Posted by Larry Powers (lapowers57@…>)
Thanks. I tried raising the block at the base of the main by adding a
shackle and found that the lead into the mast was bad. I may try you
solution before adding a roller guide to replace the bullseye.
My main does not drop freely when the clutch is released. On a good day it
drops about 2/3’s on a bad day only about 1/2.
Replacing the sheaves with ball bearing sheaves is probably a good idea.
Any idea what size they are. I have to pay the crane to hoist me up so I
would rather have the right sheave on the first trip. I have been replacing
the blocks with ball bearing blocks and this seem to help.
Lots of good ideas. Thanks again.
\
From: “Alan Kusinitz” <akusinitz@…>
Reply-To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
To: <freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [freedomyachts2003] Raising The Main
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2005 11:43:51 -0500
I don’t have much of a problem raising the main on my F-33. I can pull it
about 3/4 up with a wrap around the winch, then a few wraps, then then the
handle, then low gear for the last few feet and tension. The final tension
is probably difficult since the halyard attachment to the sail is too far
forward to align properly with the halyard out of the sheave) The mizzen I
can raise fully with a wrap on the winch and then use the handle to
tension. Both are full batten with ISOMAT booms.
The sheaves at the masthead are harken ball bearing (this is probably the
most important thing).
My current sails are 1998 North Dacron 8 ounce for the main and 6 for the
mizzen with tapered battens.
The main has battslides. The intermediate slides are black allslip and ride
on the track rails (have an H section) inside and out rather then then
against the mast like the battslides. I don’t know if this is a plus or a
minus.
Both sails drop immediately when I release the line clutches so there is
clearly little friction or jamming when not under load. Do yours drop
easily?
I’ve adjusted batten tension and thet has had little affect and ease of
raising.
On the main I added some shackles to raise the height of the block at the
base of the mast. I changed to a larger ball bearing model. I used some
high tech line from the bottom of the block to a forward part of the mast
collar to keep the line aligned with the mast exit when under load. The
halyard no longer rubs on the eyebrow of bullseye and the angle around the
block is less introducing less friction. This has worked well.
I spray the tracks with slideall once or twice a year.
For reefing I use harken ball bearing blocks at the luff for all reefs
rather then running through the rings in the sail. They are attached to a
ring on webbing. This has reduced the friction in the single line reefing
significantly.
I also had the booms taken apart and found bird nests and a tangle of
stuff, and replaced the line and blocks. Also removed the opposing blocks
that supposedly lowered the luff and leech at the same time when reefing
but mostly just added friction.
Reefing definitely requires winching even still.
I have a winch bit and DC drill. It works well but I never use it given how
little I really need the second gear of the winch.
Hope this helps.
Alan F-33 Hull # 51 SEAPR
----- Original Message -----
From: Larry Powers
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 9:55 AM
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Raising The Main
I find raising the main on my F33 to be a real bit…, much to hard. It
is
the main thing that keeps me thinking about selling the boat. Perhaps
some
other owners can enlighten me as to tricks to improve sail raising.
I am not the original owner and when I bought the boat it came with
Kenyon
booms with fully battened sails. I added batcars thinking this would
improve the ability to raise the sails but it has not helped.
What techniques do people use to clean and lube the track? The sail
deffinitely goes up and down easier with the use of a silicone
lubricant.
How much tension should the stays be under in the sleeve? I think part
of
my problem may be that I am putting enough tension on them to give the
sail
some shape. This causes the end of the batten to put some tension on
the
slide that supports it. Next season I want to try no tension on the
batten
and see if that helps.
I still have the original winches on my boat. Are these considered OK
or do
most people find that replacing them makes a noticable difference? What
have people replaced them with?
I feel that the bullseye guide that leads the halyard from the fore end
of
the cabin to the block at the base of the main mast is a source of
friction.
I have purchased a roller guide to replace this. Has anyone else done
this? What was the result?
I have replaced the original line clutches with Lewmar clutches. The
lewmar
clutches are much nicer but are bulkier and had to be installed closer
to
the winch. I need to raises the clutches to give them a better lead so
there is less friction on the line as it exits the clutch.
Next installment: Improved main sail reefing. Probably many of the
same
issues.
Thanks,
Larry Powers
Barefoot Child, Hull #41
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