With furling foresails, self-tailing winches, single line reefing and good flaking systems (dutchman or lazy jacks), the only remaining "pain in the butt" for single handers is getting the main down without going on deck. Short of installing $1,500 to $2,000 slide systems, has anyone found a way to get a classic main down? This may be "novice" question, but has anyone installed a down haul line to get the last 8' or 10' of classic main down? Jon
Single handing with a Classic Main?
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SailCoat Teflon Spray
Have you tried teflon spray (I believe there is a brand called SailCoat) on the sail slides every couple weeks? My main drops like a rock without a down haul as long as I clean the track and the sail slugs and use the spray.
Have you tried teflon spray (I believe there is a brand called SailCoat) on the sail slides every couple weeks? My main drops like a rock without a down haul as long as I clean the track and the sail slugs and use the spray.
Mainsail Downhaul
Jon, I think this post addresses the issue you brought up. It was part of a thread entitled "Mainsail Downhaul" posted in June of this year. I plan on installing this, as I too have a dutchman and would prefer to do it all from the cockpit. Rich
Jon, I think this post addresses the issue you brought up. It was part of a thread entitled "Mainsail Downhaul" posted in June of this year. I plan on installing this, as I too have a dutchman and would prefer to do it all from the cockpit. Rich
Smaller main halyard
Jon: You did not mention which model boat you have, but on our H'31 we just went from a 1/2" halyard to a 7/16" and the main now drops like a rock. We also have a Dutchman to contain the sail.
Jon: You did not mention which model boat you have, but on our H'31 we just went from a 1/2" halyard to a 7/16" and the main now drops like a rock. We also have a Dutchman to contain the sail.
clean and lube the sail track
If the sail track is clean and the slides are fitted properly and you head to wind and the mast head shives are turning and lubed and not frozen up the sail should fall untill the amount of cloth piled up on the boom stops it. Most people dont do enough maintance to make it all come together. But with all that sail you still have to go forward and fold the sail properly.
If the sail track is clean and the slides are fitted properly and you head to wind and the mast head shives are turning and lubed and not frozen up the sail should fall untill the amount of cloth piled up on the boom stops it. Most people dont do enough maintance to make it all come together. But with all that sail you still have to go forward and fold the sail properly.
opps!
Sorry yes i have and yes it was a pain in the neck, and yes it can help but when you install 30 feet of rope to do a 7 foot job its a pain. and it flops arround and wears the sail and it tangles on deck and on and on. then there is the holes for all the fitting, just lube it and head up into the wind.
Sorry yes i have and yes it was a pain in the neck, and yes it can help but when you install 30 feet of rope to do a 7 foot job its a pain. and it flops arround and wears the sail and it tangles on deck and on and on. then there is the holes for all the fitting, just lube it and head up into the wind.
Thanks for the input!
I appreciate all the suggestions. Parrot Tales is a 1996 Beneteau 321 w/ classic main and Dutchman. Installed new slides and have Sailkoted the track (probably not often as I should). The loft has checked out the masthead. Still, when single handing, the main will often not come down that last 7' or 8'. Guess that I need to continue looking for the source of the friction. I will check out the halyard diameter reduction suggestion. That should help. My guess is that with the dutchman and reef system friction, there just isn't enough sail weight to get the last few feet down. Still think that I will experiment with a downhaul of some sort. Will let you know if this works. My overall objective is to eliminate the need to go on deck when sailing alone. Jon
I appreciate all the suggestions. Parrot Tales is a 1996 Beneteau 321 w/ classic main and Dutchman. Installed new slides and have Sailkoted the track (probably not often as I should). The loft has checked out the masthead. Still, when single handing, the main will often not come down that last 7' or 8'. Guess that I need to continue looking for the source of the friction. I will check out the halyard diameter reduction suggestion. That should help. My guess is that with the dutchman and reef system friction, there just isn't enough sail weight to get the last few feet down. Still think that I will experiment with a downhaul of some sort. Will let you know if this works. My overall objective is to eliminate the need to go on deck when sailing alone. Jon
Mast friction
I was once lowering my brother-in-law after working on the masthead in a boatswain's chair. As he got down about two thirds of the way the halyard got into the sail slide groove at the top of the mast and stopped all progress. Your halyard may be doing the same as your sail gets down to the bottom of the mast. This is probably why a smaller halyard solved the problem that Steve D had. Try slacking the halyard and reaching up with a boat hook to pull out some slack (but secure the bottom end or you'll lose the halyard up the mast). If you can't get a loose loop above the headboard it is probably the halyard and not the sail slides that is jammed.
I was once lowering my brother-in-law after working on the masthead in a boatswain's chair. As he got down about two thirds of the way the halyard got into the sail slide groove at the top of the mast and stopped all progress. Your halyard may be doing the same as your sail gets down to the bottom of the mast. This is probably why a smaller halyard solved the problem that Steve D had. Try slacking the halyard and reaching up with a boat hook to pull out some slack (but secure the bottom end or you'll lose the halyard up the mast). If you can't get a loose loop above the headboard it is probably the halyard and not the sail slides that is jammed.
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