Catalina 27 Running Rigging

[OCEAN LADY]

I am a new owner of a Catalina 27. The mainsheet is cabin mounted on a traveller with all running rigging led to the cabin top near the cockpit. I am having a hard time running the halyards and mainsheet. They are very tight even with no wind. I have to winch them an inch at-a-time. Why does it take so much force to move the lines when there does not appear to be much load at the other end? I am wondering if the problem is the cabin roof blocks or the size/age of the sheet. Any suggestions?

- Pat

 

[Banooma]

Pat, The first thing I would check would be your blocks, not your halyard and sheets themselves. After years of weather exposure, they are prone to drying and cracking. If the turning blocks are cracked, they would be inclined to resist turning when you try to pull rope through them.

 

[Calif. Ted]

You should be able to raise your main partially by hand without the winch, I'd tie a small line near the main halyard shackle (so you can retrieve it) and check the resistance at the base of the mast where the halyard exits. You want to be able to isolate the turning blocks and the masthead sheeve so you can tell which is the problem. It may have 'jumped' the sheeve at the masthead.

 

[Rex]

Calif. Ted I have a jammed main halyard on my 28. I am in DP and heading to the shipyard tommorow. Have you had experience with a "jumped sheeve" This is going to cost me $300.00 just for the crane and 3/4 hr. exploritory surgery. Any ideas that I could try myself. I can't use a chair for obvious reasons and I have roller furling jib so no hoist there. Help! Rex

You should be able to raise your main partially by hand without the winch, I'd tie a small line near the main halyard shackle (so you can retrieve it) and check the resistance at the base of the mast where the halyard exits. You want to be able to isolate the turning blocks and the masthead sheeve so you can tell which is the problem. It may have 'jumped' the sheeve at the masthead.