Re: silly question
I've been dealing with this for a couple of years, in my case the problem is a missing jointer keeper in one of the foil joints. This allows the foils to get out of alignment and the hoist gets stuck. the first year, I was lucky and able to rotate the foil from below to get past the bad joint. Last year i had to send my son up the mast and have him swing out to the foil to get it aligned.
I was able to solve the problem this year, I have 2 tracks in my foil, I got a 4" piece of 1/4" aluminum rod and jammed it into one of the tracks at the bad joint. It took a bit of effort 0 you have to slide the piece up the track bast the joint and then use a screw driver and a mallet to drive it back, but once done you have locked the joint. Since I don't race and don't have a 2nd headsail its not a problem. Today, when raising the sail once I selected the correct track, the hoist went right up the mast with no problem.
Of course, a new furler is in the plans but boat bucks don't allow for that this year.
Good luck.
Victor