Can't get it up...or down!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Phil

Hi All, I am looking for ideas. I have rigged my main halyard to the cockpit so that I can raise the sail from the saftey of boata firma. I can better/safer solo sail this way without watching the boat sail to Michigan without me. It sort of works but I can not get the sail all the way up. To be fair it is not my rigging either, even with 200lbs of body swinging on the halyard (at the base of the mast) I can not get the sucker all the way up. Is there some kind of lubrication for the runners. Any advice would be welcomed. Next, getting the thing down........it needs help. From on top it is fine I just pull it down, but from the cockpit I must rig an anti-halyard. Can I simply rig a line to the halyard clip and pull it down, via pulleys, from the cockpit? Again any thoughts would be most helpful. Last, how about tiller extensions..............any thoughts. Regards Phil and Madrigal
 
D

Doug Rodrigues

Sail slugs.

I assume that you have slugs on the main sail? I hope you do.
 
J

John Dawson

no guarrantees

When we moved a Coronado 27 that hadn't been used for ages, the slugs wouldn't slide well. I used a little white lithium grease on them, and after a few hoistings, the burrs inside the mast slot were flattened enough to permit normal operation. I also noticed they were very worn and were not as fat and round as they used to be. Can't guess if your hoist problem is binding slugs, obstructed slot, or the halyard 2blocked.
 
J

John Brisbin

What worked for me

Ideally you have added slugs to your main. Use a lubricant like SailKote or something like it on the slugs. It should go up pretty easy. The hard part is the last foot or so. You may have to modify the masthead block location (see some of the mod sites). Make sure the turning angles on your halyard are not to extreme. Also, a slight tug on the sail should bring the whole thing down quickly (providing the sail isn't full). I have few problems. You do have to clean the slugs and reapply once or twice a season. John
 
P

Phil

Slugs??

OK. Ignorance kicks in, what are slugs? I have white things that are about 3/4" long that run in the groove of the mast. They are sort of slug like!! If these are the problem I will do what is necessary. Thanks for the input so far. Regards Phil
 
7

73mensailed

Slugs

I just use a little silicone spray. I wiped them clean, then spray a very light coat, wipe up the drips, and I'm good to go. Avoid any petroleum products, and any graphite, it will dirty the sails. Replace any that are worn, they're cheap. West Marine.
 
M

Mike

Not enough Info

You didn't say what your rig was or the type of boat. If your sail is sticking in the mast track then a good cure is as follows. Take a 410ga. shotgun brush ( the brass brush used to clean the barrel ) And bend the center wire 90 degrees. Use this with a little WD-40 to clean the corrsion from the headrope track. Gently clean the sail where it wraps around the headrope and check for wear and tears. Let the sail and track dry, then spray food grade silicone lubricant the entire length of the track and let it dry. Don't forget to check the sheeves on the masthead and make shure they run free also. The food grade silicone spray won't stain your sails once dried. Happy Sails to You, Mike
 
Status
Not open for further replies.