I use a slot stop on SWEET PEA to keep the gooseneck from falling out the 'bottom of the mast slot'. Never had issue with the boom sliding down and knocking the stop out of the track. The stop as a metal washer, nylon washwasher and a wingnut. When reefed the gooseneck is supported by the halyard being in opposition to the tack line. Wonder what is happening with your boat's mast and/or stop that causes it to slip? :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com On Thu, Nov 15, 2018, 12:37 PM <swwheatley@comcast.net wrote:
The mast slot on my M17 was moved below the boom too and, ironically, that is exactly why I use a reefing hook instead of the o.e. tack line setup. The tack lines do not support the boom so the mainsheet pulls it down and the sliding gooseneck comes out of the slot--not good when you're sailing solo in high winds and choppy seas. In theory, I could prevent that with one of those track stop devices, but in practice I have to tighten the track stop with a set of pliers before it can resist the considerable downward force generated by the mainsheet--hand tightening simply will not work. With the reefing hook, the boom is automatically supported by halyard tension on the mainsail luff--problem solved. Or you could convert to a fixed gooseneck.
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> On Behalf Of Dave Scobie Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2018 2:00 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: mastgatr (was Re: Reefing (was Re: 15M v 17M)
John.
Contact Tom at mastgates.com He can make one for you.
I just stack the slugs on SWEET PEA as a prior owner closed the slot and moved it to below, yes below, the boom.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com
On Thu, Nov 15, 2018, 10:52 AM John Schinnerer <john@eco-living.net wrote:
Forgot to say...if anyone has any examples of fixing this issue...
My larger reefing problem is that my mast has a big (4" or more) cutaway in the sail track for slugs to go in - probably because the original sail was boltrope not slugs. And there's no "gate" on it that I can close. So reefing is a PITA at the tack because lowering main means taking out slug stop above cutaway, some slugs come out, some need to go below stop, I've got to feed them back in one side or another, then put the stop back in.
With tack lines I won't have to lower main quite as far so maybe one less slug to deal with.
But really I need to fabricate a gate for that area so there's no need for the slug stop, the slugs stay in and just stack up as low as possible.
That's the challenge with the tack lines - on a 2nd reef the tack cringle may be sitting on a big stack of slugs, can't come down towards the boom as far as one might like.
cheers, John