So, I have been having a very similar problem on my 21SC. If I run with too much downhaul and not enough halyard tension the head slips below the aluminum track and the bolt rope slips out. Also, if I am hoisting or reefing on a windy day the bolt rope sometimes slips out as the head of the sail is raised in the plastic section.
I would like to over-solve this problem by:
1) having my bolt rope reinforced
2) Using the aluminum tracks to replace the plastic track between the 1st reefing point and the fully hoisted point.
So my first question: Is the aluminum track extrusion section the same for all boats? I know they are different lengths, but I don't know about the section. If they are the same section, which part number gets me the most length?
H17, 14.8" 50404111
H21SC 12.5" 50404101
The plastic track is 36" long.
My second question: Plastic tracks are soft, and so they flex nicely with the fiberglass comp tip mast. Will replacing 3' of the comp tip, for a total of 5' of adjourning aluminum track cause an issue with mast bending? Or are the aluminum tracks flexible enough to bend with the mast even when multiple sections are placed adjacent to each-other?
Joe