MacGregorSailors.com

I may need to go that direction - upon closer inspection, I have slugs that attach to grommets (eyes) that were installed in the sail luff behind the bolt rope...in order to move the one slug down, which still makes the most sense to me, I'd have to install a new grommet/eye, or take that one off altogether and put one of the other type on at the lower location. Works for me, I guess, unless someone else has a different idea. I just don't want to have them pulling differently on the luff...

that bolt rope entry point on the mast is truly rubbish.
Sumners slug gate deals with it, and I've been meaning to do the same, but it looked a bit hard. However, MilestoneII has an even better solution which I shall be applying very soon. He beat the offending fold in the mast flat with a rubber mallet, then cut a small section out on one side to feed the slugs in, and made up a very simple bolt on bit to replace the gap. So now slugs drop right down to the boom without needing the pita sail track stopper/bolt. Folds better in the sail bag too. I can get some photos if req of a nice gate arrangement.

My 08 has a slot cut out of the side of the mast & I beleive BWY has a slot gate mod for this !

J

I can see how that would work - means you couldn't load a main with bolt rope on it in the future (not that I think I'm going to want to).
Will have to check all this stuff out...

Hello,

I am a sales representative for Hyde Sails . There's an easy and quick solution. You can cure the problem in 5 minutes with two small 1" diameter Stainless Steel rings and some good webbing or line.

Tie the line onto one of the rings, then reeve the line through the reef tack grommet, then tie the other end of the line onto the 2nd stainless steel ring. You will find it will be very much easier to put the SS ring on the reef horn than it is to put the horn into the grommet.

We call this setup a "floppy ring at reef tack". Not only does the reef tack reach the reef horn now, it's actually much easier to use than a grommet alone.



You don't need a mast gate if you do this. Your reefing will work fine, and it'll be easier to remove the mainsail without a mast gate, which is particularly important for a trailerable boat. Floppy reef rings work in both kinds of reefing systems: those using a reef horn as well as line reefing. If you use line reefing, be sure to reeve the line up one side of the sail, through one of the SS rings, and back down the SAME side of the sail. Then there's no need to remove sail slides or install a mastgate.

Hope this helps,
Judy B

Thanks for the tip Judy, this simple idea will installed this weekend on our boat.

Si

Judy - It appears I do not hve rights to view the picture you posted. Can you check to make sure it is available to all, or is there another picture I can view? I get the basic drift of what you are saying, but I'm a little confused as to what you mean by "reeve".

Judy B.
Of course .....a real easy , logical set up that I can make by myself for a few bucks! Glad to have you posting on this board

Sitting on the dock of the bay.
Thanks,
Q!

Hi Fxwg80hd:

1. Reeve - (verb) - to pass a rope through an opening. Example: When you "run" a line from the boom to a ring, you "reeve it through the ring".

Fair winds,
Judy B

Thanks Judy, I can see the pictures now.

Thanks Judy. A real simple solution (Why did I not think of this?). This will fix a notorious problem. Thanks for your contribution to this board. We really appreciate the word of the expert.

Judy,
Thanks for the good idea! I appreciate it!

As you had mentioned in another post about boom hardware, I'm thinking that it might be just as easy to pull a reefing line through it with a block and cleat, to set up a means of reefing from the cockpit. I already have the main halyard run to the cockpit, so I don't have any problems lowering the main (have slugs) from the cockpit - would be nice to be able to reef the luff end just by pulling down the line and cleating it.

Does using the rope only (as opposed to having the actual grommet hooked) for reefing matter, or is a "secure" connection like hooking the grommet really important? I only have one reefing point on my mainsail anyway, so I'm not going to be pushing the limits of the sailboat anyway (maybe if/when we go to new sails, whenever that is).

vizwhiz wrote: Does using the rope only (as opposed to having the actual grommet hooked) for reefing matter, or is a "secure" connection like hooking the grommet really important? I only have one reefing point on my mainsail anyway, so I'm not going to be pushing the limits of the sailboat anyway (maybe if/when we go to new sails, whenever that is).

Viz,

I have single-line reefing system. I do not use that hook at all. My reefing line runs through blocks and up and through the reefing cringle. One end is secured to the end of the boom then up through the aft cringle down to a turning block then along the boom to a turning block actually on the mast then up to and through the forward cringle then down to the deck where it goes through two turning blocks back to the cockpit.

When I pull the reefing line it pulls the cringles down the to boom. All the lower slugs get stacked up on the slug stopper. And securing the line around a horn cleat at the front of the cockpit keeps the sail reefed. I never leave the cockpit.

And I only have the one reefing point. If you had two reefing points (or more as some guys do) I think you need another reefing line. If he winds are too strong for my single reef point then it is time to lower the sails and motor back to the marina.

Good Luck.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

Jim,
I agree if you need a second reef in Main it is to much sail and roll in the headsail.
Personally I don't reef the Main. If winds are strong I will furl the Jib first and if it get above 20 knots I drop Main and sail under Jib and can beat to windward 45 degrees or less and makeing good headway.
I think many Mac. Owners should try this as they may find it handy.
Dave
Ps: all that gear to set up at launching boat will cause long time Launching. We still Launch in 15 min. from arriveing at dock, keep it simple.