Update Can't Get the Main Up All the Way

[Marc P]

I tried all the recommendations posted and still can't get the main up all the way. I used a spare sail slide on the halyard and had no problem getting it up to the mast head.Tried to raise the main again and it still stops about 12 inches short of the masthead. Boom Vang and main sheet were loose. The luff looked very tight on the top 2/3rds and had some wrinkles on the bottom 1/3rd. I also noticed that I had a flap of sail and other wrinkes starting at the clew and going up at about a 45 degree angle toward the luff. Is it possible tat the bolt rope has shrunk or am I still missing something. Also when the topping lift is released the aft end of the boom falls lower and just clears the dodger.Thanks to allMarcP

 

[J W Huhta, Sr]

Mast slide entry slot?

Have you checked for no binding around this message subject area? Do you have a sail slide below whatever you have installed to keep the slides from falling outta the mast track at the bottom?Cunningham tight? Downhaul? Gooseneck binding? Reef Line holding things up? Warped or bent sail slide?

 

[Richard]

Black bands

On a TR the main should be about 20" under the mast head. If the headboard went all the way to the masthead the leech or roach of the main would interfere with the backstay. Is there a black band near the top of the mast? The headboard should go only to the black band. There should be a lower band (black tape or paint)around the mast, 2' 9" min. above the cabin top. The upperband should be 37' 6" above the lower band. If the total mast length is 42' this should leave you a maximum of 1' 9" +/- a few inches from the masthead to the top of the headboard(assuming your sails are the proper size). The main luff length should be 37'...Make sure all of your slides are the same size. If your track is damaged it may interfere with an oversized slide....

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com]

Halyard

You might try sending the halyard up with a messenger line for retrieval. This could help determine if the track or sheave are the problems. If not, you have to look at the main itself, ie: slides.LaDonna

 

[Bob Camarena]

One more idea

OK, you tried it with the halyard and a spare slide, so the track and halyard are OK. Now, try it with the sail and just the top slide. If that works OK, you've eliminated the sail or bolt rope as the problem. You could then work your way down, adding a slide or two at a time.One other thing, I don't remember if you mentioned whether or not your halyards are led aft. If they are, it's possible that there is just too much friction in the system (could be a binding turning block sheave). If they are led aft, try having someone at the mast, using their weight on the halyard as you pull it up.We're going to solve this mystery yet, keep us posted.

 

[Don]

This is a long shot, but.....

my dock mate had a problem getting the mainsail up. Halyard would move freely when working back and forth by hand, but had to grind really hard on the winch to get the sail up the last 2 feet. Sail would come down easily. Finally discovered that when the mast was stepped, the yard has somehow managed to get the halyard going over the bolt that holds the upper stay tangs to the mast. (Internal halyards) What gave it away, was the last 3 feet of halyard at the shackel was starting to fray. Assuming you have internal halyards, have you checked to see if the halyards are twisted together inside the mast? With the jib halyard loose, run the main thru and see if the jib halyard moves.