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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Mainsail Shape - Help!

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JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/17/2005 : 09:42:24

Yesterday was unseasonably warm here in Southern Califonia (around 75 degrees), so I put the weekend chores aside and my wife and I went sailing!

The wind was in the 8-12 knot range - so we sailed around a bit and looked for whales (none found

) Even though, we had a great first time out in 2005! There were many other boats with the same idea that I had - beautiful to see them all out on the water.

BUT - my mainsail shape is embarassing! I could not hoist the main to the top of the mast. It was about a foot below the top and almost looked like I had a small reef going. I loosened the topping lift. That didn't help. I made sure the reefing line wasn't caught on anything. No luck.

I am still relatively new to this - what am I missing? Any ideas how to fix my problem?

John
"Enchanted Becuma"
C250 '04 WK #746

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2005 : 10:02:10

Hi John,

Was there any slack in the luff? I don't know the C-250 very well ... does it have a fixed or sliding gooseneck? If there was no slack in the luff, it sounds to me like you need to raise the boom at the gooseneck. If there was slack in the luff, it sounds like you might have had a sail slug stuck in the track ...

Don't worry ... someone who knows what he's talking about will post here ... then I'll be embarrassed ...

'Glad you got to get out on the water!

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2005 : 10:26:39

When you raise the mainsail, you'll have the least likelihood of problems if you raise it while going more-or-less to windward. If it hangs up, you have to find where it is hanging up. Is it at the top of the sail, or at the boom, or in between? When you look at the sail, it will usually have wrinkles where the sailcloth is stretched tight. Those wrinkles will tell you where it is hanging up.

If it's hanging up at the boom, check the reefing line, downhaul, any stoppers that might be out of place in the mast slot (called the "kerf"), and check to see if the sailcloth is hooked on a mast cleat or other protrusion. If it's hanging up part way up the sail, it is most likely a sail slide that is turned slightly in the kerf. If it's a sail slide, just lower the sail a few inches, and that will usually free it up, enabling you to raise the sail the rest of the way. If it's hanging up at the top of the sail, it could be a stuck sail slide or, if you're raising the sail while heading downwind, it could be that the headboard at the top of the sail is snagged on a mast stay.

Never try to force it up. You might either break something, tear the sail, or, worse, jam it so tightly that you won't be able to get the sail down.

There could be other reasons, but these are the most common ones that come to mind.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2005 : 10:44:47

Hey John...

Buzz...the goose neck is fixed on the 250 and the problem could be any one of several things.

First, is the haul aloft meeting a solid sudden resistance or does progressive amounts of drag make the full haul impossible?

If the first, check to see if any of the lower sail slides are below the mast stopper and holding the sail from going fully aloft. If thats not it, and if you have a jack line settup for the lower slugs, ensure that its functioning as it ought to and not resisting the haul aloft. Ensure that the roach of the sail or a batten is not hung on a shroud. If your mainsheet were cleated or perhaps even the vang were cleated, it would restrict hauling aloft.

If the latter problem is suspected, pull the headboad from the track and inspect the sailslugs. Are the slugs colored with any grit. If so, then the slugs and track need cleaning and lubed. Cleaning can be done by using a piece of wadding stitched with several loops of small nylon line. The wadding is pulled aloft with the halyard and back down with a tag line made to the halyard shackle. The wadding should not be so tight that it will bind anywhere as the purpose is not to clean out the whole of the slot, but rather the immediate edges within the groove. Moisten the wadding with water and a slight bit of dish washing soap and haul aloft a few times. Using alchohol, clean any grit off the slugs and lube them with either spray silicone, or rub on beeswax.

If the slugs looked clean, try moving the headboard shackle to the other position.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 01/17/2005 10:47:29

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2005 : 10:45:18

John,

If your mainsheet is not slackened (or vang) while hoisting the main, your mainsail may not go all the way up.

Just a thought.

Edited by - on

JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2005 : 15:32:12

Buzz, Thanks for your reply - yes it was great to get out on the water!!

Steve, I always raise the sail while pointing to windward. It seems to be hanging up near the top of the mast. I've looked to see if anything appears to be hooked or preventing the hoist, but nothing is apparent to me. I like your idea about the sail slides - either stuck or turned in the kerf - I will get out my binoculars next time to see what I can see. I don't want to force it because of the reasons you mention. Thanks so much for your direction here.

Arlyn, There are no sail slides below the mast stopper preventing the haulup, and I do loosen the mainsheet and vang. I now realize that I should perform a sail slug inspection and I will do so this coming weekend. I like your way to clean the track (kerf) and will lube as appropriate. And, if needed I will move the headboard shackle. Thank you for your recommendations!

Don, As I have stated I do slacken the mainsheet and boom during the hoist...

All, I will figure this out and post to the forum with what it was, however embarassing it might be!!

Edited by - on

JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2005 : 13:01:40

Couldn't wait until the weekend so I took a day off from work yesterday. Boy this stuff quickly gets into your blood! The weather was accommodating for what I wanted to do. There was no wind so I was able to raise the main at my slip and track down my problem. (not good for sailing though!)

Well, it turned out that the sail slugs looked fine, but were indeeed 'sticking' a little as the main was raised. Perhaps a result of the recent torrential rains we had here in Southeren California. I cleaned and lubricated them and - oh my - the main now raised to it's highest position. The luff was straight against the spar, and I tell you - she was looking good! Can't wait to take her out and feel the wind powering her!!

Thanks to everyone for their direction on how to troubleshoot and correct my problem. This really is a great forum to get answers specific to our boats!!!

Since there was no wind I took the opportunity to clean the exterior of the boat up a little and perform a complete spring cleaning (in January!) of the anchor locker.

All is well, eagerly waiting for the next nice sailing day...

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2005 : 22:09:11

John, yesterday and this morning were both in the low 70s and ideal for boat cleaning here as well. Me effort was the easiest I've ever had. Though I've always waxed yearly with Starbrite's teflon boat wax, I've been fighting the nonskid. Two years ago I stumbled onto Starbrites nonskid cleaner - sealer and while cruising the Great Lakes, cleaned all the non skid and applied two coats of sealer - cleaner. I had also put two coats of wax on the hull during spring maintenance.

Though the boat was fairly dirty, clean up was the easiest I've experienced as the non skid gave me no problems whatsoever and the hull still beaded water showing the wax was still effective even though skipping a year.

I hope to never be caught without a sealer on the non skid again.

Glad you found the problem with getting the sail up. A clean kerf and lubed slugs makes it much easier.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.