Can't Get the Main Up All the Way

[Marc P]

I can't seem to get my main sail up the last 12 inches or so. She goes up pretty smoothly until the last foot and then freezes. Using the winch only tensions the halyard but the sail does not go any further. There appears to be about 12 inches of track left to go. The leech at this point is pretty loose and when I release the topping lift the boom barely clears the dodger.I am to big to go up the mast and my wife would not even consider it. Any ideas as to what might be going on?Marc P

 

[Bill Doyle - S/V Calico Dragon]

Any Chance ....

Any chance that you've got the main reefed at the foot of the mainsail? Just a thought.Bill

 

[JW Huhta]

Any chance your sheet is holding it?

Just a thought on the sheet..............loosen the sheet if it pulled tight.

 

[Al]

mainsail

make sure the mainsheet is freed up and also the boom vang if you have one when attempting to raise the mainsail. and also check the reefing lines, just because?

 

[David Moon]

Mainsail not going up

I have the same problem Al. Started about 6 months ago and I cannot get it up the last inch or so to tension the tack of the mainsail. Seems that teh top of the sailis tight but the last few inches at the bottom arealways loose. Have checked everything on teh other notes and all are fine. Will keep trying and ultimately am planning to take the mast out in the fall . I can live withit as it is. interestsing thing is that about one in 10 times it does go up.

 

[Bob Camarena]

Try This to Diagnose

Remove your top sail slide, or use a spare, attach your halyard to it plus a suitable downhaul. Pull the unloaded slide up the mast track to the top of the mast and check for any binding or blockage. If you can pull the slide up to the top without any problems, you've ruled out any problems with your track. If it does bind or stop, you know that something's amiss with the track. You might want to try it first without the slide, just the halyard and downhaul, to make sure the halyard itself isn't getting hung up somehow.

 

[Marc P]

Response to Bill Doyle

Bill,Read your response. Our boat is at Spicers. You must be near by. Stop by sometime Slip E5Summer DazeMarcP