I was wrong and all of you were right

[BOAT]

‘boat’ kicked my ass Saturday in 4 foot breakers and gusts to 30 knots.

I worked so hard getting the main up that I got seasick. After I finally got the main up my wife (who is not afraid at all of big water) said to me, “Well, you finally going to go out and get some slugs??”

I said all the guys are gonna make fun of me because I did not like slugs and when I was young and strong I could handle the bolted main just fine. I realized that now I am old and I ain’t what I used to be.

So I’m headed to Minnys in Newport this weekend to shop for a spare bolted main and I am having my factory sail webbed and slotted for slugs next door in the Doyle sail loft.

So now you all can say “I told you so” and make fun of me. I deserve it.

[dreamer]

Hey BOAT I resisted putting slugs in for 2 yrs before before finally giving in. It does make handling the mainsail a lot easier especially in strong wins.

[BOAT]

Yeah, my stupid pride, I wanted to be like all the racing boats who always use a bolted main, but I got my butt kicked trying to raise the main because the waves were very choppy and very big 4 to 5 feet and they were knocking us around because they were real short choppy waves (it was a ground swell near the harbor). Once I got the main up the boat stiffened up real good and stopped rolling even with the waves crashing on our sides. It was too much work. I'm just not as strong I used to be and not as strong as i thought I was.

[seahouse]

Hmmm, BOAT. And after hearing about mastreb's setup (guides etc), I was considering going back to a bolt rope for better compatibility with mainsail rolling! (Not totally kidding) .

With sail slugs, raising and lowering the main is definitely much easier, but once the mainsail is down you still end up with a bundle (even when flaked) of mainsail over top the boom. Unless you open the mast gate to roll it. But even then single-handing, higher wind and waves complicate things.

[Tomfoolery]

I'm just not as strong I used to be and not as strong as i thought I was.

Yeah, well, I know the feeling. I worked as a tree climber in my early 20's, swinging around on my climbing rope, small chainsaw in one hand, bark in the other. And I have the scars to prove it. After that, it was Mack 10-wheeler dump trucks with no power steering, cable excavators (all-mechanical), and 90 lb and 110 lb jackhammers. I don't think I could even lift one at this point, let alone use it.

I don't even much care for going up a ladder anymore, and my bod has been telling me more and more frequently over less and less strenuous activities that perhaps I should let a younger man do such things.

For me, sail slides, lazy jacks (or a stack pack), and a mast raising system with 5-parts of line are the way to go. Soon enough, it'll be motorized winches.

Next up is a trip to the doctor for a physical, armed with a laundry list of things not working right. Let the indignities of advancing years begin.

[BOAT]

Hmmm, BOAT. And after hearing about mastreb's setup (guides etc), I was considering going back to a bolt rope for better compatibility with mainsail rolling! (Not totally kidding) .

With sail slugs, raising and lowering the main is definitely much easier, but once the mainsail is down you still end up with a bundle (even when flaked) of mainsail over top the boom. Unless you open the mast gate to roll it. But even then single-handing, higher wind and waves complicate things.

Yeah Brian, I just don't know what to do. I am a trailer sailor so EZ-mains and stack packs and lazy jacks are out of the question. Even when I called those guys they said: "not recommended for boats that are trailered often". I really like the boom roller you invented, but it still does not take away the problem of lifting a bolted main in bad weather.

I would still take a crack at the roller boom even with slugs because, as you say, the flaked sail is a mess. 99.9% of all the boats out here where I am just cover the main on the boom and leave it because they all have slips, (they are all bigger than me too). I still need to work out the best way to store and secure the sail for trailering.

I just don't know what to do about that part. I guess I could just bag it every time I trailer?

[Tomfoolery]

I just leave the main flaked on the boom, with a handful of sail ties, pull the mast gate pin, slip the sail slides out of the mast, and unpin the boom and put it below, sail on it and all, wrapped up under the sail cover. Takes no time at all.

[Russ]

It takes a big man to admit when he's beat. Unfortunately I've been beaten many times.
For what it's worth, the bolt rope main has always been a symbol of small boats to me. I had one on my Force 5 and other smaller boats. I like to think of the Mac as bigger than that and outgrown boltrope mains. No question it's tighter, better looking fit and all of that, but the Mac M isn't a fast boat to begin with so it's kind of like kidding ourselves to try and make it perform better.

Flaking the main on a small bouncy boat is a bit scary for me also. I've looked into Lazy Jacks and other solutions. They probably work well, but seem to still need ties to hold the main down if there is a wind.

I found this mod on the facebook mac group. I'm stealing it. Simple way to have sail ties ready all the time.
Not my boat, but I'm stealing the idea. Run a long bungie cord along the boom. Use hooks to wrap the cord around the sail. Simpy easy and cheap. The way I like it.

[BOAT]

I just leave the main flaked on the boom, with a handful of sail ties, pull the mast gate pin, slip the sail slides out of the mast, and unpin the boom and put it below, sail on it and all, wrapped up under the sail cover. Takes no time at all.

I trailer with the boom on the deck. Okay, I'll get more velcro straps at Home Depot!

So the next question is: do any of you use/like single line reefing?

[Steve K]

Boat,

Don't be so hard on yourself

The bolt rope is more aerodynamically sound.
I've had slugs for years though.

Just keep the luff good and tight and it's fine.

I don't like head sail furlers, but I foresee a time when I'll have to have one, instead of going up to change head sails.
I've also stayed away from all that lead to the cockpit stuff too, because it's that much more to set up during rigging the mast (as I trailer all the time). I'm am sure though, a time will come that I'll want to have lines lead back etc.

Minney's is great! I've gotta make a trip down there one of these days. Haven't been there in a couple years.

60 and counting

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[dlandersson]

Heck, I don't even bother going out in that kind of weather. Guess you're more mano than I am.

Yeah, my stupid pride, I wanted to be like all the racing boats who always use a bolted main, but I got my butt kicked trying to raise the main because the waves were very choppy and very big 4 to 5 feet and they were knocking us around because they were real short choppy waves (it was a ground swell near the harbor). Once I got the main up the boat stiffened up real good and stopped rolling even with the waves crashing on our sides. It was too much work. I'm just not as strong I used to be and not as strong as i thought I was.

[Tomfoolery]

So the next question is: do any of you use/like single line reefing?

Had it on my 34 footer, and to be honest, I didn't like it. Too much line (I also had two reef points, so a LOT of line involved), too much friction, even with blocks, and just too much 'stuff'. I'm much happier with the hook and short length of line for an outhaul.

But that's me.

[Russ]

Heck, I don't even bother going out in that kind of weather. Guess you're more mano than I am.

+1

[Steve K]

I found this mod on the facebook mac group. I'm stealing it. Simple way to have sail ties ready all the time.
Not my boat, but I'm stealing the idea. Run a long bungie cord along the boom. Use hooks to wrap the cord around the sail. Simpy easy and cheap. The way I like it.

Russ,
I like it

Went I got my Catalina 22, it had the remains of this setup on the boom. The bungee was rotted away. I never put it back together, but have though about doing this on my boat for awhile. Sure would make quick work of securing the main, when doused.

Another thing to consider, could be to rig a simple downhaul. I've thought about it for both main and head sails. Haven't done it, but there have been a couple times I wished I had done one for the head sail, at least. It can be a real bummer, when you're up there trying to get the sail down (particularly the big head sails) and you accidentally let go (usually to catch yourself from taking a dunk) and the wind pulls it back up the forestay.
Yes, I've had several of those "comedy of errors" moments on the foredeck

Just makes you want to crawl down the forward hatch and curl up in a ball sometimes

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[BOAT]

Thanks Steve - that does make me feel better. While I am at Minnys I will see if there are any bargains for the MACs - usually there are a lot of MAC sails there.

You know Captain Anderson; I have always HAD to go out in weather like that because when I was a kid there was NO weather that my dad considered 'bad'. To him things were just 'sloppy'. I'm just conditioned to ignore the sea conditions as long as the weather is not going to storm. I know you guys warned me before I got 'boat' and many said:

"The MAC is not a blue water boat and it's too tender and it will tip over and blah blah blah"

But to me the MAC just acts like a small boat. That's what I am used to, small boats under 30 feet in the ocean - that's all I know.

tkanslers tip hit's home - that's sort of what I was thinking too on the reef rig - just too much