 16" after that about right? Any thoughts would be great. Thanks. -John
Ok, I went to Annapolis today in a quest for slugs. The help at Annapolis Performance Sailing were helpful but didn't have what I was looking for, at least that they could find. I then went to Fawcetts and found a couple of boxes of various slugs, track stops, etc. Great, "What size do you need?" Great question to which I had no answer. After reviewing posts on the forum I'm going to go with the 1/2" for my M25. Now another question, How many slugs are recommended and what is the spacing? Closer farther down for the extra load and farther apart up high? Is 12" spacing for the first 8 or 10 feet and then 16" after that about right? Any thoughts would be great. Thanks. -John
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