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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Sail height

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indecentseas
1st Mate

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Canada
67 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/25/2013 : 13:36:27

How high up the mast should i hoist my sail?

I'm embarrassed that I'm only pondering this question a year into sailing. I used to just pull on the halyard until the sail was up and I could not pull anymore. I have just discovered that by loosening of the down haul, boomerang and clue haul the sail can be pulled up a foot higher. This raises the question, how high should i pull it? It makes sense to pull it all the way up and then use the down haul as needed. But when I was underway with my sail a foot higher the boat's performance felt so odd that I am questioning that decision.

A related question. What steps should i follow when hoisting my sail. I generally get the main up first because the genoa unfurls so easily. I don't know the proper term for the line at the back of the booml that raises and lowers the boom. Should I be lowering the boom before i raise the sail to maximum height or after? I find if I drop the boom after the sail is up it is harder to get the boom to drop as far at the back.

David Hopkins
Vancouver, British Columbia
'78 Swing Keel, Standard Rig, Dinette
#534

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2013 : 14:56:58

1. Ease the vang and the downhaul (gooseneck to cleat on the mast), raise the main to the top, and then tension the luff (forward edge) with the downhaul. The out-haul (clew to boom) shouldn't affect this--you can keep it tensioned for the season.

2. The "topping lift" (boom end to mast-head) can be set so it's just barely slack with the sail hoisted, so it holds the boom as soon as you release the halyard.

3. The general procedure is hoist the main, get under way on it, and then pull out the furling genoa. Likewise, you can furl the genoa while under way (it'll roll up tighter if filled as you roll it), start your engine, come head-to-wind with the engine maintaining your steerage, and then drop the main.

The suggestions in 1 and 2 are for casual sailing--people seeking maximum performance vary some of these things as they become more expert.

I suspect the difference in performance that you felt had to do with the mainsail shape based on some things you haven't described. How did it feel "odd"?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/25/2013 15:10:40

indecentseas
1st Mate

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Canada
67 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2013 : 15:54:47

Thanks. Very helpful.

I'm sure you are right about the out haul. I'll check again. My out-haul goes to the front of the boom, down the mast and along the deck where it cleats in. I dont know if that is a standard setup. My impression was that if I raise the boom by a foot I will need an extra foot of slack in the out haul. But I will check next time I am out.

The boat felt odd in that I had no more weather helm. This has been a big problem for me. I am not sure if it was because of lighter winds, but I hope it was hoisting the sail properly. It makes sense that I should have reduced weather helm, I think, because my sail used to bulge a bit at the bottom because it was not lifted high enough and there was a bit of slack at the boom.

What was odd is that I expected the boat to move faster. My cruising speed seemed slower than usual, though. Hard to say. The wind was light and a bit gusty.

Anyway, there is lots for me to play around with getting my sail trimmed. I'm glad to have eliminated one variable: No need to tinker with the height of the top of the main.

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2013 : 16:23:07

Here's another thread that might help.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26703

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2013 : 17:02:20

You are correct that any lines that run along the boom (like the outhaul and often the topping lift and reefing lines) will need to be eased to raise the boom.

On my old Catalina 25 we used a slightly different method. I figured out the maximum height for the boom and tied off the downhaul to hold it just below that height. We never really adjust the downhaul (unless we are having trouble with luff tension) and just adjust halyard tension. It was a tall mast (it sounds like you have a standard) and the boom was low enough already, so we never tried to make it even lower. Plus the downhaul cleat is positioned such that the boom can only slide down about 1".

A blown out sail will cause more weatherhelm, and it sounds like you were simulating that with too little outhaul tension and main halyard tension.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2013 : 09:48:04

Agreed--having your outhaul led back to the cockpit complicates things a little--I never did that. One thing you could try, to keep the boom from sliding down when you lower the sail, is a "[url="http://content.westmarine.com/images/catalog/full/108332.jpg"]track stop[/url]" in the mast slot just below the gooseneck (with the sail up and tensioned). This could allow your out-haul setting to be fixed at the cockpit. With the boom "fixed" in that way, you would rely on halyard tension to tighten the luff--I was able to do that to my satisfaction (not racing) without using a winch. It helps to keep the slugs lubed with something like Sailkote.

A blown out main can unbalance the rig, changing your helm, but usually it changes it to excessive <i>weather</i> helm. If, with the sail set as you want it, you are feeling a neutral or even lee helm (both are disconcerting to me), you might need to ease the genny a little... If that doesn't help, check the rake of your mast. What worked for me was having it tipped back so the top of the mast was 5-6" aft of the base, as you can measure with a hanging halyard. This can require adjusting the lower shrouds as well as the fore- and backstay.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.