Rigging the main H26

[Chiriqui]

I'm gradually picking up on sailing my 11 yr old H26 that I bought 21 months ago. I can now take "Teshai" out on my own. It's not the prettiest picture of me putting up or bringing the down the main on my own but hay it's just me and the elements no spectators in this part of the world.

Question: Every photo I ever look at shows the main sail holding up the boom, forming a nice triangle. My H26 has a line that is fixed at the top of the mast and linked to the end of the mast. I think it's there for holding up the boom when the main sail is down. When I've tried detaching it the boom hangs down. I can't figure out how to correct this with just the sail and halyard. Is the main sail too big? It doesn't seem right to leave this line attached but without the main isn't as manageable.

Am I doing something wrong, should I be able to sail without this line attached to the end of the boom?

 

[kenkindy1]

That is the topping lift. Leave it attached. Loosen about 1/4 when sailing. You also need to release the mainsheet tackle (attaches to the cockpit floor)
when raising the main to get that last bit of looseness out

 

[Sublime]

That is the topping lift. Leave it attached. Loosen about 1/4 when sailing. You also need to release the mainsheet tackle (attaches to the cockpit floor)
when raising the main to get that last bit of looseness out

And the vang, if needed.

 

[yachtsman]

Four steps!

1) Let main sheet right off.. (loose)
2) Raise main with halyard and tension up. Good tension is just before you get vertical creases up the luff.
3) Pull out clew with out-haul as hard as you can.
4) Ease topping lift so that it is slack. Don't forget to pull it on again before you drop the main.
If the boom still hits the deck you either have the wrong size main "OR" your main is needing re-cutting or replacement.

Pull on the mainsheet and enjoy!

 

[Charisma]

Congrats on the boat. These boats, with the original Doyle sail had trouble with the bolt rope stretching. When we had ours done, Doyle paid for it. From what I understand a bunch of the original sails made in the Caribbean had faulty bolt ropes. Just a matter of loosening, stretching and having it re-sewn. I think any loft will be able to help you out, just take some photos so the understand what is needed. Chris

 

[Chiriqui]

Ah yes Topping Lift, found it in my glossary of "Sail Trim Users Guide" and clew.
I never messed with the clew nor for that matter the "Topping Lift". To be honest I didn't even, or don't even know if it is adjustable. I had the impression that it's fixed at the top of the mast. I have no pride, not at least at this point in my sailing experiences.

Good now I'm ready to toy with these features.

Moving on. I don't have a vang rigging installed. I didn't find a pole amongst the equipment that came with the boat other than one for the spinnaker. I did find a small block and tackle, is this my vang?

I just installed a Lowrance HDS 5". I mounted it with a bracket I had made up that slips into a hole in the cabin track door track. The cables are exiting inside through the previous existing flush mounted depth finder that failed. I couldn't feed the sonar cable between the cabin .walls the end connector was just too big. Why don't they consider this and make connectors that can detach to feed the wires. I really got dependent on that sonar sailing around the islands and low tide rock outcrops that get submerged.

thanks for your advice

 

[twodzusfittings]

"I did find a small block and tackle, is this my vang? "

Correct. And from one novice to another, sounds like you are really capturing the essence of sailing. Good to see I won't be the only one asking same questions.

 

[Jeff]

Your boom vany connects at the base of the mast and runs diagonally up to the boom. If it came with the boat the connections are already in place and should become obvious once you start tinkering. This helps keep the boom down and the sail flat. I had a H26 for several years, they are great boats. I'm sure you've figured out in 21 months that the boat heels over quickly. Hope you've learned about reefing the mainsail.

 

[Jeff]

Your boom vang connects at the base of the mast and runs diagonally up to the boom. If it came with the boat the connections are already in place and should become obvious once you start tinkering. This helps keep the boom down and the sail flat. I had a H26 for several years, they are great boats. I'm sure you've figured out in 21 months that the boat heels over quickly. Hope you've learned about reefing the mainsail.

 

[isaksp00]

Your topping lift may not be rigged properly - it should be adjustable (I assume this applies to the H26). On my H23, the topping lift is attached to the rear of the mast crane, and runs down to the end of the boom. It goes through one of the 3 sheaves (pulleys) on the boom end, forward inside the boom, and then out one of the jam cleats. When the main is down, you can adjust the length to support the boom at the right height, and then when you raise the main you loosen it a bit so the main supports the boom.

I re-rigged mine so it uses a wire rope from the masthead down to about 3 ft from the boom end. There's a small swiveling block at the end of the wire. My adjusting line is tied to the end of the boom, goes up to the block, back down to the sheave in the boom, and then forward as above - it is a bit easier to adjust, and the wire rope was there already from the prior owner (who rigged his at a fixed length, non adjustable, with wire clamps).

 

[Chiriqui]

Hum, I hate lowering the mast, but I'm betting your right, it's rigged incorrectly. I won't be down to the boat for a few days to confirm this.
Thanks

 

[isaksp00]

You may not have to lower it - you may be able to use what's there, depending on how well it is attached to the masthead, how long it is, whether you can extend it, etc. One way would be to cut it shorter, then attach a small block as I describe above.

 

[Deucer]

Highly recommend you get a book and study the basic hardware for a sail. If you have any aeronautical experience, you'll find that your sail is just a variable camber airfoil. You use the halyard, outhaul, vang, mainsheet and topping lift to change the shape of the sail and it's angle of attack. This , in turn, changes the amount of lift the sail produces and how it drives the boat. The headsail is a little simpler, but same principle.

 

[Chiriqui]

isaksp00, oh I re-read you 1st comment and I must admit I misunderstood. Yes I see now I shouldn't need to lower the mast for this. Right now the "topping lift" has a shackle to connect to end of the boom. Yes I could make that adjustable as you are suggesting.

Deucer: I have Don Guillette's "Sail Trim Users Guide" that's helping sort things out. I did a little sailing as a kid. The aeronautical comparisons are on page 10.

Thanks for the support

 

[cephius (Dave)]

On many of the small Hunters, like my H260, the topping lift is a fixed length cable that has a block (pulley) at the lower end. If you put a new block on the shackle you already have there, then you can rig a line to match the original intent.

The line ties to the end of the boom, goes up thought the block on the end of the topping lift cable and back down to the boom. This makes the height of the boom adjustable when the sail is not up.

When under sail, the topping lift should be loose enough for the sail to take the full weight of the boom. As others have said, if the boom angle is wrong, the sail needs mending.