Hello. I recently bought a 1981 O'Day 22. My halyard is jumping I to the sail track when I try to pull the mainsail down when trying to put the sail away. Pulling it up is fine. When standing directly under the mast holding both ends, I tied a pigtail to one end to test the halyard and it will not pull down more than 6 inches before jumping. If I get out of the boat and stand behind it at a considerable angle it will flow freely. I'm baffled and it's labor day!
Main halyard malfunction
- Thread starter Capri
- Start date
Are you usually not baffled til much later than Labor Day? 
Ok, seriously. When you say it jumps off the sail track, do you mean it jumps off the sheave at the masthead? Will you be unstepping the mast anytime soon? I would check the sheaves.
Perhaps if you maintain a taut halyard as you lower the sail? Do you just release the halyard and let the sail fall or pull the sail down manually? Try holding the halyard as you pull the sail down to not let it go slack through the sheaves.
I would guess you have a problem at the masthead. Those sheaves do not last forever.
Ok, seriously. When you say it jumps off the sail track, do you mean it jumps off the sheave at the masthead? Will you be unstepping the mast anytime soon? I would check the sheaves.
Perhaps if you maintain a taut halyard as you lower the sail? Do you just release the halyard and let the sail fall or pull the sail down manually? Try holding the halyard as you pull the sail down to not let it go slack through the sheaves.
I would guess you have a problem at the masthead. Those sheaves do not last forever.
Your Main Halyard should be 5/16" line and the sheaves should be sized for that, there isn't room for the halyard to jump off the sheave up there, so do you have an undersized halyard?
I don't see how the hayard could be jumping into the sail slot/track, so that is why I am assuming you mean the halyard is jumping off the sheaves. Do yo uhave it running over both sheaves up at the masthead as it should?
I don't see how the hayard could be jumping into the sail slot/track, so that is why I am assuming you mean the halyard is jumping off the sheaves. Do yo uhave it running over both sheaves up at the masthead as it should?
Thanks everyone! I feel rediculous. I didn't have it running over only the aft one! You all are great.