Info needed !

I sail on a Prindle 19 & would like to use a smaller main sail when soloing on days when wind is over 10mph. When raising the standard main the halyard ring hooks to a halyard ring fitting at the top of the mast where it takes the full load . I plan to raise the sail high enough using the standard halyard ring to be able to attach the foot to the boom & secure the halyard to a cleat at the base of the mast . Will the pressure from the halyard damage the mast head plastic shiv ? Will the pressure cause a problem to the mast. Please advise, Thanks, Bill

Why not tie a piece of line from the ring to the top of the sail and continue to use as always.

Hi Jeff : thanks for the response . I tried tying a long line in between the head of the main & the ring shackle to make up the distance created by the smaller main & it does not work . The halyard ring shackle will catch on the halyard ring fitting at the top of the mast BUT because the head of the sail is not attached to it, it will not rotate the ring shackle off the fitting to release the sail. If the head of the sail is not directly attached to the ring shackle when the bar over the boom is pushed to rotate the mast ,to make it possible to bring the ring up & over the fitting to release the main,it does not happen . I even tried to attach a 1"x6' aluminum flat bar inbetween to make up the difference & it does not work .
So I am trying to find out if I can secure the halyard the way its done on most other sailboats !

when people first started using these halyard locks they had a small hinged top to them. Hoisting the main you'd pull it up o it lifted but didn't go past the hinged bit but when you wanted to drop it you'd pull it up a little higher so it would let the hinged bit drop back down and stop your ring engaging on the hook.

It is a bad description but it might trigger someones memory and lead to them posting a photo as this would fix your issue.

Hi Scarecrow : thanks for the suggestion .Your description is fine . On my setup, I raise the Aussy Halyard ring up over the halyard lock & turn the triangle bar on the mast just above the boom to starboard inorder to move the halyard ring out of line & away from the halyard lock so the sail to comes down . This procedure for lowering the sail does not work with a small main because the head of the sail is not attached directly to the halyard ring . I am still looking for some help to solve this problem ... Bill

The point with the flipper is it doesn't require you to rotate the mast it relies on the hook being blocked off once the ring has been pulled past.

There is a drawing of one on page 18 here

Use the rope strop between head of sail and ring, but you need to have a small section of bolt rope into the mast at the top of the strop. Find and old sail and cut the headboard and section of bolt rope off and use that.

Is it -that hard- to just flip the boat on it's side to unlock the ring when you are done sailing? I've used my Hobie 14 sail on my Prindle 18 when it's really blowing, I just tie off the halyard (the mast has a clete near the base) and never had a problem with the plastic halyard sheeve at the top, I do downhaul it pretty tightly when it's blowing that much.

Hi Scarecrow : thanks for the diagram .I checked the diagram & read the instructions for lowering the sail & the directions call for turning the mast inorder to bring the sail down . I will just use the smaller sail & tie the halyard off @ a cleat. If there is too much pressure on the plastic shiv ,I will replace it with a metal one . Thanks for the info ! Bill

Hi Timbo : Yes it is too hard to turn the boat on its side to release the halyard & there is no room . When I am finished sailing for the day, I sail the boat up onto a float in a slip ! Thanks for the info about tying the halyard off on a mast cleat ! I will try that & periodically check the plastic shiv for stress or failure. If necessary I can change the shiv to a metal one ! Bill

TEAMVMG : thanks for the response & suggestion . I will try it next Summer to see if it works . However, before trying your suggestion I will try to hoist the smaller sail up & cleat the halyard on a mast . I will periodically check to see if the plastic shiv is damaged & if necessry replace it with a metal shiv ! Bill

Hi Teamvmg ; Thanks for the info . I will try it next summer after I try a simpler recommendaton to: raise the sail with the standard halyard & tie the halyard to a mast cleat ! Check the plastic shiv to see if it is stressed or damaged & if necessary, replace it with a metal shiv ! Thanks for the help! BIll

To keep the ring next to the mast use a slug and a piece of line or nylon tape sewn into a loop with a metal ring at the end. This will act just like the top of a sail. Attach your haryard to the ring(just as your would with your sail),then run a piece of line between the metal ring and the top of the sail.

Hi Jeff : Have you actually tried using the the slide (slug )& line & ring ? I di & it didnt work ! I also used a 6'x1" aluminum bar with slides on it . I attached the top of the aluminun bar to the ring shackle & the lower end with a shackle to the head of the smaller sail ,. The 2 slides on the alum bar hold the unit close to the mast in the slide track . It goes up 100% of the time & the halyard ring locks on the halyard lock .However, it's a frustrating hit & miss for release & coming down !
I plan to use the standard halyard ring for the top of the smaller sail ,raise it up high enough that the foot of the sail can be secured to the boom & tie the halyard off on a mast cleat . If there is damage to the plastic shiv at the top of the mast I will replace it with a matal shiv .... Thanks for the suggestion ! Bill

Maybe you already tried this but how about parking the boat sideways to the wind (room permitting), then uphaul the halyard ring and hold it up while you rotate the mast hook upwind? That might get the ring off the hook if you keep the ring pulled up high as you rotate the mast, then release it.

I have trouble sometimes getting my Prindle mast hook to let go of my halyard ring unless I turn the boat, bows across the wind about 45-90 degrees. Bows dead into the wind it almost never comes free.

Hi Timbo : thanks for hanging in there with me . There were some successful no hassle releases & Your suggestion about position off the wind makes alot of sense . I always bring the P-19 directly into the wind when taking the sail down & it becomes a hassle quite often . I will be trying that next season ... Thanks for sharing . On another topic altogether ... I could use some info & maybe a diagram or 2 on how to set the jib sheet up so they drive the boat to the max ... Bill