Bolt rope or Sail Slugs

[Finallybuyingaboat]

Finally got my boat out for the first time after months of rebuilding, but not sure about the main sail. There is a bolt rope and that is how I raised the sail yesterday, but it really hard to raise the sail. The main has grommets about every 2 feet all the way along the bolt rope and I am assuming those are for sail slugs. Would that be correct? Can I just buy the slugs and attach them? Sorry, new to sailing so I am still learning.

[donradclife]

You can try it, but when we tried about 15 years ago we found that the sail slugs had even more friction than the bolt rope, and had to cut them off. The other advantage of the slugs is that the front of the mainsail is captured when you drop it.

For some reason the cylindrical slugs tend to jam and bind much more than slides. Does anyone have a source of slugs which don't jam?

[sailingfool]

FWIW, if you have lubed the sail track with silicone spray, and lube the slugs, our main will happily go up hand-over-hand, otherwise I need to use a winch for the second half.

[TrueBlue]

If the grommets are spaced 2 feet apart, they can't be for sail slugs. My guess is they're intended for use with the reefing system. Check the mast for a reefing hook(s) mounted just above the boom to mast connection.

Here's a pic of reefing hooks on my last boat . . .

[Plumper]

They are for slugs if the go all the way up to the top. If there are only two or three and they are heavily reinforced they are for reefs. The slugs bing if they are not installed properly. If they are put on so there is a twisting load on them they will bind but if they are put on so that the load pulls up and down then they work great. I just had all mine redone by a reputable sailmaker and they work perfectly. If I undo my main halyard the sail drops to the deck without effort. Hoisting is just as easy and I have a 52' hoist.

[TrueBlue]

Plumper of course, is absolutely correct. Reefing grommets would typically be limited to only two, or three. Whereas, sail slide, or slug grommets would extend the full length of the luff.

Although, normally the spacing is closer than 24". That would result in excessive wrinkles and creases, as well as a foot of sailcloth when flaked along each side of the boom.

[sailingdog]

If the grommets are every two feet for the length of the luff, then, they're probably for sail slugs. I prefer slugs to a bolt rope, since slugs, when properly installed: create less friction; allow the sail to be more easily flaked or furled on the boom; and simplify reefing the mainsail.

Coating the sail track with McLube Sailcote will help a lot. Clean the track and lube it once or twice a season.

You'll probably need a jackline at the lower end of the luff for the sail slugs.

[TrueBlue]

Originally Posted by donradclife

Does anyone have a source of slugs which don't jam?

Have you checked out the selection of slides and slugs at Sailrite?

[sailingdog]

Longer slugs are less likely to jam, but make the lowered mainsail stand taller.

[blueranger]

FWIW a bolt rope is my least favorite method of mainsail attachment. I singlehand 95% of the time and the faster the mainsail goes up the happier I am. I had the boltrope on my Ranger's main go up flawlessly exactly once. The track had just been cleaned and lubed, the sail flaked by someone other than me who knew how to do it correctly (there's a tutorial I need desperately - any good ones out there?), and I left about a foot of sail still in the track from the previous sail which is a fast way to induce UV deterioration of the sail at a high stress point.

I've never had a new out of the box sail with a bolt rope but of the arrangements I've used I prefer slugs. As always YMMV.


Mike