Track stop or sailgate
I also bought my 192 used and there was no evidence of a sailgate ever having been fitted. I've been using Davis track stops - one to keep the slugs from falling out and a second one to keep the boom from dropping all the way to the bottom of the mast. I think a sailgate is the best solution, especially if you reef a lot, but they are not something it seems you can just go and buy since it has to fit the opening on your particular mast. So laziness has kept me using the track stop. In addition to the technique of using the bitter end of the halyard around the mast to retain the slugs, I also know a guy who recommends using one of those ball ended shock cords wrapped around the mast. It has enough holding power to keep the slugs up but if you yank on the luff the shock cord will slip down allowing you to put a reef in without having to fiddle with the track stop.
