Questions about main sail tack

[Tom]

Can someone tell me how to attach the tack on the main sail. The point of attachment leaves a portion of the sail very loose at the boom and mast junction. When I bought the boat there was no manual or directions and there doesn't seem to be any 18.5's in the area that I can look at.Thanks

 

[Ray Bowles]

Tom, On our H26 the tack is attached at the boom

mast junction point. The plate that is attached onto the mast for the boom to hang from also has a small loop or eyelet at its top. The mail sail tack is attached to this loop with a small fastner. Along side of this are the "rams horns" used for reefing. When I first tried to sail I attached the tack to the rams horn and wondered why it always came loose. I did figure it out before the third try so I felt I wasn't totally stupid, jsut very slwo.Spelling is still a problem.Ray

 

[Wanderer138]

Is there a boom downhaul?

I once had an 18 ft daysailer with a boom and gooseneck that rode up and down in the sail track on the mast. Once the mainsail was raised, there was a line in an eye under the gooseneck that you had to pull down and cleat off near the bottom of the mast. I guess it was a cunningham of sorts, except that it pulled down the boom as well. I'm not familiar with the H18.5, but apparently this setup is fairly common on smaller sailboats. I don't know if this is the right answer, but good luck anyway.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[David Feavearyear]

Main Sail Tack

On our 18.5 there is a deep d-shackle that attaches to the sail tack and then to the hole in the boom goose-neck that is between the two reefing horns. I will also get the make (igloo I beleive) and size of the cooler that is on our boat (from youe other post).Enjoy sailing!David

 

[Chris Haraway]

Attaching the mainsail

The tack is attached to the mast, to the eye just aft of the reefing hook. You do not have a downhaul, but you should have an outhaul. Without this, you cannot control the tension of the sail foot (in the boom track). The outhaul attaches to the clew of the sail, then runs forward in the boom to a sheave and jam cleat (both in the forward part of the boom). What part of the sail is loose, the luff or the foot?I wonder about the tension of your main halyard and the dimension of your luff. If your luff is too tall for the mast, you will never get a tight fit. If your halyard is slack, your sail will not be raised completely. If you have a digital camera, take some pictures and mail them to me. Otherwise, I could take some pictures of the rigging next time I am out and send them to you.What year is your boat? Are you still using the Neil Pryde sails?Chris HarawayS/V CassiopeiaLake Pleasant, AZcharaway@cox.net