There is are severals solution for the problem of slugs coming out of the track
when the sail is lowered. The method I use is a "gate" that closes off the
feed slot once the slugs are in the track. It attaches to the mast with two
knurled captive screws and is flush with the inside of the track. I will check
with my machine shop buddy to see how much he would charge to make some of more
these "gate closers". Another solution is to feed the slugs in at the dock
before hoisting the sail and use use a stop above the feed slot to keep the
slugs above the opening and putting ties or bungies on the furled sail until
you are ready to raise it. This is great for cruising since you only have to
feed the slugs once rather than every time you raise the sail.
The "rasberries" are for folks who fail to recognize that there are different
ways of doing things depending on personal preference and physical abilities.
I know that Griselda's sail slugs, lazy jacks, downhauls and reefing lines make
her slower to windward than without them but........ I am an old man with two
artificial knees and bad hips who usually sails single handed. I would love to
to have the agility I had at age 50 but, I have to live with my limitations and
modify my boat to meet my needs. As she is set up with lazy jacks, single
point jiffy reefing on a full batten main and downhauls, I can set, strike or
reef my sails without going out of reach of my tiller extension, climbing over
the travler, or scuttling along the side decks. If I were a young guy of 50
and raced her, I would probably have a suit of racing sails with boltrope and
strip off every bit of windage I could from the rig.
Danielle expressed her displeasure with feeding a boltrope and some of us
suggested an alternative. She seems pleased with the results and is less prone
to corrupt her family members with her explatives; so......... OK fine. I
really enjoyed the debate about the relative merits of slugs vs. boltropes but,
as my (then 100 year old Great Grandmother) once told me, "there are more ways
to kill a cat than choking it on hot butter".
.
.
.
Danielle,
If you would be interested in trying one of the "gate closers" like I use, I
will try to get or make one for you. I would need to know the size of the feed
opening or have a tracing from your mast. If you keep your boat in the water
or fully rigged on the trailer, it is very nice to have lazy jacks to contain
the sail as it is lowered and jiffy reefing but they do add to set up time if
you have to raise and lower the mast every time you sail. Enjoy your Monty and
have fun.
Ron
M17 #14, fixed keel
"Griselda"
> To: [email protected]> Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:40:22
-0400> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Soggy in Ketchikan> >
Save the raspberries. They don't travel far over water and usually get blown
back into the slider's cockpit, because the targeted bolt-roper is to windward
and in a forward position.> > > -----Original Message-----> From: Ronnie Keeler
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats
<[email protected]>> Sent: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 8:08 am>
Subject: Re: M_Boats: Soggy in Ketchikan> > > > > Danielle,> > Nice to hear you
are alive and well ,tough soggy. Now that you have had a > chance to have slugs
put on Ceto's main as I suggested (and started a storm of > controversy on the
site), I hope you will join me in a collective rasberry to > those who are
willing to endure feeding a boltrope to gain 1/10th knot of upwind > speed in
light air. When I suggested doing it yourself, I forgot that not > everyone has
the tools, time or patience to "do-it-yourself" so, I am glad Bob > advised
finding a sailmaker. Having a reasonably priced sailmaker in the wings > is
invaluable.> > There are many types of sailors and when I was an agile young
man with teenage > daughters to crew for me, I was a "Boy Racer/ boltroper" in
the Snipe class > where every 1/10th knot was important. Now that I am an old,
hobbled up > singlehanded cruiser and daysailer, I will sacrifice that marginal
bit of speed > for convenience and safety (I can set and strike my main and jib
from the > security of the cockpit). One makes a choice of what kind of sailor
one wants > to be and equips the boat to suit his/her needs. Life is full of
choices.> > Happy sailing> > Ron> M17 #14, fixed keel> Griselda> Date: Tue, 26
Aug 2008 23:31:20 -0700> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: >
[email protected]> Subject: M_Boats: Soggy in Ketchikan> >
> Hi all,> > I am back checking email again - I got so behind with three sets
of > out-of-town guests all through July! I'm so glad you guys were checking my
> website. I do have new photos to put on there - I will get them up tomorrow -
> I've been avoiding the computer, knowing how much mail I'd have waiting!> >
When > my Dad and his wife were visiting for a couple of weeks, we got out
sailing > several times, and he was delighted with "Ceto"! Being a very
seasoned sailor, > and skeptical of the worth of a small boat, he was impressed
by the M17's > abilities. He sailed her into the dock a couple of times, as he
detests starting > up the outboard, and he just *had* to try it. We tried it
with the genoa one > evening> , then the main the second. He was so sold on a
smaller sailboat, I had > to give him my book on sailing small cruisers which
he couldn't put down. > > > Another thing I've done in the last month of
avoiding the computer is that I > found a sailmaker here in town, as Bob on the
list suggested, and the sailmaker > put slugs on my mainsail, and repaired a
small burnhole in its luff for only > $43.00. I was astounded, as I would have
paid twice that to have avoided doing > it myself. The sail is SO much easier
to handle now!!! The difference has been > huge, and with that old soft sail
and my rusty abilities, I can't tell any > difference in the performance. Just
a lot fewer four letter words being tossed > into the wind, is all!> > Our
weather has been HORRIBLE for the last three weeks > - pouring rain 24/7 - cold
and not even decent enough wind to be worth getting > the sails drenched. I
haven't sailed at all this month. The weather here is > often this way though,
I just go into denial when it's nice. > > I'll stay > caught up now, and send a
note when I get new photos up.> > Thanks for thinking > of me!> > Danelle
Landis> "Ceto" M17 #378> Ketchikan, AK>
http://web.mac.com/anniesark9/Site/Sailing_Ceto.html> > > > ----- Original
Message ----> From: Howard Audsley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > To: For and about
Montgomery Sailboats <[email protected]>> > Sent: Friday,
August 8, 2008 7:18:27 AM> Subject: M_Boats: Danielle?> > > Have > we heard
from Danielle in Alaska lately?> > I was going to check to see if she > had
updated her website, but I no > longer have it.> > >
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