P-15 Sail Slugs
Bruce Hood (bhood@sunset.net)
Sun, 12 Sep 1999 13:38:19 -0700
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I am a real believer in the value of installiing sail slugs, and have
had
them on my P-15's sails for many years. I would observe that no
matter what one does sometimes the slugs will bind a little and not
want to come down.. the advantage when that happens is that one
can push the hatch cover forward, stand in the cabin with one foot on
either side of
the centerboard trunk, keeping low in the boat, reach above the
gooseneck and get
a hand between the bolt rope and the sail track in the mast to pull
the sail on down, either to reef it or furl it completely. Without the
slugs
there is no opening between the luff rope and the slot to get your
fingers
around, and of course a lot more friction on a "bolt rope only" set-up.
I have been caught in some situations where I really wanted to get the
sails
down or reefed very quickly, and the slugs enabled me to pull the main
down fast. It is when it is blowing really hard that the binding effect
is
apt to be most severe. I also have found that to re-hoist in high
winds
the slugs will let me get the main up a third or so, even if binding
pretty
badly, but then the partially raised sail will enable one to round up
straight
into the wind, and the minute the boat is straight nose to wind the
slugs
are no longer "bound" and one can then quickly yank on the main halyard
and get the sail up the rest of the way. After 15 years, Aillte's
plywood
rudder housing is finally delaminated and deteriorated enough to need
replacement.. I am planning on ordering a new one from the Potter
Factory, and will let everyone know what complications, if any, I
experience in putting on the new one..
"leis gach deagh dhurachd".. "with every good wish"
Bruce
Bruce Hood, P-15 "Aillte", sail no. 1246