Difficulty in Raising Mainsail

[Steve Thorogood]

Ever since purchasing my 29.5 new in 1995, I have always had difficulty raising the mainsail, and have always resorted to heaving on the Main Halyard where it exits from the mast, and then using the winch to haul the last few inches and tension.On closer examination, it would appear that the primary cause of the problem is that the block from which the main halyard turns at the foot of the mast is actually 3/4" higher than the pulley it negotiates before running aft to the starboard lock-blocks and winch.This difference in height causes the halyard to rub severely on the top-surface of the three-pulley block, and in fact, the pulley itself never turns at all.After considerable examination this week, we have decided to manufacture an aluminum 3/4" packing plate under the triple-pulley assembly.Have any of my fellow 29.5ers noticed this same problem, and if so, have you thought of a better fix?Thanks for your help, and still lovin' my second Hunter!

 

[Wright Ellis]

Have you tried ...

hauling on the topping lift to take the tension off the mainsail as it is raised?

 

[Rubin]

Reef Lines

The first time I took my 1996 29.5 out, I had trouble getting the mainsail to the top of the mast. For me, it was as simple as making sure that the two reef lines have slack prior to raising the main sail. With slack on the reef lines, the main sail goes up in seconds.I single-hand most of the time. With slack in the reef lines, raising the main sail is sooooo easy. Any tension on the sail makes it almost impossible.Good luck.

 

[Lorenzo14605]

Nice Thought

Steve ThorogoodYou have explained the same go to the mast to raise the mainsail, I will look at your fix to labor ratio and I will more than likley choose to send the MRS. just kidding I go forward and really never considered it a problem when I single hand I just use the winch again I will be on our Vessel (BOB) this weekend and I will send an answerseayalater

 

[Tim McCarty]

Had similar problems with my 29.5, however...

I do a few simple things that have made it much easier to raise...1. spray the slides with silicone lubricant before each sail. 2. Release the boom vang totally (and adjust later, when under sail). 3. Loosen the mainsheet. I usually don't release the topping lift until the sails are up, and I am in sail-trim mode. These suggestions come from the powers that be on fractional rigs. It has helped considerably...give it a shot and good luck...