Pearson Boats - Common Systems > Sails and Canvas

Hard to raise main

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AnaMeg:
Any thoughts about the cause of a difficult raising main? We can pull it up about 1/2 way by hand, then need the winch. The last 3-4 feet require max pull on the winch. (Lewmar 25 - yes, they made a "25" a while back.) It takes 2 hands on the winch and the helmsperson to tail. We've lubricated and looked at the slugs for anomalies, burrs etc. and checked through the hardware running the line back to the cockpit but can't find a cause. The sheaves at the top are new, the halyard all rope 7/16", the leads all seem fair. The line runs easily without the sail and with the sail until the top half of the hoist. We're having new sliders put on that the sail maker said would make quite a difference. I don't remember the name but it is a step less (and much less expensive) than the Strong Sail Track. We're putting on a new self-tailing winch.

Any other thoughts appreciated.

Geoff Kloster
S/V AnaMeg
Pearson 323 Hull 163

Salvation:
Geoff,

I lubricate my trach annually wqith a couple of coats of Sailkote. Makes quite a difference.

Mike

stardog:
anameg

this may seem pretty basic and might not be the problem
are you emlpoying the topping lift to raise the boom prior to raising the mainsail?
stardog
good luck ???

Captain Bri:
Along those same lines -- insure the vang is eased (if you have one)

Blue Heron:
Another route is to install a track system like the Tides Marine Strong Track.

That is the route we went. Purchased from Sailcare this year and sent in our sails for reconditioning. They replace the original sail slugs with a polished (Chrome) slide that is supposed to zip up and down the track like a hot knife through butter.  ;D

We just got our sails back (by the way, they look like new! Had them replace the UV strip on the Genny and remove the old zippered luff sleeve and replace it with a full length luff tape), we have installed the track, and I'll post back in a couple weeks as to how well the system works.

Smooth sailing,

Chet

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