[C320-list] Mainsail Hard to Raise/Lower

[Robert Seastream]

Dave:

You've probably already seen my recent posting, referencing my  
conversation with a Charleston Spar tech rep.
Going forward, may I contact you off list?  I don't want to burden  
list members with this issue which may not concern them.

Bob Seastream
Intuition # 906


On Oct 27, 2008, at 5:21 PM, Henderson, David wrote:

> Bob, Since my last post on this problem I have been mired in a lot of
> delays and back and forth between the broker that sold me the boat,
> Charleston Spar, and Charleston Spar's rigger here in Greater Boston  
> (he
> is not officially a CS dealer, but he is the rigger that CS called  
> to go
> inspect my rig).
>
> As luck would have it, due to miscommunication at my yard, my boat was
> shrink wrapped the day before the rigger arrived, so he couldn't go up
> the mast.  I was not present for this inspection and so without my
> permission to break the shrink wrap, and without benefit of an up  
> close
> inspection, the rigger had little to offer but a theory about the  
> cause.
> He noted that my spreaders are welded onto the mast with a heavy  
> weld (a
> practice I've learned CS terminated in 8/05 according to CS; switching
> to bolted on spreaders thereafter).  CS's rigger suggested that the
> welds involve a raised bead or backing plate of some sort on the  
> inside
> surface of the mast cavity and the swivels sometimes hang up on these
> raised surfaces.  The solution is to file down the wheel on the top of
> the swivel, and that may solve the problem.
>
> Unfortunately, the rigger's theory doesn't account for the fact that I
> witnessed measurable narrowing of the slot in the mast at the location
> of both spreaders.  Nor does his theory explain the fact that this
> problem has gotten progressively worse at the end of each sailing
> season.  Both of these observations suggest that the mast is bending
> inward from the load on the spreaders.  When I pointed out these
> observations to the rigger in a phone conversation last week, he  
> didn't
> disagree and he did agree to come back and meet me at the boat so I  
> can
> break the shrink wrap and let him go aloft for a closer look.  But due
> to busy schedules, this will not take place until sometime next week  
> at
> the earliest.
>
> So stay tuned.  I have not given up, and I am not imagining the
> narrowing of the slot in my mast.  This rig has not been abused in any
> way.  If anything, it has seen light use during its first four seasons
> of existence.
>
> I will report back after the rigger returns.
>
> Dave Henderson
> Dottie B  #1049
>
>
> All:
>
> I just got back from the boat.  I removed the mainsail and attached a
> messenger halyard to the swivel for testing purposes.  I've confirmed
> that the swivel binds as it passes through the lower spreaders.
> Bummer.  Now, I've got to contact Charleston Spars, and my insurance
> carrier (BoatUS).  I'd contact Catalina as well, but it's a model year
> 2002, well out of warranty.  As such, I don't see where Catalina bears
> any responsibility, but am exceedingly interested in what Charleston
> might have to say.
>
> My preference would be to replace it without roller furling of any
> kind, for sailing performance and simplicity reasons.  Second choice
> would be boom furling, third, mast furling.  Since my mainsail was
> likely cut/designed with in mast furling in mind, (and I doubt my
> insurance carrier would replace the main on my whims), it looks like
> another in mast furler.  It remains to be seen whether it's replaced
> with another Charleston spar, or some other manufacturer.  My
> insurance carrier could also tell me to get lost.  Sigh.
>
> Bob Seastream
> Intuition # 906
>
>