[C320-list] Handling the mainsail

[charles walsh]

About two years ago, before Sears sold the right angle cordless drill, I bought a 19.2 volt cordless drill with 400 lb torque and a winch insert from a Catalina owner.  The drill worked well until the last three feet and then I had to winch up by hand but it did save me a lot of effort.  I have now found the batteries need replacement as they can barely lift the sail half way and the batteries quit.  I used to get about three lifts out of them before the batteries needed a recharge now they need recharge after every use.  Replacement batteries cost about $52.00 a pair.  I haven't made up my mind whether to replace the batteries or buy a 24 volt Dewalt with about 500 lb torque, which may lift the sail all the way up. 

Charlie Walsh
Windrifter #317

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Barry Fahrer<mailto:bfahrer at lisurveyor.com> 
  To: C320-List<mailto:c320-list at catalina320.com> 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 7:31 AM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Handling the mainsail


  I was going to save up some $ and buy the furling boom, but the sailmaker 
  suggested the strong track would make raising the sail easy and would save 
  me $4k.  He was not correct.  The last 5+- feet of the uphaul are really 
  tough going.  although the performance of the new mainsail is great, so far 
  I regret not going with the furling boom.  I recently bought a sears 19v 
  right angle cordless drill for a project at home and I will try that to see 
  if it is easier to raise the main
  BARRY --... ...--
  TRANSIT C-320 # 126