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raising the main sail
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=51818
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Author:  dexter [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  raising the main sail

bringing up the main on a light day is not too bad... on a really windy day quite tough, at least on my boat. seems like there is a bit too much friction in the sail track making it hard to raise the main. i don't feel like there is any stress/pressure at a specific point, just hard to raise as i have more sail in the track. any ideas here are appreciated.

Author:  Elkyjason [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

We have a block of clear wax that we rub up and down the edge so when the sail is raised it helps a ton!

Author:  Matt15 [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

Yep lubricate and point your boat into the wind also helps a lot.

Author:  mmiller [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

FAQ on sail hoisting should help: http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=371

Author:  jackB [ Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

Matt15 wrote:
point your boat into the wind also helps

I bet, this was your problem.




Also try McLube Sailkote Spray

Image

Author:  Tim H16 [ Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

I also like using "McLube Sailkote Spray" which you can get from West Marine. Just spray it in the sail track of the mast the full length that the luff rope runs.

Author:  bloome [ Thu Jun 26, 2014 10:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

McLube is a must in the luff track (as well as main and jib travellers). I spray at the beginning of the season and it makes raising the main way easier. Maybe halfway thru the season I'll tip the boat on it's side and reapply to the luff track if it starts getting harder but usually the first applications lasts all the way through late sprint to early fall.

Bloome

Author:  Tim H16 [ Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

I also put a couple squirts of "DAWN Direct Foam", (dishwashing foam) in my jib and main traveler tracks before I go out each time. It keeps the tracks and travelers clean and easy sliding.

Author:  paragon1970 [ Thu Jun 26, 2014 2:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

I had the same issue with my 84 H16.
Picked up another sail set from ebay recently but this was even harder to raise.
I also recently picked up another mast recently that is from a later period, guessing 90's.
This weekend I tried the newer mast with the newer and older sails, what can I say they went up a dream.
Previous to this I was going through silicon lube like no business!

So what was different about the two masts?

The earlier mast had a really small luff feed grove. It was about 3" in length but the later mast has a considerably longer groove I would guess around 6 - 7" and with a wider flare.

What I found was happening on the old mast was that the luff was contently catching and fighting against the smaller feed groove.
It also caused an acuter angle against the luff and the boom as it was almost raised causing the last foot or so to be even harder to raise even while feeding.
Hand feeding is required if sails are tight as one should not be yanking hard on the halyard but rather feed in and then take up the slack with the halyard. Yanking on the halyard causes the luff to tighten in the mast even more since there is a slight curve in the sail luff and by pulling hard on the halyard causes the mast to bend slightly to meet the luff which causes more friction.

My new to me mast and sails goes up and down like a pole dancer do large to David Grey's come sail with me! Wondering now weather she is a bit loose! :shock:

So what type of mast luff groove do you have?
I know how frustrating it can be particularly when on your own and other sailors have arrived after you setup sailed and returned to be still there trying to raise the main!
I bought a H14 to compliment the H16 for this very reason :wink:

Cheers,
SRG

Author:  Tim H16 [ Thu Jun 26, 2014 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

I have a Florida Sailcraft Sail Trax sail feeder and it works great.

I am not sure whether they make these anymore.

It doesn't have edges on the top or bottom of the guide to snag the luff tape (like the one from Murrays), so it makes it very easy to raise or lower the sail single handed.

Image

Author:  paragon1970 [ Thu Jun 26, 2014 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

Tim, you also appear to have the longer luff feeder cutout like the one on my 90's mast.

SRG

Author:  Tim H16 [ Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

SRG,

The cutout for my luff feeder is 6" long. I am not sure when the mast was made since my boat was a project boat and is a "Heinz 57" collection of new and used parts. The mast is a black anodized all-aluminum, non-comp mast and it came with the sail feeder already on it.

I also use a "gooseneck bearing #1511", which is about 3" long.

Previously I had a 14T and it also had a Florida Sailcraft Sail Trax sail feeder.

Author:  mmiller [ Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

Once again... I stand by my FAQ on technique as the #1 most important issue to raising the main. Accessory feeders and lubrication can help but are not the real answer.

mmiller wrote:

Author:  dexter [ Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

First and foremost, thanks all for the wisdom and advice. Out yesterday with some heavy wind and hoisting was a breeze (no pun intended).

One of the challenges of where I most often sail is that the typical wind direction and location fo the lauch site make hoisting diretly into the wind a challenge.

After ensuring that the mast track was clean (at home), I sprayed in some McLube Sailkote. Combine that with some repositioning of the boat and looser outhaul, looser battens and the process went quite smoothly. No heavy tugging or having to put my weight into getting the main hoisted - really nice!

Author:  bloome [ Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: raising the main sail

I've been having an issue raising my main where it seems that one of the batten caps gets stuck. I've been having someone push that batten cap up with my tiller extension while I pull the halyard hard at the same time to get the sail all the way up so I can lock it in.

After reading Matt's FAQ regarding sail hoisting (viewtopic.php?f=18&t=371), I've realized that:

    1. That batten is probably over tensioned
    2. I need to release my outhaul before raising and lowering
    3. I need to feed the sail before pulling on the halyard as I raise it

Thanks for the info Matt. Wish I had read it earlier.

Bloome

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