I purchased a 29.5 last fall. When I raised the main, it took a great deal of effort. When I lowered the sail, it came down with a little effort, but not what I expected after the difficulty raising it. I inspected the shackles and found several broken. I replaced those and tried again. Again the effort to raise the main was very difficult.I think my next step is to un-step the mast. Several questions. What are possible causes (none of shackles were twisted)of the difficulty and what are possible solution. Also, I've never dealt with a mast this tall. So, any suggestions as to how best to get it down, inspected and back up safely would be appreciated.
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Try this...
Are you raising the main with the winch the entire distance? If, so try pulling the halyard at the mast exit as much as you can by hand then use the winch for the final tightning. That's the easiest way on our 29.5. There is too much friction through the mast base block and deck organizer which causes raising with the winch to be way too much work. It took us 6 months to discover this trick. Also, spray the track and slugs with McLube from West Marine on a regular basis. I think you will be pleased with results. Good luck, the h29.5 is a great boat.
Are you raising the main with the winch the entire distance? If, so try pulling the halyard at the mast exit as much as you can by hand then use the winch for the final tightning. That's the easiest way on our 29.5. There is too much friction through the mast base block and deck organizer which causes raising with the winch to be way too much work. It took us 6 months to discover this trick. Also, spray the track and slugs with McLube from West Marine on a regular basis. I think you will be pleased with results. Good luck, the h29.5 is a great boat.
Damaged Sail Track
Some thoughts: - Make certain the sail slides are the proper size and running free. Take each one and move it up and down the sail track. - Put some white grease on the sail slides. - You can rig a length of rope about the same size as the sail track, hook it to your halyard and pull it up and down the track -- you'll need to also rig a down haul. Put some white grease on the rope. Can also use WD40 on the rope to clean out the sail track. You'll be surprised how much better things work after this. - Make certain your halyard is running free. It could be off the schieve. If none of these ideas work, you can then consider taking the mast down. Best of luck. Paul
Some thoughts: - Make certain the sail slides are the proper size and running free. Take each one and move it up and down the sail track. - Put some white grease on the sail slides. - You can rig a length of rope about the same size as the sail track, hook it to your halyard and pull it up and down the track -- you'll need to also rig a down haul. Put some white grease on the rope. Can also use WD40 on the rope to clean out the sail track. You'll be surprised how much better things work after this. - Make certain your halyard is running free. It could be off the schieve. If none of these ideas work, you can then consider taking the mast down. Best of luck. Paul
try this first
Check that the sheave at the masthead is not broken or jammed and the halyards are not crossed inside the mast. Use binocular to inspect masthead. Lube the sail track with McLube or silicon-based product or soap--no oil or WD-40, it will stain the sail. Uncleat the mainsheet, boom vang and any reefing gear when raising the sail. Another trick is to shackle a block to the sailhead and lenghten the main halyard to increase the mechanical advantage. I would not recommend stepping this mast yourself, take it to a yard if all else fails.
Check that the sheave at the masthead is not broken or jammed and the halyards are not crossed inside the mast. Use binocular to inspect masthead. Lube the sail track with McLube or silicon-based product or soap--no oil or WD-40, it will stain the sail. Uncleat the mainsheet, boom vang and any reefing gear when raising the sail. Another trick is to shackle a block to the sailhead and lenghten the main halyard to increase the mechanical advantage. I would not recommend stepping this mast yourself, take it to a yard if all else fails.
Dont use GREASE
Best sailtrack lube is simple candle wax. Take a candle and rub in the track and on the slides. To keep the wax in the track, cut a small 'pencil' shape from the wax and insert it between the highest and next highest slug - everytime you raise the sail the wax will transfer. If the track isnt dirty, your mashead sheeve is probably jammed.
Best sailtrack lube is simple candle wax. Take a candle and rub in the track and on the slides. To keep the wax in the track, cut a small 'pencil' shape from the wax and insert it between the highest and next highest slug - everytime you raise the sail the wax will transfer. If the track isnt dirty, your mashead sheeve is probably jammed.
Wax the track
Malcolm, Find a piece of line that fits in the track. My guess is 1/4". Tie a figure 8 knot on the end or just a square knot. It has to fit through the gate of the track. Dip the knot in hot wax. Then put it in the track and pull the knot up the mast with the halyard. Then pull the line down to retrieve the halyard ( it is safer to tie a loop in the line outside the track to clip the halyard to). Repeat a few times (with pressure from the knot on the back side of the track) to polish the inside of the inside of the track. The sail slides should move much easier now. If you don't understand my directions, ask again and I will try to clarify. r.w.landau
Malcolm, Find a piece of line that fits in the track. My guess is 1/4". Tie a figure 8 knot on the end or just a square knot. It has to fit through the gate of the track. Dip the knot in hot wax. Then put it in the track and pull the knot up the mast with the halyard. Then pull the line down to retrieve the halyard ( it is safer to tie a loop in the line outside the track to clip the halyard to). Repeat a few times (with pressure from the knot on the back side of the track) to polish the inside of the inside of the track. The sail slides should move much easier now. If you don't understand my directions, ask again and I will try to clarify. r.w.landau
Mine was a problem with
several causes. The full batten ends were offset from the nearest slug by an inch or two and the forward batten pressure caused the slug to twist in the slot. The Dutchman system was misadjusted causing the previous issue to be compounded. They were plastic slugs and the PO had used WD40 which made the plastic material sticky. My advice is NO WD40. Raise the topping lift a little and see if that helps. McLube is the best lubricant I have found but wax might work as well. Replace plastic slugs too if only the lower ones.
several causes. The full batten ends were offset from the nearest slug by an inch or two and the forward batten pressure caused the slug to twist in the slot. The Dutchman system was misadjusted causing the previous issue to be compounded. They were plastic slugs and the PO had used WD40 which made the plastic material sticky. My advice is NO WD40. Raise the topping lift a little and see if that helps. McLube is the best lubricant I have found but wax might work as well. Replace plastic slugs too if only the lower ones.
Malcolm, A sailing question..
Malcolm, Are you headed into the wind when you try to raise your main? I do not know your sailing experience so please understand that I am starting with the basics. Second question: Is your main sheet loose and free to run while you are hoisting the main. A little pressure from a sail that is full of air can make it almost impossible to raise it. If you need to know some other ideas, ask again and we can get even more basic or advanced as needed. r.w.landau
Malcolm, Are you headed into the wind when you try to raise your main? I do not know your sailing experience so please understand that I am starting with the basics. Second question: Is your main sheet loose and free to run while you are hoisting the main. A little pressure from a sail that is full of air can make it almost impossible to raise it. If you need to know some other ideas, ask again and we can get even more basic or advanced as needed. r.w.landau
It should be easy
Hello, That sail should just about fly up the track. You should almost have trouble keeping the slack out of the halyard. You should feel inclined to see if you remembered to attach the halyard to the sail, it should be so easy. And that's often how it is when the rig is new, the rope has no twists in it, the masthead and mast base sheave bushings are new and slick, the halyards haven't gotten tangled with other things inside the mast, the paint in the sail track is new and slick. And so forth. But now some or all of those things are in various stages of wear, and their cumulative friction is making your life unpleasant. We had a similar boat in here last year, that was so hard in main-raising that they broke the winch, pulling too hard to get the damn thing up. We fixed a lot of the issues, and it became tolerable. In your case I'd see about rereeving the halyards and checking the sheave bushings. Then I strongly recommend investing in some Strong Track, a slide-in UHMW sail track that is a pure delight to use. But check all those other details, too. And do NOT grease the track, as this just draws grit, and ultimately more friction. Likewise avoid increasing purchase as this will only mask the underlying issues. Fair leads, Brion Toss
Hello, That sail should just about fly up the track. You should almost have trouble keeping the slack out of the halyard. You should feel inclined to see if you remembered to attach the halyard to the sail, it should be so easy. And that's often how it is when the rig is new, the rope has no twists in it, the masthead and mast base sheave bushings are new and slick, the halyards haven't gotten tangled with other things inside the mast, the paint in the sail track is new and slick. And so forth. But now some or all of those things are in various stages of wear, and their cumulative friction is making your life unpleasant. We had a similar boat in here last year, that was so hard in main-raising that they broke the winch, pulling too hard to get the damn thing up. We fixed a lot of the issues, and it became tolerable. In your case I'd see about rereeving the halyards and checking the sheave bushings. Then I strongly recommend investing in some Strong Track, a slide-in UHMW sail track that is a pure delight to use. But check all those other details, too. And do NOT grease the track, as this just draws grit, and ultimately more friction. Likewise avoid increasing purchase as this will only mask the underlying issues. Fair leads, Brion Toss
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