Mainsail winch

Archives
1

Posted by f35sail (s.goward@…>)

Lou:

I believe that we have the F35 #22. I will confirm next time I am aboard.

We bought “Suzee” in May 2005 with no electric winch. Since then we
have been solving problems such as a) the connectors to the cars were
hung upside down and b) the ball bearings in the cars were square
(probably related). We still find that the main is a bear to raise,
particularly if the wind is above 10 kts (yes, kept into the wind).

We are about to take the plunge into an electric winch, we we believe
may be cheaper that a divorce but do have safety concerns. For
example, it is really easy to hang the first two battens in the
lazyjacks. Had not thought about the slicker problem but I could see
how that would happen.

So, if you had a chance to redo the switches, were would you put them?
Our nice big dodger certainly blocks the view aloft.

Thanks

Sam Goward

F35#22(?) Suzee


— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@…>
wrote:

Paul,

What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?

(I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on the
mainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the electric
winch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it weren’t for
another crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off his foulie,
he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be released due to
alot of presssure. The winch switches are located incorrectly-
you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate the
winch switches.)

Lou
F35#23 Ripple Effect

----- Original Message -----
From: ptecca63
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

Louis,

My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater and a
charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no problems.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

2

Posted by sitchmo (sitchmo@…>)

Sam - Our electric winch switches are on the seating area starboard
side up against the bulkhead where the shower is behind. I have also
found that the dodger blocks the view of the sail going up when using
the switches. What I do now, as I am usually barefoot or easily
barefooted, I use my big toe to press either switch standing aft of
the dodger. This allows me a good view of the main as it goes up.

Mac
Apsara
1993 F35.


— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “f35sail” <s.goward@…> wrote:

Lou:

I believe that we have the F35 #22. I will confirm next time I am
aboard.

We bought “Suzee” in May 2005 with no electric winch. Since then we
have been solving problems such as a) the connectors to the cars were
hung upside down and b) the ball bearings in the cars were square
(probably related). We still find that the main is a bear to raise,
particularly if the wind is above 10 kts (yes, kept into the wind).

We are about to take the plunge into an electric winch, we we believe
may be cheaper that a divorce but do have safety concerns. For
example, it is really easy to hang the first two battens in the
lazyjacks. Had not thought about the slicker problem but I could see
how that would happen.

So, if you had a chance to redo the switches, were would you put them?
Our nice big dodger certainly blocks the view aloft.

Thanks

Sam Goward

F35#22(?) Suzee

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@>
wrote:

Paul,

What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?

(I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on the
mainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the electric
winch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it weren’t for
another crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off his foulie,
he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be released due to
alot of presssure. The winch switches are located incorrectly-
you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate the
winch switches.)

Lou
F35#23 Ripple Effect

----- Original Message -----
From: ptecca63
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

Louis,

My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater
and a
charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no
problems.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

3

Posted by louis spitz (aronella@…>)

Sam,
I’d place the buttons (there are 2- one for high speed, one for low) hi up, so you could see the sail (battens, lazy jacks,
etc) as you pushed the buttons.
Where are you located? I’m in Nyack, NY- 20 miles north of the Battery.
Lou

----- Original Message -----
From: f35sail
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 9:27 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Mainsail winch


Lou:I believe that we have the F35 #22. I will confirm next time I am aboard.We bought “Suzee” in May 2005 with no electric winch. Since then wehave been solving problems such as a) the connectors to the cars werehung upside down and b) the ball bearings in the cars were square(probably related). We still find that the main is a bear to raise,particularly if the wind is above 10 kts (yes, kept into the wind).We are about to take the plunge into an electric winch, we we believemay be cheaper that a divorce but do have safety concerns. Forexample, it is really easy to hang the first two battens in thelazyjacks. Had not thought about the slicker problem but I could seehow that would happen.So, if you had a chance to redo the switches, were would you put them?Our nice big dodger certainly blocks the view aloft.ThanksSam GowardF35#22(?) Suzee— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@…>wrote:>> Paul,> > What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?> > (I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on themainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the electricwinch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it weren’t foranother crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off his foulie,he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be released due toalot of presssure. The winch switches are located incorrectly-> you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate thewinch switches.)> > Lou > F35#23 Ripple Effect> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: ptecca63 > To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM> Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom 35> > > Louis,> > My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater and a > charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no problems.> > Paul> F35 #8 Midnight Star>

4

Posted by Jay T. Reed (reedjayt@…>)

Sam

Two things you might want to try to make raising the main easier. We had
the same problem when we first got Sketch, our 94 Freedom 35.

Make sure the main sheet, reef lines and boomvang line are released. Head
into the wind and release the clutch cleat on the main halyard. Raise the
main by hand till the two top battens clear the lazy jacks. Then wrap the
halyard around the winch and take it up the rest of the way. If you just
replaced the bearings in the bat cars, you shouldn’t have a problem.

If you can’t raise the main by hand or the lazy jacks still get in the way,
lengthen the line on the lazy jacks so you can release them before you raise
the main. With the lazy jacks released, the main should go up fine. Once
its up, you can tighten the lazy jacks back up. Check to make sure the
boomvang will support the boom without the lazy jacks. If not, you may need
to replace the spring in the boomvang. I replaced mine with the next larger
spring this year and it works fine.

I used the second method until I had my mast refinished this year. Now that
I have replaced the bat car bearings, I can raise the main by hand and I
haven’t had a problem. I also added the stack pack so I now have four lazy
jack lines on each side instead of two. I was apprehensive with the added
lines, but it works fine. Raising by hand is good because you can get the
first two battens clear faster than using the winch.

Hope that helps.

Jay



\

From: “f35sail” <s.goward@…>
Reply-To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Mainsail winch
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:27:46 -0000

Lou:

I believe that we have the F35 #22. I will confirm next time I am aboard.

We bought “Suzee” in May 2005 with no electric winch. Since then we
have been solving problems such as a) the connectors to the cars were
hung upside down and b) the ball bearings in the cars were square
(probably related). We still find that the main is a bear to raise,
particularly if the wind is above 10 kts (yes, kept into the wind).

We are about to take the plunge into an electric winch, we we believe
may be cheaper that a divorce but do have safety concerns. For
example, it is really easy to hang the first two battens in the
lazyjacks. Had not thought about the slicker problem but I could see
how that would happen.

So, if you had a chance to redo the switches, were would you put them?
Our nice big dodger certainly blocks the view aloft.

Thanks

Sam Goward

F35#22(?) Suzee

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@…>
wrote:

Paul,

What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?

(I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on the
mainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the electric
winch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it weren’t for
another crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off his foulie,
he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be released due to
alot of presssure. The winch switches are located incorrectly-
you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate the
winch switches.)

Lou
F35#23 Ripple Effect

----- Original Message -----
From: ptecca63
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

Louis,

My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater and a
charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no problems.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

http://liveearth.msn.com

5

Posted by f35sail (s.goward@…>)

Lou:

Thanks for the advise:

We sail out of Kent Island, eastern shore of Chesapeake.

Sam

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@…>
wrote:

Sam,
I’d place the buttons (there are 2- one for high speed, one for low)
hi up, so you could see the sail (battens, lazy jacks,
etc) as you pushed the buttons.
Where are you located? I’m in Nyack, NY- 20 miles north of the Battery.
Lou

----- Original Message -----
From: f35sail
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 9:27 AM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Mainsail winch

Lou:

I believe that we have the F35 #22. I will confirm next time I am
aboard.

We bought “Suzee” in May 2005 with no electric winch. Since then we
have been solving problems such as a) the connectors to the cars were
hung upside down and b) the ball bearings in the cars were square
(probably related). We still find that the main is a bear to raise,
particularly if the wind is above 10 kts (yes, kept into the wind).

We are about to take the plunge into an electric winch, we we believe
may be cheaper that a divorce but do have safety concerns. For
example, it is really easy to hang the first two battens in the
lazyjacks. Had not thought about the slicker problem but I could see
how that would happen.

So, if you had a chance to redo the switches, were would you put them?
Our nice big dodger certainly blocks the view aloft.

Thanks

Sam Goward

F35#22(?) Suzee

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, louis spitz <aronella@>
wrote:

Paul,

What is your battery arrangement (#, CCAs, tyopes, etc.?

(I bought my '94 Freedom this spring, and share your thoughts on the
mainsail. We had a potentially sereious incident with the electric
winch: a crew got his slicker caught in it, and if it weren’t for
another crew’s swift action with a knife to slicer off his foulie,
he wouyld have been in trouble. The winch couyldn’t be released due to
alot of presssure. The winch switches are located incorrectly-
you can’t see what’s happening at the same time as you operate the
winch switches.)

Lou
F35#23 Ripple Effect

----- Original Message -----
From: ptecca63
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:00 PM
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: alternator upgrade for Freedom 35

Louis,

My 1993 F35 has a Yanmar 3GM30 with a Balmar 120 amp alternater
and a
charge controller. Been setup this way for many years and no
problems.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

6

Posted by ptecca63 (paul.tecca@…>)

Hi Jay,

Are you actually able to raise the main all the way to the top by
hand? Are you doing this from the cockpit or are you “jumping” the
main halyard from the mast with someone taking up the slack in the
cockpit (if you know what I mean)?

Also, I’d be interested in the details of replacing the spring in the
boom vang (part number and supplier). Do you find with the new spring
that the boom will stay above the top of your dodger?

Thanks,

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

7

Posted by Jay T. Reed (reedjayt@…>)

Paul

I raise the main from the cockpit by just releasing the clutch and pulling
on the halyard by hand. Once the top two battens clear the lazy jacks, I
loop the halyard around the winch and use that to take it up the rest of the
way.

I have a Hall Quickvang, which I believe was standard from the factory. I
would need to look at the paperwork to make sure, but I believe it was the B
model and I was able to replace the spring with the one from the C model.
There is a D model, but that spring wouldn’t fit. Before I replaced the
spring, when I released the lazy jacks, the boom would sag down to rub the
dodger. Now the boom is supported by the vang and doesn’t come near the
dodger. It probably clears the dodger by six to eight inches (eye ball
measurement). I actually had the rigger replace the spring when he was
reinstalling the mast and boom, but it was a fairly easy job. I still
follow Freedom’s recommendation and use the main halyard to support the boom
when the boats going to be docked for awhile (during the week). This takes
the strain off the boomvang and the lazy jacks.

You should be able to see a picture at this link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87016949@N00/829284027/

Where do you sail Midnight Star? We keep Sketch in Rock Hall MD.

Jay

\

From: “ptecca63” <paul.tecca@…>
Reply-To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Mainsail winch
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:53:02 -0000

Hi Jay,

Are you actually able to raise the main all the way to the top by
hand? Are you doing this from the cockpit or are you “jumping” the
main halyard from the mast with someone taking up the slack in the
cockpit (if you know what I mean)?

Also, I’d be interested in the details of replacing the spring in the
boom vang (part number and supplier). Do you find with the new spring
that the boom will stay above the top of your dodger?

Thanks,

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

Need a brain boost? Recharge with a stimulating game. Play now!
http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=club_hotmailtextlink1

8

Posted by ptecca63 (paul.tecca@…>)

Hi Jay,

Your boat is beautiful. I like how you had the sail covers done with
the double blue lines on the bottom that match the boot stripe on your
hull. Very nice.

Question, did you have the sail cover for the jib designed
specifically to work with the camber spar curving down? Mine is cut
with the assumption the camber spar is curving up, which is a PITA as
it is really hard to keep it in that position with the sail down.

To answer your question, I sail Midnight Star out of Bristol, RI on
Narragansett bay. Just down the road from the TPI plant where the F35
hulls and spars where made.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

9

Posted by Jay T. Reed (reedjayt@…>)

Paul

The jib sail cover was done by Thurston in Bristol. I replaced it last
year, with just a call to them. It is sized to accomodate the camber spar.
We actually purchased Sketch in Portsmouth, RI three years ago.

Jay

\

From: “ptecca63” <paul.tecca@…>
Reply-To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Mainsail winch
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:18:52 -0000

Hi Jay,

Your boat is beautiful. I like how you had the sail covers done with
the double blue lines on the bottom that match the boot stripe on your
hull. Very nice.

Question, did you have the sail cover for the jib designed
specifically to work with the camber spar curving down? Mine is cut
with the assumption the camber spar is curving up, which is a PITA as
it is really hard to keep it in that position with the sail down.

To answer your question, I sail Midnight Star out of Bristol, RI on
Narragansett bay. Just down the road from the TPI plant where the F35
hulls and spars where made.

Paul
F35 #8 Midnight Star

Need a brain boost? Recharge with a stimulating game. Play now!
http://club.live.com/home.aspx?icid=club_hotmailtextlink1