[C320-list] hoisting the main

[jim brown]

Gene, 

If it seems like the bolt rope in the luff of the sail seem very tight I may have a solution. I just had my genoa in a Doyle shop for some minor repairs and when I picked it up the sailmaker said he also freed up the luff rope. He explained that Catalina uses a woven dacron core in their bolt ropes and that they "shrink" quite a bit over the years (9 years for my sails)  He simply unseized the bolt rope and reseized it about 2 inches shot at the tack and head. Made quite a difference-now much less halyard tension needed and no wrinkles along the luff. He guessed that the main sail was about 5 inches shorter on the luff wit lots of wrinkles in spite of four plus halyard tension.  He was correct. I can't get the main up to where it used to go even with the winch and there are lots of wrinkles in the luff and the clew is about 3 inches short. The main goes in tomorrow for a look see and minor surgery if needed. I'll let you know the results if it seems
 like your problem

Jim brown



________________________________
 From: Gene Helfman <genehelfman at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at catalina320.com 
Sent: Sunday, September 8, 2013 4:22 PM
Subject: [C320-list] hoisting the main
 

We are having a b#*!ch of a time getting the main all the way up.  We can't
get the last foot or so without putting tremendous strain on the winch,
even when I'm standing at the mast and pulling down hard on the halyard.
We've checked and rechecked all the possible countering forces (Dutchman,
reefing lines, vang, outhaul, main sheet) and loosening them doesn't seem
to help, nor does spraying silicon spray on the sail lugs.  I hate sailing
around with scallops in my sail.  Any suggestions?

gene
Satori
1997 #398

ps/just back from a month long cruise up into Desolation Sound, BC. 323 nm
(363 statute miles).  Boat behaved beautifully; better than we did. We love
our 320.

-- 
Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
PERMANENT address:
    498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez Is., WA 98261
    (360) 468-2136
    genehelfman at gmail.com

"You noticed nobody gives a damn about beached minnows."