Fastening blocks to the deck.

[flyalot]

I bought new sails for a Mac 26 c and have a very hard time fully extending the main sail to get the wrinkles out. Some one told me to install a block pulley on the bottom of the mast and one on the deck so I can use the jib winch to raise the main sail. I would also like to put a clutch forward the winch to fasten down the line. Is this a good idea? Ive never attached anything to the deck. Do I just drill a hole in the deck and attach with the proper screw? Would some one please point me in the right direction. The sails are from The Sail Warehouse and are stock for the Mac 26 with nylon slugs with battens. Id like to do this myself but just a bit nervous drilling into the deck. Thanks Robert

 

[Justin_NSA]

Deck organizer (s) and clutches are a good idea to lead your lines aft. Check out the archives on the subject. That's how I ran mine.
You definitely do NOT want to use regular screws to fasten to the deck. Use SS machine screws and back the deck with large washers and locking nuts. Always bed the blocks in a good marine caulk.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

If I understand correctly, the issue is raising the main. (?)

I bet you don't have sail slugs. just the bolt rope?

a sailmaker can install them or you can do it. sailrite has a good selection of sail slugs.

-attaching to the deck I would say you want to through bolt anything on a load, and you should over drill the hole, then fill with epoxy, then drill the proper size hole so you don't allow water into the wood of the deck.

then use a good sealant on the bolt. (I like lifecalk, but 4200 and others work too).



It should not be difficult to raise the main with slugs. any 10 year old can raise a main with slugs.


Edit, sorry you said you do have slugs! But you should not need blocks to raise the mail... what do the slugs look like (barrel types?)

 

[flyalot]

Thanks for the reply, yes the slugs are barrel shaped. The last 4-6" is really tough if there is any flapping of the sail. Ive sprayed the track and plugs with dry lube which helped but didn't solve my problem. As it is now I run the line around the cleat at the bottom of the mast to get leverage then try to tie it off with out it slipping down. Im going to take baby steps here. So I don't have to attach anything to the deck which im not comfortable with I will replace the main halyard line with a better quality, replace the cleat on the mast with a block to illuminate the friction than put a clutch above the block that I can close easily instead of tie off. Thanks Robert

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Can you post a pic of the slugs?

something is wrong. it shouldn't be that hard.

maybe you have the mainsheet locked down when trying to raise the main?

outhaul is loose too? boom is not attached to the backstay (pigtail)

can you raise the main with no wind? (flogging doesn't help)

 

[Justin_NSA]

How thick is your halyard now? Maybe you can go thicker to get a better grip too. Double braid Dacron is a good choice. There might be some gunk near the top of the slot causing you grief.

 

[tjar]

If there is nothing jammed or preventing the sail from going all the way up and you just need more purchase on the halyard, there is a way to do it without running the line back to the winch. Raise the sail as far as you can and then take a single turn on the halyard cleat. Pull the line away from the mast to inch it up and then take up the slack on the cleat. Repeat until you get the desired sail tension. There is no reason that you should require using a winch on your size boat.

 

[Timo42]

If there is nothing jammed or preventing the sail from going all the way up and you just need more purchase on the halyard, there is a way to do it without running the line back to the winch. Raise the sail as far as you can and then take a single turn on the halyard cleat. Pull the line away from the mast to inch it up and then take up the slack on the cleat. Repeat until you get the desired sail tension. There is no reason that you should require using a winch on your size boat.

This, and make sure you are headed into the wind while raising your sails.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Also, on a boat with lines lead aft to winches, crew typically stands by the mast, grabs the halyard and pulls straight outward. (not down). pumping the halyard using your back and weight.
The winch man just takes up slack till the last few feet.

You could try that with the halyard cleated. pump it up, recleat....repeat.
but I don't think it should be that hard...

 

[Tymadman]

Did you old sail go up easily all the way?

Assuming the vang and cunningham are loose, perhaps the sail track is closed up a bit near the top of the mast? You might need to see how well the slugs move in the track while the mast is down and see if there are any tight spots. If so the track might need to be gently prised open a bit more.

 

[Doc_holiday]

This is how I ran mine. There may be better examples but this may help. The halyards come back to a clutch next to the port winch.

 

[tjar]

A word of caution about installing blocks on the deck. They need to be through bolted and sealed with butyl tape to prevent leaks. Anything with that much tension on it should also have a backing plate of wood or metal on the opposite side to prevent the bolts from pulling through the deck. Just drilling screws into the deck will certainly pull out and will be a constant souce of leaks.

 

[Doc_holiday]

The bolls with loads pulling on the screws (I forget the term) are hooked to the tabernacle. The deck organizer should only have shear load. But I agree any hole you drill is a potential leaker if not done properly.

 

[Roadking Larry]

My 26S has a double block on the cabin top leading to a 2 line deck organiser and back to a double clutch leading to the winch. The block and deck organiser can be bolted throught the cabin top with access inside the drop down area over the sink.
I've had similar issues with getting to full hoist. I give the slugs a shot of silicone and make sure I'm head to wind and no exessive tension on the main sheet and have the topping lift pulled up a little.

 

[Kestle]

Check the halyard for a sloppy finish at the clip. Sometimes, they have too much girth from the splice and wedge at the masthead block. Try using a halyard you knoted as a test to see if

 

[Kestle]

Check the halyard for a sloppy finish at the clip. Sometimes, they have too much girth from the splice and wedge at the masthead block. Try using a halyard you knoted as a test to see if

Gives you the last five inches. Don't forget you are bending a splice in the block, so a shot of dry lube on it may help too.



Jeff

 

[nosnebjim]

The easiest thing to do is to put a "truckers knot" in the halyard. This gives you a mechanical advantage without buying or drilling anything. Pull the halyard as far as you can and cleat it off. Measure up about ten inches and mark it. Loosen the halyard and put a loop knot big enough to fit the halyard back through. Pull the halyard down again and run it around the bottom of the horn cleat and back up through the loop knot. Now pull down and clear off.

 

[Mike B1026]

Maybe the problem is with the sail. Luff rope?

 

[Ward H]

Have you got it as tight as possible, then looked at the top of the mast? Maybe with a pr of binocs?
Is the head of the sail all the way up? If it is, there is your problem. If not, check the tension on your slugs just above the boom. As others noted and I found when I had the same problem, the main sheet, outhaul, reef line or other line could be too tight, pulling the slugs tight against the track. I had this issue and it was a combination of all three keeping the slugs so tight against the track they would probably have ripped out.

 

[Erik V]

On my M25 I use an anchor bend to attach the halyard to the main, also installed a floating boom goose neck. I have replaced the masthead cheek pulley with a good quality BB block. The bottom of the floating goose neck is attached to a 2:1` down hall rigged to the mast pivot bolt lead back to the cockpit. This rig allows me to get a full hoist on the main and also allows me to apply all the luff tension I need. As said in other posts make sure the sail slugs slide with ease, the mast grove is clear and nothing is binding. Check the luff rope if it has shrunk over time a good sail maker can lengthen it so the main sets properly.

good luck Erik