Clew attachment?

[Ardenfour]

My mainsail has a boltrope and a metal slug at the clew which should slide along a slot in the boom. I've been using the sail loose-footed with just the slug in the boom, but the slug is very tight in the slot so makes it almost impossible to adjust the foot tension when the sail is in use. Can I either remove the slug and just rely on the clew outhaul to control the clew and attach the sail to the boom? I've tried to grind some metal off the slug but it's got to the stage where it's dangerously thin and I'm reluctant to remove any more.

 

[Twister_Ken]

No, because the clew will want to rise. You could though, add a webbing or rope strop from the clew and under the boom to stop this happening.

 

[dje67]

I had the same problem, with the slug not moving freely. This actually led to the webbing between the clew and the slug tearing. The simplest fix was to get a velcro strap made up by the local sailmaker. For my 36' yacht the strap was about 3' long and 1.5" wide. It simply wraps around the boom and through the clew a few times, clamping onto itself. The best thing about this strap is that it slides smoothly along the boom, so was both a simple fix and an improvement.

 

[alan_d]

I had the same problem, with the slug not moving freely. This actually led to the webbing between the clew and the slug tearing. The simplest fix was to get a velcro strap made up by the local sailmaker. For my 36' yacht the strap was about 3' long and 1.5" wide. It simply wraps around the boom and through the clew a few times, clamping onto itself. The best thing about this strap is that it slides smoothly along the boom, so was both a simple fix and an improvement.

I had the opposite problem, with the slug spreading the slot and pulling out, but it responded to the same solution, a velcro strap supplied by the sailmaker.

 

[William_H]

Velcro Strap

I converted to the velcro strap a few seasons ago. It is really good and simple. As said you need to hold the clew down to the boom especially when you let the clew forward for light weather max camber.
I found my chandler carried the strap made with hook on one side pile on the other.
www.whitworths.com.au look for velcro "one wrap" cat # 95302

However I found it cheaper at a haberdashery (Spotlight for those in Oz) described as cable tie. This is better than having a sailmaker sew 2 pieces togehter which is then much thicker so more difficult to thread through the eyelet. good luck olewill

 

[Ardenfour]

Ok thanks - some ideas for experimentation