Vision 36 Mainsail won't go up...?

[sj01]

My wife and I are the proud (new) owners of a 1993 Vision 36. Have been out a few times experimenting and learning our new boat with no problems but Saturday, we discovered that the main would not go all the way up the mast. Fell short by about 3-4 feet I'd say. Had no problems with it the day before but now, we're at a loss. All lines were free to run (i.e. sheets) and nothing should have held it back. Ran the halyard to the top of the mast without the sail with no problem so it's not binding or knotting anywhere. The main goes up nice and smooth until that spot 3-4 feet before the top and stops. I plan on going up to check it out in a few days but wanted to pose my dilemma before the board. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I might be looking for I would be most appreciative.

Thanks

 

[Sanfelice]

Blocks

I have no knowledge of the sail raising system on the Vision but I would recommend looking at the various sheaves and turning blocks. Make sure they run free without any load. Inspect the turning blocks to make sure they are not worn and run true. The masthead sheaves may be worn or the halyard could have jumped the sheave.

 

[KD3PC]

likely have a sticky slide or a slide has become disconnected and is binding up the next slide in line...

have someone look at the sail as it travels up the mast...you will see something binding or not sliding easily...they make a lubricant for these and you may be able to fix it with that...else up the mast you go with some lube, a clean rag and a light..

All the best..

 

[Steve Dion]

Do you have two main halyards? Otherwise, you will not be able to inspect the sheaves if you cannot get the mainsail to the top (you will not get up there either (probably).

I would do an examination of the halyard to make sure that there is nothing preventing it from going over the sheaves (top & bottom). Check out the sail slugs near the top portion of the sail too.

I will be interested in knowing what you find.

 

[Ed Schenck]

What is strange is that it hangs up at a particular point. If it were a halyard, sheave, or slug problem you would expect resistance most of the way up. You said that you ran the halyard by itself with no problem. When I bend on my main I spray the slugs with a silicone lubricant. It goes up by hand and falls like a rock all season. Question, do you have a lot of bend in the mast? Not rake, but bend. But you said it was fine the first few times. Very curious.

 

[Steve Dion]

Ed:

There is NO bend in the light pole (mast). They have an external track. The only time you get a bend in the mast is when the wind hits about 20 with a full main.

I agree with you about hanging up at that point. I suppose that there could be a defect in the track at that point.

 

[Rick D]

I agree with everyone else that there must be a kink on the track or something lodged in it or underneath it. Good luck and check back with us when you figure it out.

 

[sj01]

Thanks for the replies so far. Track inspection and lube job and hopefully problem solved. I'll be sure to let ya'll know.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Yeah Steve, I did forget how that mast looks. Been awhile since I have seen one. I don't think the 32 is in our marina any longer.

 

[sj01]

I worked on the problem last night with the help of another sailboat owner at the marina. As would be expected, his first thought was also reef lines. I assured him that they were my primary focus while the problem was occuring but fortunately he focused on them anyways. Seems that though the reef lines were unlocked and free to run from the cockpit blocks, it didn't much matter. There are apparently a 100 or so tuns and loops around pulleys and such for the reefing lines to make it from point A to point B. It's more like from point A to A1,A2,B1,B2,B3,B4 etc etc. What was happening was that even though the lines were free to run, they apparently don't run as freely as I had thought. For every inch or two the sail moves up, the reef lines take in 12 inches, so they locked the main up pretty quickly at the end. After the problem was discovered, I ran the main all the way up, slowly lowered it, and instead of pulling the reefing lines back to the cockpit, let them pile on the deck. After the main was down and neatly folded on the boom, I gathered the reefing lines, coiled them, and stuffed them neatly into one of the folds on the main. Next time when we go out, (which should be in a couple hours) they will be brought out of the sail as it goes up and should give the main no resistance.

Appreciate everyone's help. I'm going sailing........