1984 H31 My main is still tough coming down for some reason. Has anyone ever had any luck rigging a downhaul? Perhaps a small line attached to the mainsail head cleated off at the mast base while sailing. I think the friction from the deck organizer, clutch, and mastbase shieves all contribute to its stubborness, because the sail slides have been lubricated, and the mast was unstepped last spring and the halyard was checked for proper routing. Advice appreciated.
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What have you done to try and fix the problem? What did you "lubricate" the mast with? Most lubricants will only make the problem worse. Friction can only come from three areas, mast track, sheeves, and halyard. Mast track, lubricants will usually attract dirt particles which will increase the problem. Try using a teflon spray like T-9, Saicote or bees wax. Sheeves, need to be clean an free running. If in doubt, replace them. Halyard, line diameter is a major cause of friction. Decreasing line diameter will greatly reduce this problem
What size main halyard are you using?
Gary: What size main halyard are you using? We had the same problem. Hunter spec's called for 1/2" line. We were having problems raising & lower the main with 1/2" line. We switched to a 7/16" Sta-set and life is good again.
Gary: What size main halyard are you using? We had the same problem. Hunter spec's called for 1/2" line. We were having problems raising & lower the main with 1/2" line. We switched to a 7/16" Sta-set and life is good again.
I replaced the 7/16" halyard.....
with 3/8", but it didn't help much. The plastic shackles began breaking (probably very old) as I would wrestle the main down, so today I bought all new shackles and slides. I have used some sort of wax as a lubricant quite a while back, but it is difficult to get the wax in that little mast slot. Please tell me the best lube and how to get it in there. Should I wax up the business side of the slide before inserting thru the luff gate? No comment on my bright idea of a downhaul? OK, stupid idea....right?
with 3/8", but it didn't help much. The plastic shackles began breaking (probably very old) as I would wrestle the main down, so today I bought all new shackles and slides. I have used some sort of wax as a lubricant quite a while back, but it is difficult to get the wax in that little mast slot. Please tell me the best lube and how to get it in there. Should I wax up the business side of the slide before inserting thru the luff gate? No comment on my bright idea of a downhaul? OK, stupid idea....right?
No wax!
Gary: I changed all of my sheaves last year (anticipating they were getting towards the end of their life). Check out Bainbridge, they sell some slugs that are supposed to have something in them that makes them slide easier. Clean the entire track and remove ANY wax or other contaminates. Then spray the track with McLube (dry lubricant).
Gary: I changed all of my sheaves last year (anticipating they were getting towards the end of their life). Check out Bainbridge, they sell some slugs that are supposed to have something in them that makes them slide easier. Clean the entire track and remove ANY wax or other contaminates. Then spray the track with McLube (dry lubricant).
But downhaul is workable...
I used one on my former H31 so I could get it down from the cockpit when I singlehanded it. I just rigged a small dia nylon cord that ran up inside the sheaves to the head of the sail. Wasn't fancy, but convienent. We do the same thing on my father's H26.
I used one on my former H31 so I could get it down from the cockpit when I singlehanded it. I just rigged a small dia nylon cord that ran up inside the sheaves to the head of the sail. Wasn't fancy, but convienent. We do the same thing on my father's H26.
Questions.....Hey Don / Tellico
I'll try to clean the inside of the track, but that may be a feat getting in there with a rag/brush or whatever. I'll check Bainbridge too. Don....exactly where did you route the downhaul line? You say "inside the sheives". Do you mean inside the little plastic shackles which fasten the sail to the slides/slugs? Thanks much
I'll try to clean the inside of the track, but that may be a feat getting in there with a rag/brush or whatever. I'll check Bainbridge too. Don....exactly where did you route the downhaul line? You say "inside the sheives". Do you mean inside the little plastic shackles which fasten the sail to the slides/slugs? Thanks much
One more thing...
How the heck do you get the sailcote spray lube inside the track where the slug contacts the mast? It seems that you could only get it on the slug prior to installing. Thanks
How the heck do you get the sailcote spray lube inside the track where the slug contacts the mast? It seems that you could only get it on the slug prior to installing. Thanks
Gary...
yes, as I remember (that boat was 5 years ago) I just ran the line down the little plastic shackles (or whatever they are called) that attaches sail and slides. I ~think~ there was an extra sheive(?) at the mast base where I could turn the line and lead it back to the cockpit. Really doesn't require much, just a little tug usually to bring it on down.
yes, as I remember (that boat was 5 years ago) I just ran the line down the little plastic shackles (or whatever they are called) that attaches sail and slides. I ~think~ there was an extra sheive(?) at the mast base where I could turn the line and lead it back to the cockpit. Really doesn't require much, just a little tug usually to bring it on down.
Got it....
Thanks, I had a jib downhaul on my last boat (no furler) and it made dousing the jib a breeze. I see no reason why the same won't work on the main. I will pick up a length of 1/8" yachtbraid and give it a try. Thanks
Thanks, I had a jib downhaul on my last boat (no furler) and it made dousing the jib a breeze. I see no reason why the same won't work on the main. I will pick up a length of 1/8" yachtbraid and give it a try. Thanks
Am I missing something?
Do you have the same problem raising the main? Is it difficult and does it bind? Mine did and found that tensioning the topping lift to put lotsa slack in the leech fixed the problem. Just a thought.
Do you have the same problem raising the main? Is it difficult and does it bind? Mine did and found that tensioning the topping lift to put lotsa slack in the leech fixed the problem. Just a thought.
Maybe I'm the one missing something...
I have read many times comments regarding the topping lift and how its adjustment/position can effect the amount of resistance when raising the main. For the life of me, I can't see how this could be. The main halyard must lift 95% of the sail first without regard to the position of the boom???? Help me here....Gary
I have read many times comments regarding the topping lift and how its adjustment/position can effect the amount of resistance when raising the main. For the life of me, I can't see how this could be. The main halyard must lift 95% of the sail first without regard to the position of the boom???? Help me here....Gary
Depends on where the downhaul line on the sail is.
When you rig a downhaul from the main OR the jib, you should use the 2nd or 3rd slug down from the top, not the top one. When you pull downward from the top of the sail or the top slug/shackle, you are pulling from a point that is not supported from above in the track and the slug tends to want to twist in the track, thus introducing a great amount of friction. this should fix your problem. Good luck and as always, have fun. Tony B
When you rig a downhaul from the main OR the jib, you should use the 2nd or 3rd slug down from the top, not the top one. When you pull downward from the top of the sail or the top slug/shackle, you are pulling from a point that is not supported from above in the track and the slug tends to want to twist in the track, thus introducing a great amount of friction. this should fix your problem. Good luck and as always, have fun. Tony B
That makes sense...
I thought about that too. Plus, the downhaul would be shorter, so less resistance. Thanks
I thought about that too. Plus, the downhaul would be shorter, so less resistance. Thanks
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