main halyard?

[roland_trim]

I did this in Plymouth in 02?

We have had to do this twice in Exultant (once for each outing) and a few times in slippy. If you have a plasitc track the bolt rope will peel out under load, pull the top out and then the jump will run down the entire length. This can result in the track comming away (not since plexus) but does not seem to have hurt either the track or the bolt rope.

I would not suggest doing this as routine  , but knowing if/ifnot your sail will do this if it sticks is a possible bonus, especially when really knackered in and caught in swell.

The racked boats are also easier for the cb ballast to stay attached to the board - the crew can grab the gunwals (sp?) and the rack for stability. This makes getting the sail off a little less fraught as the mast tip is not sinking and you can both see each other the whole time.

[Phil Alderson]

The Halyard I use is un-covered 4mm so that all the material is low stretch and doing something. I went for the hook and loop to avoid the slopping.
I spliced a cover onto it at the high wear parts to protect from chafe, but this is probably not necessary.

Have you got a strap to tie the boat to the trolley? makes a surprising difference.

[Graham Bridle]

Sorry Daryl, been away with work.

My main halyard is a pain in the **** - for the reasons you stated, the curve in the sail is too much to get up a stiff mast about half way up it gets very difficult.

It used to jump the track on the way up, so i had the boltrope padded at the sail head, it still does sometimes (plastic track) and because I had the boltrope padded that addes extra friction.

Basically it all doesnt work well, but, then I go sailing at brighlingsea which at anything other than high tide is mud heaven, the halyard has been a godsend.

I will be redoing it all over the winter, but I will retain the halyard - its BEST use is actually for recovery, main comes doen quick with no rolling, and with the zip luff jib we're derigged before everyone else has found a helper to roll - and it saves all the scuffs you get on the wing bars.

I suspect a 2:1 on the main halyard will make it work ok.

[simon_jones]

I have just spoken to Chris Henderson from Blue Marine, he said Musto skiffs all suffer from the same thing.
There is a new product on the market from Bainbridge Aqua Baton it's called Metric Extruded Vinyl Rope.
It comes in 4,5,6 or 7 mm at about 60p meter. This does not compress and pull out of the track. in order to retro fit a main the baton gaurds must be taken off and the sail re done . He will do this for approx £75 and it will take a couple of hours . This has worked so well for the Musto's that Hydes are now using it in all their new sails. May be worth some consideration for anyone who needs/wants halyards.

[daryl_wilkinson]

Simon... you're a star!

I'll be giving him a ring.

[daryl_wilkinson]

Have you got a strap to tie the boat to the trolley? makes a surprising difference.

Well a bit of rope. My trolleys not very heavy either.

[simon_jones]

Chris works  in Rayleigh essex and will often do the work while you wait which saves two trips.his no. is 01268 785500 He used to work for Hydes and his last job for us was repairing the Simon shapped hole in the main.

[daryl_wilkinson]

it can snap without warning so best avoided.

It had snapped. I pulled the last ten inches out of the cover.


Phil do you use McLube? Holt? or the really expensive German stuff I can't remember the name off that has nano technology, supposedly?

[Stuart Hopson]

I have just spoken to Chris Henderson from Blue Marine, he said Musto skiffs all suffer from the same thing.
There is a new product on the market from Bainbridge Aqua Baton it's called Metric Extruded Vinyl Rope.
It comes in 4,5,6 or 7 mm at about 60p meter. This does not compress and pull out of the track. in order to retro fit a main the baton gaurds must be taken off and the sail re done . He will do this for approx £75 and it will take a couple of hours . This has worked so well for the Musto's that Hydes are now using it in all their new sails. May be worth some consideration for anyone who needs/wants halyards.

That price sounds a little steep from a trade point of view. The hourly labour rate sounds about right but to change a bolt rope can be done very easily in under an hour. Its a good soloution to getting a poorly designed sail to work better mind.

Hoppy's top tip of the day... try bartering with the sailmaker... prices on repairs are almost never fixed you'll get yourself a better deal!

[Phil Alderson]

it can snap without warning so best avoided.

It had snapped. I pulled the last ten inches out of the cover.


Phil do you use McLube? Holt? or the really expensive German stuff I can't remember the name off that has nano technology, supposedly?

I usually use the McLube, run it down the track and also give a spray to the bolt rope every now and then.

[daryl_wilkinson]

I have just spoken to Chris Henderson from Blue Marine, he said Musto skiffs all suffer from the same thing.
There is a new product on the market from Bainbridge Aqua Baton it's called Metric Extruded Vinyl Rope.
It comes in 4,5,6 or 7 mm at about 60p meter. This does not compress and pull out of the track. in order to retro fit a main the baton gaurds must be taken off and the sail re done . He will do this for approx £75 and it will take a couple of hours . This has worked so well for the Musto's that Hydes are now using it in all their new sails. May be worth some consideration for anyone who needs/wants halyards.

That price sounds a little steep from a trade point of view. The hourly labour rate sounds about right but to change a bolt rope can be done very easily in under an hour. Its a good soloution to getting a poorly designed sail to work better mind.

Hoppy's top tip of the day... try bartering with the sailmaker... prices on repairs are almost never fixed you'll get yourself a better deal!

OK if you insist, but  how about getting back to me about the sail cloth and dacron tape order first!

[Stuart Hopson]

sorry will get on it today 

[rich_taylor]

I was at an exhibition at the NEC today and found a compay called Ambersil who produce a couple of dry PTFE lubrication sprays which should be ideal for those stiff mast tracks and general parts which should be slippy slidy but are not.  As PTFE is hydrophilic it may also breath some life into old kites and generally reduce friction. 

So, in essence, two free cans of food grade dry PTFE lube for testing, first come first serve.  Send me an Email is you want one and post something positive if it works OK.  You can buy the stuff from RS, or bearing distributors like Brammer and Eriks (formerly WYKO) for about £7 per can which is a bit cheaper than the normal sailing spray lubes.

Also, if anyone wants some funky, bright coloured, padded tape for their tiller extensions I have loads of Gray Nicholls hockey stick grip tape in the offing free to good homes.

[daryl_wilkinson]

Now have 2:1 SK75 main halyard & Dry lube.

It's all nice and slideee......








The luff now jumps the track!










BOLLOCKS!

( that's not swearing, it's Old English for small ball and also means 'clergyman' ( see 'Sex Pistols' case transcript: http://www.acc.umu.se/~samhain/summerofhate/courtcase.html ) and is a naval term for a pulley block at the top of a mast, also known as a bullock block. So it quite literally is Bollocks!

[daryl_wilkinson]

YEEEEEEEEHARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ONE PERSON MAIN HOISTING IS IN OPERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Didn't even have to guide the luff into the feeder!!!!!!!!

2:1 halyard and new VINYL bolt rope / tube. It ROCKS! Many thanks Simon for putting me on to that. I recommend those having halyard problems to do this!