Dart 15 Forums

Terry Webster wrote:

As the season progresses hoisting my sail gets more and more
difficult. I think this has a lot to do with the salty sea air (
or it could be my age ). Can anybody suggest a sustance that I can
put on to the bolt rope or into the mast slot to ease this
problem.
My wife has suggested joining a gym.

Bob replied:

Yes, I use Copes "solve-a-stik" silicone lubricant
which is an aerosol which can be bought from good hardware shops.

Many Chandlers keep a similar product by Holts for twice the
price.

Keith replied:

Yeah,
I had big problems on mine. The main was brand new
and the mast was unused for a few years, and surface oxidation had
roughed up the track.

I had to use the main sheet as a
purchase to hoist it......!!

All solved by a ten minute
mast drop and Holt Pro-Lube (Expensive but worth every penny..and
it's all I can get in Hong Kong). I just cleaned the track, and
sprayed it in. Didn't put it on the sail so it didn't stain, and
wiped the excess off the mast.

I woudn't try anything else
as they are bound to stain.

Instant solution....the sail
even falls down with gravity now, and a one handed pull at the
mast lets me feed the luff in.

A couple of other tips
learnt during my struggles.

1. Over tensioned battens make
it harder....the sail is trying to pre-bend the mast as it goes
up.

2. Keep the sail in line with the mast until you're
ready to get it on the hook. Pull from between the hulls, boat
dead head to wind, to stop the batten end covers binding on the
mast, and walk to the starboard side for the last bit to hook it.


Happy blister picking.....

Mark Downer replied:

Hello Again (another new guy question!).

I've had a few blasts on my 15 now and I'm well and truely hooked. However, my problem is the sail isn't so easily hooked when I'm trying to hoist it. Can someone give me some advice please on the best ways of hoisting and dropping the sail?

I've sprayed lubricant on the track, and the sail goes up pretty well save for the last foot or so. Then it's a real struggle to pull it up, and for the hook to engage - as the blisters on my fingers can testify! The uphaul rope could probably do with replacing too which might help, but I was wondering what the best technique is to use for hooking and releasing the sail.

Thanks for any help (I'm not sure how long I can get away with "capsizing" my 15 to engage the hook before people start giving me strange looks!).