Do I need a main downhaul? H26

Joe · Dec 16, 2020

Only you can answer that question. But it's simple enough to set up.. just attach an appropriate length of small diameter line to the top slider grommet and some kind of cleat to tie the downhaul off... If you don't need it... simply untie it.

kappykaplan · Dec 16, 2020

joecool911 said:
But can I expect the main to come down on it's own without a downhaul?

Probably. Liberal use of a dry lube such as McLube Sailcote on the mainsail cars will help.

twistedskipper · Dec 16, 2020

Based on my experience with my H26, I don’t think plastic slugs in a groove can be counted on to come all the way down on their own every time without someone at the mast.

I loved the batt cars on my cruising catamaran!

kappykaplan · Dec 16, 2020

Where's @rgranger ?

twistedskipper · Dec 16, 2020

And of course you'll need good lazy jacks, or a stack pack, or a good Dutch flaking system, if you can get the main to drop on its own, or you'll be on the cabin top to flake/tie down the main anyway.

Benny17441 · Dec 16, 2020

I vote for keeping things simple, would not want to be next complaining about the Main Downhaul Line jamming. I have no problems unloading the sail, releasing the halyard and going on top to bring the sail down hand over hand.

Joe · Dec 17, 2020

joecool911 said:
But can I expect the main to come down on it's own without a downhaul?

The only way to know the answer for sure is to actually drop the main, from a couple different angles, because it's your boat and you're the one that sails it. I certainly wouldn't install a batt car system unless you had all full battens. A downhaul is simple to set up and way, way cheaper that batt cars.

Sailfanatic · Dec 17, 2020

My experience with plastic slides is if you clean the luff groove in the mast and McLube the track and cars, the main is likely to drop easily. By the middle of the season, you may need to re-lube the system to keep it slick.

Crazy Dave Condon · Dec 17, 2020

@joecool911

Have you ordered the bridles. Can you take a photo of the furling drum attached at the deck? I forgot if mainsail original. Look up the mainsail track and see if it is straight. One thing at a time but please advise.

Justin_NSA · Dec 17, 2020

IMHO, if the plastic slugs are going to jam, they are going to jam. A downhaul is no guarantee that the mainsail is going to come down w/o working it at the mast. This is not like a hanked on headsail and downhaul setup. Keep the slugs and track clean and dry lubed.
I remember years ago someone posted a homemade gadget the rode in the track cleaning and lubing along the way. Not sure why it hasn't been marketed. I'll have to search for it.

Justin_NSA · Dec 17, 2020

Here's one cleaning tool.

The Do-it-Yourself Sail Track Cleaner - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

here's another

Jasper & Bailey Sailmakers

Jasper and Bailey Sailmakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Custom made sails, used sails, sails services, winter storage

www.jasperandbailey.com

There's another out there that actually had a lube can attached that could be activated from the deck

Justin_NSA · Dec 17, 2020

Justin_NSA said:
Here's one cleaning tool.

The Do-it-Yourself Sail Track Cleaner - Practical Sailor

Since 1974, Practical Sailor’s independent testing has taken the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.

www.practical-sailor.com

here's another

Jasper & Bailey Sailmakers

Jasper and Bailey Sailmakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Custom made sails, used sails, sails services, winter storage

www.jasperandbailey.com

There's another out there that actually had a lube can attached that could be activated from the deck

Here's one version of the gadget I'm remembering

difficulty raising mainsail

my mainsail runs up a track on plastic sliders. the all-rope halyard runs inside the mast, exiting near the winch. sail has always been very difficult to raise but either it's getting worse or i'm getting woosier. i am able to manually (sans winch) pull sail up 2/3 of the way. after that it...

www.sailnet.com

shemandr · Dec 17, 2020

I don’t recall seeing a main down haul on any boat I’ve sailed on. For many, I was crew so by definition not solo sailing. Neither have I seen a main get stuck up (Except for my roller furling main). With a straight, clean , lubricated track with a sail in good condition, it should come down when the halyard is released. Most boats I’ve been on someone lowers the sail in a controlled manner to do at least a rough flake.
So my answer is no.

Sailfanatic · Dec 17, 2020

My last two boats have had full batten mains. While the full battens were a nice feature, they produced a lot of friction raising /lowering the sail. We developed the practice of have a crew stand in front of the mast to I'll the sail down...and lube didn't change the situation much.

Crazy Dave Condon · Dec 17, 2020

@tgranger
Do you have a photo of the furler drum attached to the forestay chain plate on your hunter 26?that you can share. I will check under owner photos under boat info

Crazy Dave Condon · Dec 18, 2020

Cannot open. Put photo only if you can

Do I need a main downhaul? H26

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