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Raising the Mainsail

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2012 : 19:04:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking

The number one reason why you should buy everything your wife wants to make sure you are safe, is just that. Be safe. Make her feel safe. AND! She is giving you the green light to trick out your boat!!!

Before we went cruising, my wife called me and said, "Honey, I think I found our perfect boat!" When your wife says that, you buy the boat!

I'd say yes, to everything...

sten
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hi Sten!
I would say thats some of the most sage advice I have ever heard about boating in general!!! <grin>

Cheers!
Chuck
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The best part is that once she is involved, you can casually plant seeds and watch them grow into purchases. "Look at the dodger on that boat honey, must be nice to be able to turn on the autopilot and seek protection from the elements or use the radio out of the wind. Probably a good safety feature. Wonder how much autopilots are?"

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2012 : 19:21:10

Welcome sbrBrad. Looks like you're in good company at Lake Hubbard!

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 04:15:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The best part is that once she is involved, you can casually plant seeds and watch them grow into purchases. "Look at the dodger on that boat honey, must be nice to be able to turn on the autopilot and seek protection from the elements or use the radio out of the wind. Probably a good safety feature. Wonder how much autopilots are?"

[/quote]

You are right again, but my sweet wife of 41 years (42 years in November) is on to most of those approaches now, so she simply converts boat stuff into wife "units" (hmmm that <fill in name of boat toy> would be worth about <fill in wife toy> don'tcha think?). Raises the cost, but hey, its worth it!!!! Just gotta keep a favorable exchange rate in place!!

Chuck

Edited by - on

tomh
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 06:44:43

All of the information and comments have been terrific.

As an update......I ordered a couple of screws for the mast cleat, a couple of sail stops and a cunningham from CD so I should have them this week. We already have self inflating PFD's but I'm also going to begin using a jackline for safety reasons and to make my wife (and me) more comfortable.

As far as raising the mast from the cockpit, I'm going to continue going forward this year and make all of the modifications including an "all rope" halyard and internal lines when we step the mast in the spring.

I wanted to ease my wife into the idea of a sailboat so that we could enjoy it together. She has really been open to the idea so far so I don't want to do anything to make it a bad experience for her. The first time we went out, she screamed when we heeled but this week, she went forward and jumped onto the dock with the bow line without me saying a word. That's progress.

Edited by - on

John Russell
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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 07:03:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tomh
 ..... heeled but this week, she went forward and jumped onto the dock with the bow line without me saying a word. That's progress.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">It certainly may be progress but, unfortunately, it's also a bad idea. Hard and fast rule on my boat: Nobody jumps from a moving boat onto the dock. Great way to get hurt - maybe even dead. That's particularly true if jumping from the bow.

Search the archives for Dock-O-Matic for an alternative, and safer, way to stop the boat.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 10:43:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tomh
 ...The first time we went out, she screamed when we heeled...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The key to getting comfortable with heeling is to get her to handle the tiller and the mainsheet, and see how both can control the amount of heel. In the process, she'll hopefully get the sense that to go (at least to windward), the boat has to heel. My admiral started out queasy about the whole thing, but soon grew impatient when we were upright, because that meant we weren't moving!

I've even recommended to some couples to have the wife take a sailing lesson from somebody else (or even me), without the husband, in order to become confident and comfortable on the boat. Husbands can be problematic as teachers of their wives...

(Ya, ya,... I hear the chortles...)

Edited by - on

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2013 : 17:59:27

Oh but how much does a changing mast wenches often cost.

Just doing a little calculation hurts my head.
Women cost more that sailing equipment.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 My wife isn't crazy about my mast wench either!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm single, so I change out my Mast Wench frequently.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 01:23:36

Amen on the wench

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 06:55:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have had larger boats with internal halyards and at many anchorages around here you will hear them slapping all night long no matter how tight you make them. I'll never have them again.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
This is a surprise to me since my internal all-rope halyards have never made any type of noise at all. I do remove the halyard from the sail and clip off to a lifeline when not sailing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Internals do not need to be tight if you take the shackle out to a stanchion or pulpit. It is the tight internals that can bang inside.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 07:04:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tomh
 ..... heeled but this week, she went forward and jumped onto the dock with the bow line without me saying a word. That's progress.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">It certainly may be progress but, unfortunately, it's also a bad idea. Hard and fast rule on my boat: Nobody jumps from a moving boat onto the dock. Great way to get hurt - maybe even dead. That's particularly true if jumping from the bow.

Search the archives for Dock-O-Matic for an alternative, and safer, way to stop the boat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

NEVER NEVER FROM THE BOW. It is a classic rooky mistake to fail to realize the bow is the last thing to get close to the dock. Even more classic for new owners or their crew to get really hurt doing that on first sails. If crew wants to help with the landing they need to stand at the shrouds. Stand outside the lifeline but hold onto the shroud. As the beam of the boat gets close to the dock, (the wide part of the boat gets close to the dock first) the crew simply steps off onto the dock and has a shroud in their hand if the choose to hold onto it after landing. Crew will never rip a chainplate out of the deck stopping a boat but they sure can rip a stanchion out of a boat deck trying to stop a boat. ONLY very large men should ever run to the front of the dock after stepping off and try to stop the boat at the pullpit. After you understand the effects of wind at your slip your crew will know which side of the boat to stand at. Most of us, (and you will soon), know how our boats will act when we dock in familiar wind and are able to put the lifelines down on both sides of the cockpit as we come in and simply step out of the cockpit as we come into the dock and the stern rail is an OK place to grab to pull the boat to the dockline. Also Docklines belong on the dock, not on the boat. Leave them tied to the dock and then secure the boat to them.
Buy your wife sailing gloves now. If she hurts her hands she will be slow to do things forever, if she knows she cannot hurt her hands she will be more willing to help.

Edited by - pastmember on 10/05/2013 07:11:31

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 07:45:03

Here is a shot of my deck layout. The helm is balanced and I am wandering around the boat with a camera. Go to my gallery to see a large shot so you can see detail.

Edited by - pastmember on 10/08/2013 08:49:13

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 09:18:54

FRANK! Quit showing off!!

Now we peasants can't read the posts!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/05/2013 09:20:29

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 09:28:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember
 Here is a shot of my deck layout. The helm is balanced and I am wandering around the boat with a camera. This is a large shot so you can see detail.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Gotta just LOVE all those strings to play with!!! Great layout Frank!

Chuck

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2013 : 09:39:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 FRANK! Quit showing off!!

Now we peasants can't read the posts!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

But you can count the ticks in all my lines!

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2013 : 09:47:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 I won't relent...When I first got my boat, I changed out my wire/rope halyards and led the new main back to the cockpit, but I soon found that it wasn't working out for me with how I do things so it was back to the mast with it. That was over eleven years ago and I still raise/lower the main from the mast and I'm a singlehanded sailor.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Come on Don, fess up. You have an auto pilot... that makes the calculation completely different. My lake sailing would make an auto pilot ridiculous so staying in the cockpit, (or at least having the option), is best for people like me.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2013 : 15:28:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember
 Come on Don, fess up. You have an auto pilot... that makes the calculation completely different. My lake sailing would make an auto pilot ridiculous...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Indeed, I have an autopilot and I'd own one even if I were a small lake sailor. I sail for performance and the autopilot allows a singlehander like me to tweak the controls while Otto is manning the helm.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 10/06/2013 : 15:32:43

You make me jealous.

Edited by - on

mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2013 : 04:44:37

I'm not sure what "never leave the cockpit" is all about. Since I'm guessing nearly everyone has sail ties, you have to leave the cockpit to untie them to raise the sail and again when you flake the main after dropping it!

Some think lazyjacks on a 25ft boat is overkill, but that, plus running the halyards aft, is the only way you'll never leave the cockpit.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2013 : 05:44:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mrapkins
 Since I'm guessing nearly everyone has sail ties, you have to leave the cockpit to untie them to raise the sail...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I haven't used sail ties about 15 years. To secure the main, I use the tail of the main halyard to spiral wrap the sail to the boom. Prior to raising the main, standing in the cockpit at the end of the boom, I simply unwrap the halyard without having to move. Simple, easy, and I don't have to deal with any sail ties, especially the dreaded bungee type with toggles or balls. Getting hit in the face with these is no fun.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2013 : 06:37:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 ...and I don't have to deal with any sail ties, especially the dreaded bungee type with toggles or balls. Getting hit in the face with these is no fun.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Agreed, so I used Velcro ties. Before leaving the dock and after returning, I removed/added ties to the forward part of the sail I couldn't reach from the cockpit or companionway.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2013 : 10:25:03

Thank you, Frank!

Edited by - on

mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2013 : 06:14:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mrapkins
 Since I'm guessing nearly everyone has sail ties, you have to leave the cockpit to untie them to raise the sail...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I haven't used sail ties about 15 years. To secure the main, I use the tail of the main halyard to spiral wrap the sail to the boom. Prior to raising the main, standing in the cockpit at the end of the boom, I simply unwrap the halyard without having to move. Simple, easy, and I don't have to deal with any sail ties, especially the dreaded bungee type with toggles or balls. Getting hit in the face with these is no fun.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2013 : 07:25:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mrapkins
 
You do leave the cockpit to "spiral wrap" the boom - right? And as I stated, most folks use sail ties. You are one of the few who don't.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Whether it's ties or the halyard, when the boat was pitching and rolling in the usual chop and wakes, as the sail came down, I would stand on the top companionway step, pull the leech back to flake the bigger part of the sail, wrap it right there, go home to the dock, and then tidy up. But I wasn't too anal about how the sail looked when I entered the marina--it looked like I'd been sailing.

The halyard seems like a good idea, although it would have to be that much longer...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/09/2013 07:28:45

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 10/09/2013 : 10:03:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mrapkins
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mrapkins
 Since I'm guessing nearly everyone has sail ties, you have to leave the cockpit to untie them to raise the sail...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I haven't used sail ties about 15 years. To secure the main, I use the tail of the main halyard to spiral wrap the sail to the boom. Prior to raising the main, standing in the cockpit at the end of the boom, I simply unwrap the halyard without having to move. Simple, easy, and I don't have to deal with any sail ties, especially the dreaded bungee type with toggles or balls. Getting hit in the face with these is no fun.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You do leave the cockpit to "spiral wrap" the boom - right?

And as I stated, most folks use sail ties. You are one of the few who don't.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Indeed, I do leave the cockpit. As to sail ties, yes, I used them for a few years, then I toyed with the idea of leading the halyard to the cabintop, but decided that wasn't working for me so I went back to the mast for raising. Since the new halyard was a bit longer than standard, I had plenty of tail to do the spiral wrap. (Dave, that is why I had enough tail to use)

As to sail ties vs the spiral wrap, I can tell you that the wrap is so much easier than sail ties and a whole lot faster. It's like tying the leg's of a calf during a roping contest. Bing, bang, boom,...time! As a singlehanded sailor, this matters.

One other thing I do that most probably don't, is douse, secure, and cover the main while still under sail as this is the most efficient in both time and effort. For this, I generally plan my return from open water so that I'm on a course somewhere between close hauled and a close reach heading directly to my marina channel buoys so when I'm done putting the main to bed, I just simply furl in the genoa then continue on into the channel. This works better when the wind is heavier rather than lighter as boatspeed helps stabilize the motion of the boat making the job easier. The boat may be heeling, and sometimes quite a bit, but it is stable.

Before this, I did what most people do, furl in the headsail, start the outboard, head into the wind, then secure the main, as the boat is generally flopping about as is usual when under power alone in chop, waves, or boat wakes.

Edited by - on

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