M-15 sailor.....I just saw the attachment in your email and you appear to have your boom position permanently attched to the mast with rivets !!! The Mast also appears to be an odd shape with a flat face to the aft direction. Is your mast "Jerry M" original? --- Is your M-17 "original"??? ---Larry in Old 189 from Sacramento..... -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of GILASAILR@aol.com Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 11:38 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Bolt rope vs sail slugs Just for the sake of - the other opinion- I have installed hundreds of slugs in mainsails (you can do it yourself on boats this size) when I was selling boats. Not hard job - great for the boatyard/parts store or sailmaker and more appropriate for large sails IMO. If you have a well designed feeder at the throat of the mast the boltrope should feed into it with no problems, (mine has not caused a problem in approximately the 7 years it has been on the rig) the feeder came on new mast from Ballenger Spars. Pros for slugs: Easier to flake sail onto boom. Sometimes - less friction when hoisting and lowering - IF all goes well. There may be other benefits - I don't see them at the moment. I am stubborn. Cons for slugs: sail is supported at slugs only - this can cause a problem when: slug fails and adjacent ones are overloaded. reefing and the slugs become overloaded or break - see above. Slugs bind or are inserted 'upside down' Metal shackles and metal bails on slugs - (less prone to breaking) - can damage mast and anodizing. More weight aloft. Less efficient aero attachment at the mast. Attached is photo showing mainsail feeder - enlarge to 100% for clear view of feeder- ( current sail has a floating tack and the tack and cunningham cringles are tied in and against the mast as they float up and down) - I roll my sails, so flaking is not a concern for the boat. The sail is attached along the whole luff and thus the load is spread move evenly with a boltrope. BTW -your headboard should have slug (or two- in the case of larger headboard) attached with webbing when installing the slugs - this prevents -you guessed-it , the upper slug/shackle/grommet from being overloaded at the leech as experienced during reefing conditions. Biggest Cluster That is a different opinion and worth every penny of the price paid -mileage may vary, always wear safety glasses, this is an exhibition - NOT a competition -Please - No Wagering! Remember -any one with an Internet connection can be an Expert when delivering information thru the 'ether' - If you have read this far, you have been witness to the phenomenon. go