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Hoisting The Main Sail

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Bladeswell
Captain

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USA
490 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/07/2018 : 11:35:03

Hi guys,

This may be a really silly question but hey, you all deserve a good laugh once in awhile right..? So, here goes. Do most of you actually need to use the halyard winch to finish raising the main ?
I don't remember if halyard winches were standard or optional equipment. My boat does have one (next to the companion way as opposed to mast mounted. I find that when raising the main, I need to use the winch to raise it from approx. 1/2 -3/4 of the way up. So is this considered normal ? Thanks.

Bladeswell

C25 TR FK Hull #973 1979 L-Dinette. So.Cal.

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4013 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2018 : 13:35:38

I use the cabin top winch to tighten the wrinkles out so maybe the last 6-8 inches or so. If I want the main to be a little baggy for light air I won't tighten it but instead leave it slightly loose. I lube the track and slugs often so I can usually raise it almost to the top but yea I do use the winch.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Edited by - islander on 05/07/2018 13:36:41

odonnellryanc
Navigator

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108 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2018 : 14:46:27

I use the winch for at least the last bit as well. My mast used to have a winch on it but I think they moved it to the cabin top, or put a different winch on the cabin top.

You probably need to lube up the track as suggested by Scott. I haven't found something I like very much, but SAILKOTE by these guys: http://www.mclubemarine.com/ is usually what's suggested. Maybe I just need to give it another shot.

I also used the same stuff on my cabin top but not sure it did very much! Heard beeswax or wax that comes with sail repair kits might be better for that?

C25BC
Navigator

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Canada
203 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2018 : 17:55:20

Yeah , I use my winch just to tighten the last inch or two , 2-3 cranks

Angus
S.V.Tempus
#4748
1984 Catalina 25 SK/SR/Trad.

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2018 : 19:04:26

Have you checked the sheaves at the masthead? I had the same problem after my sheaves disintegrated. Instead of using the winches for the last few inches raising the sail or to flatten the sail, I needed them after 1/2 - 3/4 of the way up.

Seth
"Outlier" 1987 Catalina 25 SR/SK/Traditional Interior #5541
"Zoo" 1977 Morgan Out Island 30
"Nomad" 1980 Prindle 16
"Lost" 1988 Catalina Capri 14.2 (sold - yay!)
"Marine Tex 1" Unknown Origin POS 8' Fiberglass Dinghy
https://whichsailboat.com/2014/07/27/catalina-25-review/

Edited by - sethp001 on 05/07/2018 19:08:49

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9051 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2018 : 21:27:16

I agree you might have a mast-head sheave or track/slug problem. I had only a mast winch, and only used it to tension the jib halyard and furler system at the beginning of the season. Once I had my new sheaves and all-rope halyards, I tensioned the main just by pulling on it and then closing the cabin-top clutch (one of which I had installed when I led lines aft). No big deal.

(You don't have a bolt rope on the luff instead of slugs, do you?)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/08/2018 07:28:40

Bladeswell
Captain

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USA
490 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2018 : 08:51:55

Thanks Everyone,

I do have sail slugs as the sail is practically new. I have not yet checked the mast head sheaves. My bad for not doing it before I Stood the mast. Whats worse is the fact that I had and still have a can of Sailecote at that time but was in such a hurry to see the mast finally up that I neglected to clean and spray the track. I wish I could find a swab of the right size to put in the track between the highest slug and the next one so that one would push it nearly to the top while the other would pull it down. Maybe I could use a 20 gauge shotgun swab. Or maybe a 410. Sense I mostly single hand the boat, its bad enough that I mostly just don't bother with it and just sail her with the headsail alone. Guess its time to do something about it. Thanks again guys.

Bladeswell

C25 TR FK Hull #973 1979 L-Dinette. So.Cal.

cudamank
1st Mate

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USA
56 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2018 : 16:15:57

I second the Sailkote. I spray each of the slugs when I put the sail in usually just at the beginning of the season. I still have to use the mast mounted winch for the last bit to make it tight.

1982 Catalina 25 SR FK
"Jenny"

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2018 : 17:13:24

This may go w/o saying, but being dead into the wind makes it easier to raise the main.

Jerry

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9051 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2018 : 08:30:12

quote:
Originally posted by Bladeswell

...I wish I could find a swab of the right size to put in the track between the highest slug and the next one so that one would push it nearly to the top while the other would pull it down...

I like that idea. Check your pharmacy for cotton cylinders... or you could probably cut a sponge or foam packing material to a size and shape that works. Then make a few passes up and down to both clean and lubricate. I was able to get the head of the sail to the mast-head and my luff straight, if not board-tight, by just pulling on the halyard. If I wanted it tighter, pulled the gooseneck down with the down-haul, but that rarely seemed necessary. Head-to-wind and luffing, the slugs shouldn't move with that much difficulty. (Then again, for relaxation, we also often sailed on the roller-genny alone--"Pull one string and you're sailing; pull another and you're not!")

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2018 : 21:49:54

I've taken an old burgee, cut off about half of the flag fabric and rolled up the rest towards the web end. Leaving the two grommets exposed and secure the wraps in place with whipping twine. I then soak the fabric w/ sailkote and run the assembly up and back in the grooves in the furler extrusion and the mast slot using the halyards tied to the grommets. A few passes and the slots are clean and slick...

Jerry

Edited by - jerlim on 05/12/2018 21:51:32

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5322 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2018 : 06:56:05

If you don�t have a winch, here�s an old sailing trick. Pull the halyard as hard as you can, then make one wrap of the tight halyard on the cleat - keep that hand with tension on the cleat
With the other hand, pull the tightened halyard bight outward perpendicular to the mast, then clinch and retighten the wrap.
You can keep doing this until there�s no more slack in the halyard.
Then wrap and lock down the halyard using a cleat knot.

Another trick to tightening down any line is using a truckers hitch. This gives you a 2:1 advantage when you pull. Here�s how. About 18� above the cleat, tie in a short (4�) slip knot on the bight of the halyard line. Then with the end, take a wrap under the halyard cleat and pass the bitter end through the slipknot eye.
Pull the end down around the horn of the cleat making sure to keep all lines tight.
Once snug, give it a last tug then tie the cleat knot.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 05/13/2018 07:04:29

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2018 : 11:09:55

Needing a winch at that point means you really need to address the problem. I clean the track with a waded rag that fits snugly into the track. Tie the top of the rag to the halyard with sturdy, small line, paracord works well. Tie a messenger line long enough to reach the masthead securely to the bottom of the rag. Soak it with SailKote and run it up and down 4-5 feet several times. Keep the rag soaked and repeat until you reach the masthead. If that doesn't solve it, you need to drop the mast to identify the problem.

Dave B. aboard Pearl
1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399
Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle

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