Having a very difficult time raising the mainsail - the last six or so feet of the mainsheet is very difficult to do - there's no problem at top of mast that I can see and it raises easily and smoothly until the final six feet of the mainsheet. Any ideas?? Could the bend in the mast cause this?? Help!!
Mainsheet difficulties
- Thread starter wfulton
- Start date
First, I think you mean the main halyard?
Does your main have a boltrope, or those nylon slugs? Could be a lubrication thing, among others. I know I've forgotten to soften a vang or a mainsheet, then wondered why I wasn't getting a full hoist.
Got photos of your set-up?
P.S.- Congratulations on your first post!
Does your main have a boltrope, or those nylon slugs? Could be a lubrication thing, among others. I know I've forgotten to soften a vang or a mainsheet, then wondered why I wasn't getting a full hoist.
Got photos of your set-up?
P.S.- Congratulations on your first post!
Prebend in the mast can certainly contribute. Try using your topping lift to raise the boom 10 - 15 deg. above horizontal when raising the main. It won't cure the problem but may help in the short term.
I was having a huge battle raising the main. The problem went away when I
1 Cleaned the track by stuffing cloth between two sail slugs, tying a tail to the halyard and then dragging it all up and down several times.
2 Lubricated the track with McLube (your choice of lubricant). I actually made a rig that would hold a can, raised it up the mast and then with a lanyard squirt lubricant over the whole length. After that the main is easy to raise and comes down like Niagara Falls.
1 Cleaned the track by stuffing cloth between two sail slugs, tying a tail to the halyard and then dragging it all up and down several times.
2 Lubricated the track with McLube (your choice of lubricant). I actually made a rig that would hold a can, raised it up the mast and then with a lanyard squirt lubricant over the whole length. After that the main is easy to raise and comes down like Niagara Falls.
I always fought the last few feet raising our main. Sometimes I couldn't get a tight luff, no matter how hard I cranked. Then I learned I needed to release the mainsheet, vang, and just for good measure, both reefing lines while hoisting. Problem solved. I hadn't realized that the main and/or vang had pulled the boom down enough to cause the leech to go tight before the luff, preventing me from getting any more hoist on the sail.
Not saying that will solve your problem, but you might try it next time.
Not saying that will solve your problem, but you might try it next time.
We also had an issue with our H'31 (1985). The line that was recommended by Hunter (at the time) was 1/2". We were using Sta-setx (not a good choice). It was fine when new but it appeared to swell up slightly.
We changed it out for a different type of line (7/16") and things were much better.
The pre-bend in the mast can also cause issues as well as the vang (if you have one). Be sure your sheaves are all in good shape too.
You may want to check the archives for additional info.
I would start with the easy and cheap solutions (especially cleaning the track) mentioned before you do anything else.
We changed it out for a different type of line (7/16") and things were much better.
The pre-bend in the mast can also cause issues as well as the vang (if you have one). Be sure your sheaves are all in good shape too.
You may want to check the archives for additional info.
I would start with the easy and cheap solutions (especially cleaning the track) mentioned before you do anything else.