A Boltroper here - If the gate and tack pin are properly aligned the bolt rope will all but feed itself, with VERY little assistance. (I had a suit of Norths or Hoods that had teflon tapes woven into the boltrope covering - they just flew into the gate.) My sail slot entry (gate) has a prefeeder type piece installed on each side of the slot, this is I think the key to mine working well - Buzz Ballenger built mine after I asked for all kinds of things to be done "my" way, he went ahead and did a SLPENDID job- probably tactfully ignoring my 'advice/requests'. All my metal masts (don't hold yer breath) will come from Ballenger Spars! GO In a message dated 5/23/2009 7:50:21 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, seagray@embarqmail.com writes: Hey Botropers. Don't you run into similar issues when you reef? That is, when you haul back to full sail, don't you have to coax the sail back into the groove?? Just curious. Mine main came with slugs. I have two slot stoppers that I work with. One to keep the boom at rest and the other to keep the slugs from accidently falling out. Not a perfect solution and certainly not the ease and convenience of the set up on my NorSea. Although I did like the idea raised by someone earlier that used bungee cord. Bob E, if you are viewing this, do you think you can provide the name of the mast maker and perhaps I can get them to make a removeable dam. Have a great weekend. Joe Seafrog M17 ----- Original Message ----- From: <GILASAILR@aol.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 12:45 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: mast configuration

Bill, 100% mainsail luff engagement - bolt ropes rule!

Another boltroper and d*mn proud of it!

GO

In a message dated 5/22/2009 6:55:30 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, wriker@mindspring.com writes:

I am going to count this whole hassle as another checkmark in the boltrope column.

Bill Riker M15 - #184 Storm Petrel

-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tom Jenkins Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 12:28 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: mast configuration

Dave,

I agree 2-3" is a little low if you are rigging and unrigging often. How about a short cutout just above where the boom rides, which in my boat is about a foot up? With a track stop above the opening, you could drop the sail and secure it without it shooting out of the slot, or let it all run out for unrigging with some turns of a thumbscrew. As for reefing, my cringles reach the boom over the pile of sail, but there is probably lots of

variability among years and between the 15 and 17. There was a great thread about modifications to the mast a number of months ago, so I will seek them out.

Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla

----- Original Message ----- From: "W David Scobie" <wdscobie@yahoo.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 6:44 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: mast configuration

SWEET PEA's (hull #375, 1983 build) mast has the 'opening' set very low ... 2-3" from the cabin-top. i find it anoying thus far as i must leave ALL slugs in when reefing (so the reef is set a bit 'high' IMO) and i must load the sail and then the boom ... this is a big PITA. the setup adds about 5 minutes to the rigging process.

SCRED, my M15, has the opening much higher - at least 18" above the cabin-top. this allowed for putting the boom in place and then loading the main easily and quickly. reefing was also a cleaner operation.

it seems at times many boats leave jerry's and bob's shop with 'own custom options'.

dave scobie M17 #375 - sweet pea (http://www.m17-375.webs.com) M15 #288 - SCRED (for sale, http://www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred

--- On Thu, 5/21/09, Tom Jenkins <tjenk@gte.net> wrote:

Hello all, I assume the cutout on the M17 mast slot is designed to accomodate a boltrope main (by both size and location), but I find that it is not perfect

for slugs. Among other things, one of my slugs falls right in the cutout on a double reef. Is there a reason why the cutout could not be, say, 8-12" from the mast bottom, assuming most newer boats come with slug-type sails?

Thanks, Tom Jenkins

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