Dart 15 Forums

I just wondered if anyone has any tips for a badly sticking mainsail. I can raise it approx. 2/3 up then it gets very very difficult. Of course, I try to keep the boat facing into the wind and checking for no obvious jams etc but cannot see what the problem is. It's easier when there's no wind at all but even then it's dodgy. I've changed the halyard for some new non-stretch 5mm stuff and it's not made any difference.
It's already resulted in me delaying the start of a race and to be honest it's putting me off even attempting to race.
Someone suggested silicone but I can't see how this will help much nor where to get it.
Any ideas please?

Silicone will help, also make sure your boat is level, ie. on the ground and not with the launching trolly in position.

The silicone can be obtained from Steve at speedysports (see suppliers section of this site);

http://www.speedysports.co.uk/item-Holt_Pro_Lube.html

I've put it on the bolt rope of my sails & it definitely makes a huge difference. I've also heard others soak material in it & run it up their mast track too.

In addition to Frank's comment, I would also add that it it is easier if someone can 'feed' the sail into the track while you pull on the halyard. If you're hoisting on your own, as the sail unrolls/moves, it feeds in at an angle & the sections where the batten pockets are can jam into the mast slot opening. Aligning the sail &/or pushing those sections up slightly into the track manually help.

Good luck.

Keith

Silicone will help, but you shouldn't need it.

If it goes up 2/3 with no trouble, it sounds as if you may be getting the main halyard the wrong side of the masthead hook, in which case it will get progressively more difficult to hoist, and even more difficult to get down.

The hook is offset to one side of the track. Make sure the halyard is on the track side and that the knot is away from the mast.

Good luck.

Duncan TBYC 1973

Duncan,
I realised early on that the rope had to travel up the correct side of the mast hook. I hadn't thought about size/position of the knot on the ring thingy - will double check on Wednesday.

Keith,
I just looked at Steve's product and it looks like a spray can - presumably it's thus quite thin - how long does one application last? Do you spray it on before each use? I imagine it would evaporate away quite quickly?

I bought a new sail 6 months ago and had exactly the same problem . The problem I had was resolved by reducing the batten tension . Its still stiff for the last 3rd but I have found dipping the front edge of the sail in water helps . Is it ok to use silicon on a new sail , does it discolour / weaken ?

Hi Guys
Holt pro-lube is no problem - it does not mark even on a new sail. Make sure that you do it away from the boat - hulls and tramp - otherwise you keep slipping off.
Spread the sail out on a clean surface (like grass) and spray one side of the bolt rope all the way along the luff of the sail. Angle the can at 45 degrees spraying away from the sail making sure that you get the Pro-Lube into the corner between the bolt rope and the sail. Then turn the sail over and do the other side. That should do the trick.
The correct tension in the battens is so that there is no bend when the sail is off the boat (but no slack in the batten, either).

If you still have problems (after doing all of the above advice) try Pro-Lubing the inside of the mast slot. To do this, drop the mast. Take it away from the boat and lay it down on grass with the slot upper most. Take a short length (2") of rope (6mm ish), tear off a 2" strip of rag, wrap it round the rope like a small piece of sail (the rag in a U shape) and insert it into the slot in the mast just like the sail with a bolt rope. You hold bolth ends of the rag and pinch it in to get it into the slot. Now soak the rag in Pro-Lube (the rag acts like a wick) keep the rag tight agains the inside of the slot and slide it along the whole length of the mast slot, reapplying the Pro-Lube from time to time so that the rag keeps wet and the inside of the mast slot gets well coated. Do not forget to do below the entrace aperture in the slot as well as upwards.

Best of Luck

Bob

Hi Bob ,
thanks for the advice and I shall try pro lubing my sail and mast - away from the boat , Thursday night should be a good time to do this as I rebuild my boat at Instowe . Will you be there ?
Cheers
Derek.

Yep
I'll be there on Friday for 3 days - just as a spectator, sadly.
Cheers
Bob

I was given some wax for my dry suit zip when it was returned from the repairer. When speaking to them I’m told the simply buy lots of IKEA tea lights, melt the wax, remove the wicks and pour it into moulds to make small ‘cakes’. I melt some and soaked a common old kitchen sponge in it. Every so often I attach the cloth to the halyard and run it up and down the mast track. It seems like a wonder cure to what was a frustratingly difficult evolution.