Main Halyard

Hi all,
I realise that some of this has been covered in other threads, but I'm after a bit of clarification. I have tried several ways to hoist my main and for the life of me, cannot get it up to the masthead, let alone get the ring over the hook. I am about 100kg and so have enough grunt behind me when needed! My initial thoughts are that there has to be a better way.
I understand that luff tension is important, but surely;
a) there is an adequate method of securing it at the mast base
b) there is a better way to get the sail on, short of laying the boat over...

The website gallery shows a few different set-ups, but does anyone have another alternative out there?
Being green to the fleet, I'm happy to take advice...

Hi Hack
Shackle a pulley to the head of the sail ans turn the halyard in to a 2 to one purchase, This is what I do on my 6.5mtr sportboat as I have the same problem on this. I will be doing the same with my Mozzie.
Hope this helps
Chers
Damo

Hi Hack,

if you have checked your halyard pulley, sail track etc. and all is clean and running well. You might find some dry lube helpful, I have used silicon spray in the past and it helps, but have recently found Teflon spray works even better, just spraying bottom 1m of track has made it a lot easier.

But I have found it is technique and patiences as much as anything else, brute strength is not the answer. Keep the mast in line with the sail, if wind is blowing sail side to side it makes it much harder, also you can push most sails up a bit as well at each batten pocket, just don't rush it, this generally works for me.

Cheers Gary and Damian.
Yeah, perseverance seems to be the thing!

Still open to any other options though...

Hack,

I can get mine up about 3/4 of the way ten i push the sail up like gary said by each batton pocket, as the sail has the luff curve and mast is straight. push the sail into the back of the mast and up then pull halyard.

Ring on hook: make sure u have the the halyard in between the mast and ring, so in order on side view you have the Mast, halyard, ring.

Matt

Hi all,

After plenty of silicone spray and some grunt, I got the sail up ok, and eventually hooked the ring on too! Had to lay boat over to unhook though, as the outer of the halyard had all bunched up at the masthead sheave. It seems a new halyard is on the shopping list. This may well have been the source of all of my problems!
Thanks for your help guys.

Roller bearing or ball bearing sheave helps too, harken make some small sheaves that are suitable.
Darryn
1782
Bullet

As I have just found out, Australian High Performance Catamarans have developed a new halyard block incorporating harken fittings. Works pretty well apparently.
Harry

I also took a fair bit of time when I rigged my mast to round out and smooth the cutout, so the sail feeds in easily and without wearing on the bolt rope.

I made the top edge quite square but got a round file up the track (so it funnels in) and into the corners of the slot to smooth it as much as I could. It means when the sail and mast are moving, the sail self centres fairly well, and lets you keep your momentum when hoisting. If wrap the halyard under the sole of you shoe and stomp on it at the base of the mast rather than trying to heave on it, it also leaves a hand free to feed the sail into the track.

To unhook, stomp and hold to hoist it clear of the hook, rotate the mast 120 degrees (I find one direction works better than the other) and release, and it should unhook.

Hi all,
Managed to get through the season with no problems until my last race, once I got a new sheave and an new halyard. In the last race I noticed that the halyard had completely worn through the sheave. It was a nylon one, but the only one I could get at the time. I'm now looking to get an aluminium one made up, as it is an irregular size compared to the 'off the shelf units.
As far as technique goes, I think I have that sorted and it works easily as long as the gear is in good nick!

Cheers,

Hack.