we bought our boat last year and have a great deal of trouble getting the main up with ease, even at the earliest stages...i have had other sailboats and that has not been a problem...even with the winch it is a struggle...someone suggested batt cars...is there a less expensive solution or is that the way to go...thanks
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Change the main halyard.
John: I would suggest that you try changing the main halyard. We had a similar problem on our H'31 (1985). I went from a 1/2" line to a 7/16" and it made a lot of difference. Be sure to check your sheaves to see that they are not cracked or flat on one side. You also want to be sure that the track is clean. Use a scotch brite pad to clean it up and then spray with McLube. You also want to clean and lube your sail slugs.
John: I would suggest that you try changing the main halyard. We had a similar problem on our H'31 (1985). I went from a 1/2" line to a 7/16" and it made a lot of difference. Be sure to check your sheaves to see that they are not cracked or flat on one side. You also want to be sure that the track is clean. Use a scotch brite pad to clean it up and then spray with McLube. You also want to clean and lube your sail slugs.
Do it with mclube first
Remover your sail cover and spray the slugs with mclube. Do not worry about spraying too much. Coat them up real good. also make sure to spray as far up in the track as you can. I had my son slide up the mast about ten feet spraying the track. I never had another problem all season.
Remover your sail cover and spray the slugs with mclube. Do not worry about spraying too much. Coat them up real good. also make sure to spray as far up in the track as you can. I had my son slide up the mast about ten feet spraying the track. I never had another problem all season.
Steve is right
Oversized line is usually the culprit. Keep in mind the mast bends on the 28, which makes it slightly harder as well. Instead of McLube, try Dawn liquid detergent. It will wash off instead of build up a goo, over time. Finally, be sure to hoist 90% of the sail from the mast, by hand. You have much better leverage. Only then should you go back to the winch. If singlehandedly doing this, invest in a $5 clutch block to hold the main to the mast temporarly while you go back to the winch to finish the job.
Oversized line is usually the culprit. Keep in mind the mast bends on the 28, which makes it slightly harder as well. Instead of McLube, try Dawn liquid detergent. It will wash off instead of build up a goo, over time. Finally, be sure to hoist 90% of the sail from the mast, by hand. You have much better leverage. Only then should you go back to the winch. If singlehandedly doing this, invest in a $5 clutch block to hold the main to the mast temporarly while you go back to the winch to finish the job.
Don't worry about buildup
I am sorry to counter someone elses opinion but I think Bill has not tried McLube. I have had my share of boats and I have never had any build up. McLube is a dry lubricant(so there is no buildup). Also if there are any racers out there it makes a good hull treatment for the class racers.
I am sorry to counter someone elses opinion but I think Bill has not tried McLube. I have had my share of boats and I have never had any build up. McLube is a dry lubricant(so there is no buildup). Also if there are any racers out there it makes a good hull treatment for the class racers.
hard hoist
The next time you have the mast down, check inside that the halyards are not wrapped around each other or some other obstruction inside the mast.
The next time you have the mast down, check inside that the halyards are not wrapped around each other or some other obstruction inside the mast.
All good advice...
...but Steve is right, the major culprit is friction induced by the large diameter line. Downsizing line will make a dramatic difference. I have a 44' hoist on my main and use 3/8" spectra cored line that has less stretch than double braid twice its size and we can hoist the main completely by hand with ease. Double braid dacron is about the worst line you can use for a halyard. Halyards need to be thin and stretch as little as possible.
...but Steve is right, the major culprit is friction induced by the large diameter line. Downsizing line will make a dramatic difference. I have a 44' hoist on my main and use 3/8" spectra cored line that has less stretch than double braid twice its size and we can hoist the main completely by hand with ease. Double braid dacron is about the worst line you can use for a halyard. Halyards need to be thin and stretch as little as possible.
If it's the line it's not the line.
If the Halyard fits the sheave it is unlikely to be adding friction. If your mast is painted white there is a very good likelihood that your problem is friction caused by oxidized white paint in the slug groove. The fix? My first choice is stripping the paint from the groove but I understand there are people who think cosmetics are more important than function. Next choice is to fit up a piece of sandpaper so it conforms to the inside of the slot. Sand all the way up the mast. You can finish that off with Scotch - Brite or something similar. You might need help being hauled up the mast. In those cases where McLube helps just a season or less I think it will be found to be oxidized paint. I stripped my mast a few years ago and have had no further problems with paint induced friction.
If the Halyard fits the sheave it is unlikely to be adding friction. If your mast is painted white there is a very good likelihood that your problem is friction caused by oxidized white paint in the slug groove. The fix? My first choice is stripping the paint from the groove but I understand there are people who think cosmetics are more important than function. Next choice is to fit up a piece of sandpaper so it conforms to the inside of the slot. Sand all the way up the mast. You can finish that off with Scotch - Brite or something similar. You might need help being hauled up the mast. In those cases where McLube helps just a season or less I think it will be found to be oxidized paint. I stripped my mast a few years ago and have had no further problems with paint induced friction.
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