In my experience using the bolt rope instead of slugs has been a hassle and converting to slugs is one of the first things I do if the sail doesn't have them. A bolt rope won't let the sail flake properly without removing from the slot and takes more effort all around...raising and lowering. The slot on your mast should have a stop in it to keep the slugs from falling out. The stop is basically a slug with a thumbscrew to tighten or loosen and adjust at will. The stop is otherwise never touched until you want to remove the sail from the boat. The boom should be close enough to the slot to let you raise, lower and flake the sail without feeding. It's a matter of matching slug size and type (round, barrel, wire, solid, shoulders, etc) to the slot to make the sail slide down without help.