Mainsail slides

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D

Don S

I had a new mainsail made by UK Sailmakers. Orginal mainsail was UK, but I've only owned the boat 4 years. The standard slides for the mast installed on the new mainsail would not allow the sail to to be raised more than halfway. Inspection of the old mainsail slides indicated that their thickness was adjusted by filing them down. This was done to the new mainsail and it worked fine. There's no appearance of trama to the mast at all. Anyone else ever exrperience this type of problem?
 
Jun 7, 2004
944
Birch Bay Washington
I do not understand what you are saying

It is not clear 1. why the sail would not go up or 2. why the slides were filed or 3. where they were filed or 4. what trauma to the mast. Could you please elaborate and clarify?
 
D

Don S.

More info

The sail would not go up because the slides were too thick. They had to be filed down to allow the main to be raised completely. There didn't appear to be anything wrong with the mast but the track was obviously more narrow higher up on the mast. It seems odd that the standard slides didn't work, so I was just wondering if anyone else had this type of problem.
 
D

Don S.

More Info

The sail would not go up becasue the fore/aft thickness of the standard slides used on the new sail were to thick. They appeared to be filed to allow the sail to go up. They were filed to reduce the fore/aft thickness. As far as I can tell, nothing has ever damaged the mast.
 
Dec 3, 2003
544
None None Rochester, NY
Same as my 33.5

My new Doyle had a similar problem. The sailmaker used 8 large slides, at the battens and between. The problem I had was the large slides were made in such a way that the doorway on the mast track would interfere, not allowing the slides to go past. The local Haarstick sailmaker said that was common problem. He had the large slides modified by removing the second lip (Boy, I wish I had a picture of that slide). I haven't tried it yet since the boat is still on the hard and the mast is unstepped.
 
D

Don S.

Slides

Interesting. They ended up filing the slides, just a little, and it works fine. At least now I know that others have that problem.
 
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