trouble raising main sail all the way

[KevinC_Mac26S]

I've always had trouble getting the mainsail to go up that last 1/2 foot or so. I figured it was my old main, but I just bought a new main and I'm having the same problem.

It goes up fine until the last couple of feet and then gets real hard to pull higher, and the last 1/2 foot just won't go. This of course leaves big lines in the sail which I'm sure are not good for performance.

Any ideas what could be wrong?

 

[Mike B1026]

Have slack in your main sheet line? Clean and lube your mast track/groove?
How are you raising it? By hand? Winch?

 

[MrBill_FLL]

is this a binding type of problem? (pics?)

I assume you don't have slugs on the main? adding them, should solve the problem for-ever...

or try the non greasy mclube: http://www.mclubemarine.com/sailkote/

-have looked closely at the gap in the mast? any kinks?

 

[KevinC_Mac26S]

Thanks for the comments so far.

I have slugs.

When I pull the sail up as hard and far as I can, I can see that there is about 1 foot more that the top of the sail can go up and there is still slack down near the bottom of the sail that hasn't been taken up.

I'm raising by hand (not using the wench), but I'm a very strong guy, and the line just doesn't want to go anymore. Don't want to break anything by going that extra ummmphhhh or by using the wench without finding out if there is something I've not considered.

I guess I could take the mast down and check to see if something is blocking the top from going further. We do have "mud dobbers" here who might have mucked up the works.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Capt. Kermie]

When you have your main sail hoisted up to that last 1/2 foot or so, have a look at the leach of the main. Is it pulled right tight or is it loose? I ran into this problem some years ago and it usually turned out to be that the leach was already pulled tight due to one of two things, either the main sheet was too tight or the boom vang was too tight, either of which will allow the leach to pull tight but not the luff. Loosen both and you may be able to pull the main that last 1/2 foot. Never force anything or it will break, there is usually something hung up somewhere. Sometimes it was the halyard itself that got twisted in behind the sail head and is stopping the final hoist.

 

[Squidd]

Was the new main "new" or just new to you (used)...?

 

[MrBill_FLL]

weird problem... unless the slug is caught or deformed. (check them)

if nothing else shows up, yes, drop the mast. (guess you don't do that too often) run something on the insides like a scruff pad.

the vang should be off... mainsheet off. -don't force it, it should not be a problem with slugs. you should not need a winch, except for maybe the last 3".

 

[caguy]

When you have your main sail hoisted up to that last 1/2 foot or so, have a look at the leach of the main. Is it pulled right tight or is it loose? I ran into this problem some years ago and it usually turned out to be that the leach was already pulled tight due to one of two things, either the main sheet was too tight or the boom vang was too tight, either of which will allow the leach to pull tight but not the luff. Loosen both and you may be able to pull the main that last 1/2 foot. Never force anything or it will break, there is usually something hung up somewhere. Sometimes it was the halyard itself that got twisted in behind the sail head and is stopping the final hoist.

I put my money on Capt Kermie. Check the mainsheet and/or vang.

 

[KevinC_Mac26S]

When you have your main sail hoisted up to that last 1/2 foot or so, have a look at the leach of the main. Is it pulled right tight or is it loose? I ran into this problem some years ago and it usually turned out to be that the leach was already pulled tight due to one of two things, either the main sheet was too tight or the boom vang was too tight, either of which will allow the leach to pull tight but not the luff. Loosen both and you may be able to pull the main that last 1/2 foot. Never force anything or it will break, there is usually something hung up somewhere. Sometimes it was the halyard itself that got twisted in behind the sail head and is stopping the final hoist.

I bet this is it too. I do normally have the main sheet loose, but not the vang. I'll give that a try next time.

And the sail is new new.

 

[Rudder Nonsense]

Oh so many jokes... but I'll refrain. LOL!
Anyway, I found the same thing on my v222 with the boltrope system. What I noticed, was the mainsail halyard block, was on the side of the mast, so when I had it near the top, it was pulling sideways, not up! I made a aluminum bracket thing-a-maggigy that moved the block aft and I get far more vertical lift and not a sideways lift near the top. This is only a temporary solution for me as I'm going to slugs soon. But I can now get the sail far tighter.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Have you checked the luff length? As compared to the height of the mast from the boom.

Does your boom drop? Can it?

 

[timebandit]

Perhaps the knot tied to the head board is hitting the sheave to soon.

Maybe the sheave is mounted up side down or to low.

 

[Doug L]

On my Hunter 26, I found I had to use the winch to get the sail up to where I was happy with it, even with everything else loose. It was only the last few inches, but I could not pull it tight by hand.

 

[timebandit]

You could try sweating it up but I think most mac owneres will agree that theirs go all the way to the top without a lot of effort especially with slugs.

 

[larizon]

perhaps the bolt rope inside the sail edge is to short??

 

[PuckandTitania]

I found on my '95 26s a flat spot in the track approximately where the mast sits in the crutch when trailored. The sail was hard to pull up past that point. A yearly dose of Mclube on the slugs and track solves the problem.

 

[Captain Somebody]

I would have to agree with Capt. Kermie. I had the same problem with my 26C. You should check the tension on the boom vang and main sheet but you should also make sure the boom is at 90 degrees to the mast. Leave the vang and sheet a bit loose and adjust the topping lift so the boom is square with the mast. Once you find the sweet spot mark the line for the toppping lift with a permanant marker, next to a fair lead or some other hardware, for a quick reference

 

[hgii]

perhaps the bolt rope inside the sail edge is to short??

My mainsail behaves just like the OP described- without a boom vang and the mainsheet totally loose. No matter how hard I pull on the halyard, there is a foot or so at the top between the pulley atop the mast and the knot attaching the shackle. Most of the cloth between the sail slugs along the luff is tight except for the bottom two or three. :cry:

Try this: Slide the foot of the sail from the boom and raise the main. Does it go all the way to the top now? (It may be quicker to undo the boom from the mast?) My sail will go all the way up without any extra effort. Of course, I then have a foot or so between the metal ring on the tack of the sail and the boom. :cussing:

The bolt rope along the luff has shrunk. I have read it is an easy fix but I am too chicken to start undoing stitches and ruin my old sail for good. Funds are in tight supply right now..

I rather put up with a baggy sail than a sail-less sailboat...

 

[KevinC_Mac26S]

Weather and time finally gave me a chance to get back on the boat.

Loosened the vang, and raised the boom to perpendicular with the topping lift, and the sail went up with no problem.

Thanks guys!!!!!