In a message dated 7/8/2008 2:39:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, doug_kelch@yahoo.com writes: I have an M15 without sail slugs and am perfectly happy with it.I rarely have any issues with the bolt rope. I do believe that as the boat gets bigger sail slugs become more of a neccessity. I have been sailing J22's and Catalinia 25s with sail slugs and am puzzeled about reefing a main with sail slugs. How do you do it? There seems to be a stack of sail slugs 1 1/2 fot high at the tack. How do you get the reefing tack secured and a good tight outhaul without putting excess strain on the the first slug above the reefing tack? The Catalinia 25 had a slug removed so the reefing tack would reach down to a tack hook. If this is a common practice how do you do a second reef? It seems that the stack of slugs is now 3 ft high. What am I missing? Thanks Doug Kelch M15 #310 "Seas the Day The only difference in reefing between slugs and a bolt rope is slugs aren't touched and the slack luff remains attached to the mast. Bolt ropes have to be pulled out of the mast slot for reefing and re-fed when you want to take the reef out. I'd assume the problems you have with slug use is caused from the boom being adjusted too far below the slug slot to relieve slug tension. Downhauls and outhauls come into play here but it depends on how the boat is setup. If the boom is set just below the slug slot and there's still harsh offset tension on the slugs that can't be tweaked by adjusting, it's probably a tack, cringle or slug placement error during construction. Bill P. **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)