Best way to remove the Main sail for trailering?

[mikekern]

I have a '74 Catalina 22 that I will be storing on the trailer most of the time. As a result I need to remove the boom and main sail after sailing. What is the best (read, easiest) to take the main sail off?
I can think of 2 ways: (1) unhook each individual sail slide/shackle from the main sail. This allows me to remove the sail from the mast and then the boom pin.
(2) remove the MasterGater sail track gate off of the mast, then slide out all of the sail sliders.

What is the "normal" way to de-rig the main sail in prep for trailering?

The problem I see with #1 is that the shackle is firmly clipped into the itself and hence it is difficult to unclip each shackle.

Thanks for any advice and tricks to easily remove the main sail.

 

[Slow Mo^cean]

I assume when you say main sail, you mean the mast? If not, pulling off the main is as simple as slacking the main halyard, pulling the main sail slides out of the mast, disconnecting the out haul then sliding it off the boom.
As for lowering the mast for trailering, search either here or google for solo mast stepping. If you have help, its good to have someone hold onto the fore stay or cleated halyard and the other person slowly walk the mast aft ward. Only rigging you have to disconnect is the fore stay and forward shrouds.

 

[jfrench]

The answer is: remove the MasterGater sail track gate off of the mast, then slide out all of the sail sliders.

If you're going to trailer sail, you'll probably dispense with the mast gate. If you don't have 'em yet, three of these quick-release turn buckles will allow you to quickly release the forestay and loosen the two forward shroud lines; allowing the mast to be stepped. http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=439

 

[mikekern]

Good thoughts - thanks!

Can you really just not have a mast gate? Nice.
And thanks for the ink to the quick-release turn buckles. The stay removal has been a time sink probable also. I will look into it.

BTW - I generally like to keep the mail sail feathered on the boom when I remove the boom for transport. This is why I am interested in removing the boom and main sail as one, using one of the two methods mentioned.
But it seems much easier to run the slider out of the mast gate and BOOM - you're done.
Thank you!

The answer is: remove the MasterGater sail track gate off of the mast, then slide out all of the sail sliders.

If you're going to trailer sail, you'll probably dispense with the mast gate. If you don't have 'em yet, three of these quick-release turn buckles will allow you to quickly release the forestay and loosen the two forward shroud lines; allowing the mast to be stepped. http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=439

 

[Joe]

Use the gate........ can't see any advantage to disconnecting a bunch of shackles from the mainsail. If you have a helper... one person can feed the slides into the gate while the other hoists the sail. As far as the boom......that is one of the great advantages of a loose foot main..... Hoist the sail on the mast, rig the boom, connect the clew to the outhaul and attach the tack and cunningham. Hook on the vang and mainsheet.... you're ready to go.

 

[StanFM]

On my 22 the mainsail and boom and sail cover are light enough that as others have said, I remove the mast gate, slide the whole mess all together up and out of the gate, with everything still bundled to the boom. Takes a minute or so. As it is, I've had a few of the plastic snaps that connect the sliders break with use, so I can only guess that unsnapping them all the time would hasten their demise, but I don't have a long experience with this boat.

Stan

 

[watercolors II]

Add to your purchase list

As suggested remove the MasterGater gate and use a sail stop to keep the sail slugs from falling out of the slot.

Purchase a couple extra sail slugs to keep in your tool case, they become brittle with age and will ruin your day sailing when they break.

If you know someone who can sew, make a canvas bag to place your boom with sail still attached, keeps everything in place and makes handling the bundle much easier.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=167&ParentCat=114

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=70&ParentCat=114