Here's one I haven't seen discussed before. Last weekend I broke four plastic slugs that secure my mainsail to the mast (Catalina 34)*cry. The original slugs were attached to the sail grommets with webbing and waxed twine. I'm not real great with needles and thread (twine). Any pros and/or cons to attaching new slugs to my sail using shackles? Note: I considered batt cars but am not ready for the expense at this time. Thanks in advance.
sail slugs
- Thread starter john meyer
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Slugs for sails
You should not have any reservations about replacing the webbing connectors for the slugs. It's tedious, but not difficult, even if you have never done it before. Ask a sail repair shop to advise the right needle, twine, etc., and by the time you are half done you will have added another skill to your resume. My main had a bolt rope along the foot, which easily jammed. I had a shop add grommets and sewed webbing straps for the slugs myself. Pass the strap through the bail on the slug with the dead end the length of the space between the sail and the bail on the finished strap and secure it w/ one stitch. Fold it around the end of the tail, pass it through the grommet and the bail and back to the edge of the sail. Put two strong stitches through the four plies. Shackles are easier, but this looks saltier, and you don't have all that jingle bells when the luff is not taut.
You should not have any reservations about replacing the webbing connectors for the slugs. It's tedious, but not difficult, even if you have never done it before. Ask a sail repair shop to advise the right needle, twine, etc., and by the time you are half done you will have added another skill to your resume. My main had a bolt rope along the foot, which easily jammed. I had a shop add grommets and sewed webbing straps for the slugs myself. Pass the strap through the bail on the slug with the dead end the length of the space between the sail and the bail on the finished strap and secure it w/ one stitch. Fold it around the end of the tail, pass it through the grommet and the bail and back to the edge of the sail. Put two strong stitches through the four plies. Shackles are easier, but this looks saltier, and you don't have all that jingle bells when the luff is not taut.
The sail on our Lancer 28 has shackles
holding the slugs in place, you can find them at West Marine. Either way works well, but the shackles will be faster.
Tom s/v GAIA
holding the slugs in place, you can find them at West Marine. Either way works well, but the shackles will be faster.
Tom s/v GAIASewing...
West, Boat US, Defender,et al, sell a wonderful sewing device that consists of a tough needle connected to an awl which has waxed thread in the handle. Sells for around $15. You get about 500 yds of the toughest wax twine with it (and that'll last a lifetime). This is a very easy to use device that I use to sew webbing on slugs, repair my bimini, sew on sail patches, etc. One of the best,and most useful and inexpensive boat tools I've ever owned (.015 boat units....).
West, Boat US, Defender,et al, sell a wonderful sewing device that consists of a tough needle connected to an awl which has waxed thread in the handle. Sells for around $15. You get about 500 yds of the toughest wax twine with it (and that'll last a lifetime). This is a very easy to use device that I use to sew webbing on slugs, repair my bimini, sew on sail patches, etc. One of the best,and most useful and inexpensive boat tools I've ever owned (.015 boat units....).
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