Bolt tight

[ChrisE]

If you've ever wondered where this expression came from here's the explanation.

Today, I was on the boat fitting the new mainsail. I was alone and was pulling the sail and the stack pack along the bolt track which I can tell you as a single handed job is hard work. Any roads up managed to get it along enough of the of the track to insert slug and haul up sail, which all went exetremely well.

All I needed to do now was to finish hauling the sail and stackpack along the track using the outhaul. All went well until the last 6 inches when everything went er *bolt tight*. No matter how much I winched nothing would move. The bolt rope was slack along its length, stackpack was also free but nothing would move.

After a bit of head scratching I looked into the track and immediately in front of the aft slug was a bolt with the thread jammed underneath the the slug. With a deft whack with a marlin spike said bolt was freed, 6 inches of winching and the job was complete. So now proud owner of new sail (from Sanders, woo hoo, it's the dogs bananas but enough of that) that waits its first outing.

 

[Danny Jo]

So now proud owner of new sail (from Sanders, woo hoo, it's the dogs bananas but enough of that) that waits its first outing.

My sentiment, exactly, when I replaced the 20 year old (Sanders) genoa with a brand new Sanders genoa. He had the original pattern, but advised a smaller one, and it was good advice.

 

[fireball]

I was told an easy way to get main and stackpack installed this spring ...

lay the stackpack over the top, then using a blunt instrument (tea spoon is ok if SWMBO doesn't see you) poke the fold of the stackpack into the track. Tie it off at the front of the boom.
Once this is done you can feed the main in.... I managed this singlehanded with the boom on the gooseneck ...