Suggestons on raising the main

Posted by mdurki (vaughan@…>)

I have followed the discussion about raising the main since its
inception. My interest is more focused perhaps than most since I
almost always sail my F30 with my wife as the only crew, AND our
combined age is 153.

It seems to me that from various reports the easiest solution is bat
cars plus a cordless winch. Very early on I opted for the cordless
winch, and when we get older (a small joke there) we may try the bat
cars. But there are a few other tricks that I have added that might
interest those of you who struggle with the main.

I made a contraption that allows me to hoist a can of Sailkote up the
mast spraying it as it goes. I do this every two months during the
sailing season. Secondly, since a fair amount of the problem is from
friction in the “led-aft” lines, I pull out the appropriate amounts
of the reefing lines and rest them on the bimini (pulling out the
amount for the forward reefing point does not seem to make much
difference). So far these are sufficient to permit my 110 pound,
seventy-seven year old wife, who will not handle the wheel, to raise
the sail alone.

Posted by Dave_Benjamin (dave_benjamin@…>)

We used to have a 39 ketch which has 2 very large heavy sails. I was
a religious user of Sailkote. When raising the sails I would jump
them from the mast. Trying to hoist from the cockpit is a cruel joke.
We had lazy jacks but I’d really recommend a rigid vang. Also release
tension on the outhaul prior to raising. I was able to hoist the
sails within a foot from the top by hand. Then I’d just use the winch
for the final hoist. If I kept the boat I would have mounted winches
on the mast itself. Freedom got way too carried away running
everything aft.