44 mainsail drop

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raleigh
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44 mainsail drop

Post by raleigh »

I have recently purchased hull #20. I am having difficulty getting the mainsail to drop when I release tha hailyard. Has anyone else solved this problem.

Thanks for any insights from your experience.
Raleigh S/V Cinderella
Antares 44 Hull #20
Norfolk, VA
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mikeandrebecca
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by mikeandrebecca »

We're only on a 32 but even if we're dead into the wind, we still need to go to the mast and pull the sail down by hand. Perhaps rigging a downhaul would solve this problem.
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chicagocat
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by chicagocat »

I installed Tides Sail Track on my mast a couple years ago. UK Sails here in Chicago did it. It's expensive, but now the mast is almost frictionless. Very little effort in raising the sail, and it comes down completely when the halyard is released.
PDQ 36052 - 1996 LRC - "Anne Z" - Chicago
and 2001 PDQ 36 Classic (Tall Rig)- "Cat Tales" - Punta Gorda, FL
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mikeandrebecca
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by mikeandrebecca »

That is what we have.
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maxicrom
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by maxicrom »

We have the stock PDQ 36 classic set up (not the LR Cruising mast), and other than the occasional batten hanging up in the lazy jacks the sail comes down fairly easy.
amytom
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by amytom »

Ours is quite heavy going up (only pull up 1/3 by hand the rest of the way with winch) and requires someone pulling to get it down.

I've wondered if loosening the battens would make it easier?
Marc Gershel
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by Marc Gershel »

I had that problem for about the first 4-5 years that I owned the boat, until I checked the halyard size. I found they were a slightly thicker metric size. I changed them to the smaller american size and the sails worked perfectly. I couldn't believe that I never thought of checking that for all those years.
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mikeandrebecca
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by mikeandrebecca »

We have new running rigging coming and I believe the halyards will have a little bit smaller diameter than what we currently have. I do hope that fixes the issue.
raleigh
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by raleigh »

My boat hull 20 has harken sliders for bat cars. Does anyone have harken with ball bearings for their cars? If so does this make the main drop?
Raleigh S/V Cinderella
Antares 44 Hull #20
Norfolk, VA
raleigh
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by raleigh »

My mainsail now drops like a rock.

I owe my success to Chuck O'Malley of Doyle sails in Annapolis. He did several things:

1 He moved my top battens to make them near parallel with the boom (and the other battens)
2 He replaced primarry batten cars with Harken CB cars.
3 He removed most of the secondary slider cars that would constantly bind.
4. He properly re-tensioned my battens.

I also changed my halyard as mikeandrebecca recommended.

The result is a huge positive change for me. Thanks to all for your comments.
Raleigh S/V Cinderella
Antares 44 Hull #20
Norfolk, VA
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eepstein
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by eepstein »

One common problem is stress on the slides from a bad boom angle. Check your topping lift or rigid vang (if you have one) and lift the far end of the boom when raising or lowering. That might help.
Eric & Bonnie Epstein
s/v Desert Star, PDQ36, Hull 49
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amytom
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by amytom »

We replaced our 1/2" main halyard with a higher grade 7/16". Wow! What a difference! I can pull it up all but the last couple of feet by hand. Dropping I still need to pull on the back of the sail to get it to rest in the stack pack completely. Also the last couple of feet coming down need to be pulled down by hand.
Made yesterdays 15 - 20 east wind even better- 7 knots SOG both ways in that wind with one reef out of the main as the blow picked up.
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mikeandrebecca
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by mikeandrebecca »

I haven't been on the forum in a bit but wanted to add that since changing to our new, slightly smaller diameter Dyneema halyard, the main sail drops MUCH more easily!
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Re: 44 mainsail drop

Post by Marc Gershel »

Something I just recently discovered, after 15 years. I have Harken battslides, and by accident, I found that they were upside down. I had the nut on the bottom of the car intead of the top. It does seem to make a slight difference. But the smaller dia. halyard, and a good occasional flushing of the cars with a strong hose or medium power washer has done wonders.
Marc
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