Mystery jam in main near top

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Paul4360

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Jun 4, 2004
35
Catalina 27 Rochester, NY
The main halyard on our C27 jams when the sail is about 8 inches from being fulling raised. Of the past 8 times we've been out, only once (the second time out) have I been able to fully raise the main. The other seven times the main sail stops before reaching the top. No matter how hard I pull on the halyard, she doesn't budge. We end up sailing with a bit of slack in the sail near the boom. I don't know why she went up completely that one time. I'm guessing something might be stuck in the track. Barring that, what else might I be facing? Any suggestions? Any recommendations that don't start with "First, get a bosun's chair..." Paul
 
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Jim11228

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Jun 2, 2004
37
Catalina 27 Newport Beach
Twisted mail halyard

Sounds like your halyard is wrapped around your backstay.
 
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Glenn17467

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Jun 8, 2004
96
Catalina 30 Seabrook Texas
Halyard

My main has two holes to attach a halyard. I don't know if your's does, but when I lubricated the slides and track I tied the halyard to the aft most hole and it bound up fairly low on the mast. In the hole closest to the mast it goes up much easier. Since the slugs have been lubricated I have not had the same problem you have unless I tie too large of a bowline in the halyard. How about your jib or genoa? I seem to have a problem not being able to get the jib or genoa all the way up. Last weekend after getting back to the slip, before I could get the sails off it came a downpour. Inorder to dry the sails I ran them on up (very light air). I went down the dock to take a look and noticed that the genoa was tight to the masthead. Part of the problem might have been too large of a bowline jamming the masthead an not allowing the sail to be fully raised. I am considering new halyards with a snap shackle spliced in. What experience has anyone had with this type of arrangement?
 
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Ken

Just have to ask

Sorry to ask but did you ease the cunningham and reefing lines-both of which would prevent the main from fully rainsing sheeted in
 
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Paul4360

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Jun 4, 2004
35
Catalina 27 Rochester, NY
It was a backstay wrapped halyard.

Jim was right. The halyard, somehow, got wrapped around the backstay. Only, I couldn't see it so fixing it took a bit of trial and error. However, after straightening that out and lubing the track, the main ascends all the way up. Thanks for the tips.
 
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