Input on mast/boom hardware required

[Finallybuyingaboat]

Unfortunately I do not have a picutre handy, but will take one tonight if this is not clear.

Anyway, my boom gooseneck is attached to the mast on a T track. This T track extends up the mast about 18 inches above where the boom attaches. When I raise the main, the bolt rope slides in to the mast okay, but the problem is down at the tack (bottom corner of the sail where the mast and boom meet). I have no way of attaching the tack and the bottom 18 inches of the main sail kind of flap around when I sail. I figure I have 2 options:

1) Remove the T Track and use a gooseneck for the boom which fits into the internal track in the mast. This would allow me to use a sail slug at the tack to hold it in place.

2) Leave the T track on the mast and find some kind of slider which I could attach the tack to to hold it in place. I am not sure what kind of slider would work best as I also want to be abel to adjust my luff tension using a cunnigham.

If it makes a difference, the boat is a Shark 24. All inputs (and other ideas) welcome.

Thanks

Paul Alexander

[Faster]

Assuming you are attaching the tack of the sail to a pin or a hook on the gooseneck or boom, beyond that most similar setups have a tackle or strop to keep the sliding gooseneck in place against the halyard tension. This allows you to set the gooseneck height, and can act as a cunningham of sorts itself.

Alternatively you could get a couple of track stops that fit your track and locate the gooseneck that way - but it will be less adjustable.(or replace one or two of the track bolts with ones that stand proud - does the same thing more permanently)

I'd probably fix the gooseneck in an appropriate position with stops, and rig a conventional sly pig (cunning ham!? )

btw - the Shark was our first sailboat - great starter, but we outgrew it the first year.