too much wind perhaps

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

soldier1964

.
Jul 8, 2012
144
Helms 25 indiana
still have a few more weeks of sailing left. went out the other day with winds of 15kts with gust of 25kts. no problem, or so I thought. normally I would not go out with winds this strong on my little oday20. coming around on a beam reach with a small bit of heel, when there was a pop pop sound. when I looked up I discovered my main had broken loose. after easing her back to the dock I found three of my slugs/sliders had broken off in the mast. was this too much wind? I was moving at a solid 4.5kts when this happened and heeling about 15 degrees. like I said, I normally don't go out with winds in excess of 15 with a max of 20kts.
 
RichH

RichH

.
Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Slugs are easily weakened and 'aged' by exposure to UV in sunlight.
Once you have a 'few' slugs break, you should probably replace all the slugs.

Once the slugs become weakened, flogging of the sail even during tacking or gybing is enough to break them.
A good sign that the slugs are UV damaged - they lose their 'shine'.
 
S

soldier1964

.
Jul 8, 2012
144
Helms 25 indiana
RichH said:
Slugs are easily weakened and 'aged' by exposure to UV in sunlight.
Once you have a 'few' slugs break, you should probably replace all the slugs.

Once the slugs become weakened, flogging of the sail even during tacking or gybing is enough to break them.
A good sign that the slugs are UV damaged - they lose their 'shine'.
Click to expand

some a made of plastic but I have replaced some with the metal ones. apart from being metal, is one kind better then the other??
 
RichH

RichH

.
Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Plastic slugs and shackles wont rub the anodizing off the mast and have more 'slipperiness'. Once you rub off the anodizing, there is more friction to raise, etc.
Consider a teflon coated metal slug at the head/top and clew.
Metal slug shackles are the strongest but can cut the 'bail' portion of the plastic slug.

Overall plastic is the best ... just change them for new every few years.
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

.
Feb 20, 2011
8,062
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
RichH said:
Plastic slugs and shackles wont rub the anodizing off the mast and have more 'slipperiness'. Once you rub off the anodizing, there is more friction to raise, etc.
Consider a teflon coated metal slug at the head/top and clew.
Metal slug shackles are the strongest but can cut the 'bail' portion of the plastic slug.

Overall plastic is the best ... just change them for new every few years.
Click to expand
And keep some spares aboard. DAMHIKT.
 
MrBee

MrBee

.
Dec 30, 2008
425
Irwin 34 Citation Middle River, Md.
We had 1 brake mid summer. That told me it's time for them all. They don't cost that much so We replaced them all and kept the old one's as spares.

Sail hoist easier and drops faster since.
 
higgs

higgs

.
Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I, too, owned and ODay 20 a long time ago when I was young and energetic and looked for those windy days to go out. I can assure you your slides should be up to the task.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom