I have a '96 Hunter 26 that I got a couple of months ago and really like. One confounding bugaboo: when we hoist up the mainsail, the head won't quite reach the top (it stays about six inches below the stripe around the top of the mast). We've cranked it up as hard as the winch will take it but can't get it up those last few inches. As a result, there is a little bit of slop in the mainsail shape. Any thoughts? Somebody suggested a "rope"in the mainsail may have shrunken or is defective and the mainsail itself may need repairs.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
P
Paul D.
Vang and mainsheet running free?
Hi Rick, My apologies if this is obvious to you (I'm a relatively new sailor myself), but are your vang and mainsheet running free? If you left either cleated, tension in the leach may be keeping the main from going all the way up. Another possibility is that there is a problem in the mast track, causing the mainsail to get jammed near the top. Regards, Paul
Hi Rick, My apologies if this is obvious to you (I'm a relatively new sailor myself), but are your vang and mainsheet running free? If you left either cleated, tension in the leach may be keeping the main from going all the way up. Another possibility is that there is a problem in the mast track, causing the mainsail to get jammed near the top. Regards, Paul
S
Steve
Topping Lift
As in the previous post, make sure everything, including the topping lift is free, other wise, can you push up the end of the boom freely. Any thing holding the boom down will likely keep the main from being tight. Now on the other issue, YES there is boltrope shrinkage, this could prevent the main from fully raising, you would notice the crinkle. My boltrope shrank, but after a year of aggressive sailing etc. the stitching let go holding the localized area and allowed the sail to hoist properly. (no danger of damage while using in this condtion) We brought to a loft and they fixed rather inexpensively the following winter. Good luck
As in the previous post, make sure everything, including the topping lift is free, other wise, can you push up the end of the boom freely. Any thing holding the boom down will likely keep the main from being tight. Now on the other issue, YES there is boltrope shrinkage, this could prevent the main from fully raising, you would notice the crinkle. My boltrope shrank, but after a year of aggressive sailing etc. the stitching let go holding the localized area and allowed the sail to hoist properly. (no danger of damage while using in this condtion) We brought to a loft and they fixed rather inexpensively the following winter. Good luck
C
chris sammons
Bolt rope
Congrats on your h26 Great boat! Last year and were faced with the same problem. After serching the archives and talking to hunter we ended up sending the sail back to Doyle (over winter). I was really impressed with the way Hunter/Doyle handled the whole situation. I guess that is why we are on our second hunter. ps you may want to think about getting an extra reef done at the same time. Good luck and keep us all posted as to your findings.
Congrats on your h26 Great boat! Last year and were faced with the same problem. After serching the archives and talking to hunter we ended up sending the sail back to Doyle (over winter). I was really impressed with the way Hunter/Doyle handled the whole situation. I guess that is why we are on our second hunter. ps you may want to think about getting an extra reef done at the same time. Good luck and keep us all posted as to your findings.
R
Ron Mehringer
Shrunken bolt rope
My 97 H26 had a shrunken bolt rope. There is about 6" (rough guess) of stitching, at the bottom of the sail near the boom, that attaches the sail to the rope. Simply hoist the sail and then cut the stitching. I used a razor knife. A seam ripper, like those used in sewing, would be even better. Takes about 10 minutes. Sail shape improved substantially. No real need to resew the bolt rope either. Good luck.
My 97 H26 had a shrunken bolt rope. There is about 6" (rough guess) of stitching, at the bottom of the sail near the boom, that attaches the sail to the rope. Simply hoist the sail and then cut the stitching. I used a razor knife. A seam ripper, like those used in sewing, would be even better. Takes about 10 minutes. Sail shape improved substantially. No real need to resew the bolt rope either. Good luck.
A
Alan
M
Mike Pajewski
How about a picture
My main tends to have wrinkles in the lower half of the luff, and I suspect I may have "Shrunk Boltrope syndrome" too. Where do you remove the stitching? I am exttremely wary of taking a razor to my sail and cutting the wrong threads, so a pictue would be helpful. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
My main tends to have wrinkles in the lower half of the luff, and I suspect I may have "Shrunk Boltrope syndrome" too. Where do you remove the stitching? I am exttremely wary of taking a razor to my sail and cutting the wrong threads, so a pictue would be helpful. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
A
Alan
how about a thousand words!
I am going to the boat today and will try to take pictures but am not sure they will help. My sail was a Doyle Off Shore (I think refers to where made) and the bolt rope was stiched into the luff at the head and foot. It is easy to see which stiches go through the rope and which do not and are part of the sail. I first cut the lower ones and the rope loosened about 3-4 inches but still had some wrinkle and boom droop. I then cut the ones at the top and after one day of sailing the rope loosened another 6 inches and the sail looked great. The dealer said that it is no problem to sail that way but I think that I will take it to a sail maker at the end of the season anyhow. Good luck.
I am going to the boat today and will try to take pictures but am not sure they will help. My sail was a Doyle Off Shore (I think refers to where made) and the bolt rope was stiched into the luff at the head and foot. It is easy to see which stiches go through the rope and which do not and are part of the sail. I first cut the lower ones and the rope loosened about 3-4 inches but still had some wrinkle and boom droop. I then cut the ones at the top and after one day of sailing the rope loosened another 6 inches and the sail looked great. The dealer said that it is no problem to sail that way but I think that I will take it to a sail maker at the end of the season anyhow. Good luck.
Check the eye splice at shackle end of halyard
I couldn't raise the jib on my H23 all the way and found that the eye splice at the shackle end of the halyard would not go through the sheave. I had to cut the eye splice and refasten the halyard to the shackle using a small knot (buntline hitch). No more problem. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
I couldn't raise the jib on my H23 all the way and found that the eye splice at the shackle end of the halyard would not go through the sheave. I had to cut the eye splice and refasten the halyard to the shackle using a small knot (buntline hitch). No more problem. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
- Status
- Not open for further replies.