it's fallen and I can't get it up!

[Kelly Purinton]

I recently purchased a new main sail and halyard for my 1965 DaySailor. The problem is that I can't get it up to the top of the mast. There is a metal bar at the top of the mast that appears to be designed to guide the halyard either to the inside or the outside of it and we've tried both ways. The only way we haven't tried is running the end of the line designed to go OVER the block on the outside (to keep it away from the groove in the mast) and letting the end attached to the sail run INSIDE, hence to keep it toward the groove where the sail will lie. The halyard is either much to resistant for one person to pull it up (me), or gets completely stuck in the mast channel.Thoughts? It's August and I'd like to get out at least once this year!Kelly

 

[Tom Monroe]

Having trouble picturing this, but ...

I'm having a bit of trouble picturing what's going on here, so ... here's my assumption.Does it look like the metal bar was added at some point? I'm picturing a vertical mast with a small horizontal metal bar across the grove the sail rides in, right at the top. If that's the right picture, than it seems to me the purpose is to help keep the halyard from binding at the top as it passes over the block on the top of the mast. Gives it a better angle. So, you would want the halyard to pass over the outside of the bar (that is, on the side away from the mast).I can also picture a metal bar running horizontal across a vertical mast, right on top of the mast, above the block the halyard runs over at the top. In that case, the halyard runs between the metal bar and the block, and the purpose of the metal bar is to prevent the halyard from escaping the block when it's slack.Common problems ...Block at top of mast not turning freely.On most O'Days, the main uses slugs. And old slug can bind toward the top of the mast. Replace the top slug with a good new one, preferrably one that has guides on it. And, use a little silicon spray in the groove.If I've got all this mis-pictured, try again.Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake

 

[Rod Johnson,]

I'm confused too!

I have a newer Day Sailer II, but am familiar with the earlier DS I, more or less. First thing is, what size line is your halyard? (Diameter) The masthead seems to have been set up to fit a 1/4" diameter halyard, some owners tried a larger diameter line and it jams.The Day Sailer mainsail usually does not have slugs, just a boltrope on the edge of the sail, but that should not make a difference. You could rub some wax (like candle wax or such) along the mast groove to reduce any friction of the sail in the groove.I'm lost as to what this "bar" is that you mention and wonder if it is something added by a previous owner for a different purpose, a picture might help?Most (in fact, I suspect all) Day Sailers used about the same masthead fitting, and that is a cap on the top of the mast that has a "box" housing 2 sheaves (pulley wheels), the main halyard goes through the "box" over the 2 sheaves. The sheaves might need a little cleaning to loosen them if they are not turning, and replacement if they are worn out.

 

[R. Glad]

A simple remedy

Is it possible that there is a simplier answer. On my Daysailor the mainsail will not go to the top of the mast if the sail is attached to the boom. It always feels like the sail is stuck when it almost reaches the top. A lift of the boom creates enough slack to get the sail to the very top. I hope that this tip didn't insult your intelligence.