Question about knots

[sunshinecoasting]

All this talk about knots to use for this seems a bit academic, why not solve the problem and find out why your sail binds in the last 2 feet of uphaul? Are you using slugs? Try some silicone spray or similar in the track, personally I would want my sail going up and down smooth and easy (it does) for safety sake not to mention undue pressure on your rig etc. Just solve the problem and forget about your knots.

Cheers, Dennis.

[dlandersson]

In fact, I use sailkote and it works very nicely.

All this talk about knots to use for this seems a bit academic, why not solve the problem and find out why your sail binds in the last 2 feet of uphaul? Are you using slugs? Try some silicone spray or similar in the track, personally I would want my sail going up and down smooth and easy (it does) for safety sake not to mention undue pressure on your rig etc. Just solve the problem and forget about your knots.

Cheers, Dennis.

[Steve K]

All this talk about knots to use for this seems a bit academic, why not solve the problem and find out why your sail binds in the last 2 feet of uphaul? Are you using slugs? Try some silicone spray or similar in the track, personally I would want my sail going up and down smooth and easy (it does) for safety sake not to mention undue pressure on your rig etc. Just solve the problem and forget about your knots.

Cheers, Dennis.

After re-reading the first post Dennis may have something there.

I was thinking more of getting the luff nice and tight in higher winds, but the sail should always go to full hoist easily.

When new at it, I used to forget to un-cleat my vang sometimes and if it is tensioned, it will keep the sail form fully hoisting next time it's raised (easily anyway) . The sail (with slugs anyway) should hoist easily and drop almost by itself when you let the halyard go.
BTW, to lube sail tracks, etc.
I don't like WD-40, because it collects dirt and will make the problem worse eventually. McLube is the way to go (SailKote).

BB,
SK

[Ixneigh]

On this topic, is there no halyard winch because roger was trying to save money, or because the mast is so tiny that mounting a winch would weaken it? The mystery is EATING AT MY VERY SOUL BWAAAAHAHAHAHA
Ix

[sunshinecoasting]

On this topic, is there no halyard winch because roger was trying to save money, or because the mast is so tiny that mounting a winch would weaken it? The mystery is EATING AT MY VERY SOUL BWAAAAHAHAHAHA
Ix

I would say three reasons, the two you mentioned and the third that it just isnt required, the main should go up and down easily by hand, if a winch is required then something is wrong with the track in the mast. What I want to know is why the deck winches are there? I havnt needed to use mine yet, I can easily haul in the Jib and any other halyard by hand, at least in winds up to 20 knots, anything above that I wouldnt be out there anyway, so my winches are used as deck tidies for the ropes.

[Phil M]

I would say three reasons, the two you mentioned and the third that it just isnt required, the main should go up and down easily by hand, if a winch is required then something is wrong with the track in the mast. What I want to know is why the deck winches are there? I havnt needed to use mine yet, I can easily haul in the Jib and any other halyard by hand, at least in winds up to 20 knots, anything above that I wouldnt be out there anyway, so my winches are used as deck tidies for the ropes.

If you sail in strong winds, they may become useful. It is possible to sail without using them though.

[mastreb]

It only takes two blocks to run the halyard to the cabin-top winches, and this keeps the mast weight low for trailering. Works great for me. I've not yet found a track-mounted cheek block though, which would be ideal. I run the halyard to the port winch and have the daggerboard on the STBD.

I use a shackle head block shackled to the mast raising gin-pole bolt or hole (depending on whether the gin-pole is there or not) and then a genoa track slider pad eye with another shackle head block shackled to the pad eye and mounted on the forward-most position on the cabin-top jib tracks.

It's a simple mod for those who trailer to lead the halyard aft and doesn't interfere with mast rotation.

Matt

[Carioca]

Sail slugs on your main make it slide up easy.
Don't forget a stopper block to keep it in the slot.

[rszobel]

All this talk about knots to use for this seems a bit academic, why not solve the problem and find out why your sail binds in the last 2 feet of uphaul? Are you using slugs? Try some silicone spray or similar in the track, personally I would want my sail going up and down smooth and easy (it does) for safety sake not to mention undue pressure on your rig etc. Just solve the problem and forget about your knots.

Cheers, Dennis.

Agreed Dennis. Went out today and had the same problem - last two feet and got very difficult to raise main. I looked up to try to figure out the problem. Nothing. I looked down - vang was loose. No problem there. Then it dawned on me - I had the admiral tighten up the main sheet while at the helm so it wouldn't swing around too much as I was up on the bow watching out for crab pots (we are near Chesapeake). As I looked down at the main sheet it was still cinched down. Aha moment. Problem solved and never again will I need to loop the main halyard to hoist the main.

Was funny that on the way down to the boat I said to my wife that you were the one person on this thread that said forget about knots and figure out the problem. I told her I agreed and that we really needed to figure out the problem as the main should really go up easily even without slugs.

Thanks much for the suggestion. Problem solved. I am finding that now since we are getting out on the boat more we each learn a few great lessons each time out. We are both gaining more confidence and skills. The admiral took the helm all day yesterday and even backed her into the slip. I was both happy and proud. She took her out of the slip today and took the helm a good part of the day and is beginning to build confidence which I am very happy about. I am starting to wonder if I may have created a problem for myself and will I get the helm back anytime soon!!

Again much thanks for the suggestion. . Rob

[Catigale]

Credit to Beene for nailing this too...

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Columbia (the clothing folks) has an app for Apple OS (not sure about Droids) called "Whatknot". Shows you how to ties bunches of knots step by step... Highly recommended. Not sure how I found out about the app, might have been on this board.

Bob

[rszobel]

Credit to Beene for nailing this too...

agreed - my bad - credit where credit is due!

Problem Solved.

I do have a great app for my android phone and for my ipad -- 3d knots. really great app.

[DaveB]

I have the first mate raise the main, like the way she grunts and mons. Turns me on.
Probably time to dry silicon it as the grons turn to ...Fix this !!!
Dave

In fact, I use sailkote and it works very nicely.

[Phil M]

Columbia (the clothing folks) has an app for Apple OS (not sure about Droids) called "Whatknot". Shows you how to ties bunches of knots step by step... Highly recommended. Not sure how I found out about the app, might have been on this board.

Bob

Just looked for WhatKnot and its knot there as an app.

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Phil,
PM me with your email address and I'll shoot you a link to it from the App store.

Bob