T5AUS Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Hi guys Anyone use special lubricant on the main sail in the runner to ease the pulling it up, mine gets very tight towards the top, thanks. (novice sailor) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquoll Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 I like this one: http://www.wd40.com.au/3inone/silicone_spray.php I'd cram a rag into the track and try to rub/polish a bit with the spray too. If it may have been dropped, compressing the track and causing a tight spot, then you might also wrap rag around a screw driver and twist to open the track up a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 +1 on that, or any silicone spray. If the sail is old then consider that the bolt rope has probably shrunk. It's usually tacked at the foot, release the tacks and let it ride up into the sleeve. Put another bit of poly rope to keep the sail in the track at the foot, tack it through with whipping twine. Allows you to pull the downhaul and the sail into a much better shape. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbekkerh Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 This stuff is made for exactly that. After I used it, my sail comes down by it self. Its a dry lube, so sand and dirt will not stick to it. http://www.harken.com/McLube/McLube.php [ATTACH=CONFIG]640[/ATTACH] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquoll Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 The WD40 silicon I linked above available at Motor Parts retailers, about $10. Marine chandleries always carry some kind of similar stuff, as above. "Innox" is a non-silicone one that also works OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madboutcats Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 I use Innox and Lanox, they don't discolour material so I spray it on the sail bolt rope then pull it up, also brilliant on the traveller. Non oily so doesn't attract dirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy1945 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 As K O Jimbo said, with old Maris, the bolt rope shrinks and the sail bunches up making them hard to raise (particularly the last bit as the bunching increases), The bolt rope is hand sewn at the tack and it is easy to undo the 6/8 stitches then stretch the sail down (you should find that the bolt rope will be 8/10 inches up the sail when you finish) If you are not racing it is not necessary to re sew to the sail. (I have never found an old sail which does not require this fix) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T5AUS Posted February 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 Many thanks guys, a great selection of options, will give them a try Cheers Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbieandrew Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 Having the same problem on my Calypso 16. Lubing it with the WD40 silicone above didn't help much, this rope is tight! So is another option to simply replace the rope totally? How easy is it to do and what rope is normally used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy1945 Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 It's an easy job, usually only 6-8 stitches top and bottom, tie a light line to the old bolt rope to pull the new one in as the old comes out. Your new bolt rope will be longer by 15-20 cm . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbieandrew Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Thanks Darcy...Something to clarify, I would have thought that it would be better not to stitch the sail to the rope down the bottom so any downhall is only applied to the sail, if they were stitched would it not just bring the whole sail down the track? And if it is stitched, should the sail be stretched out as much as possible before hand? Is there a bit of stretch in the rope that is normally used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 my tuppence : without stitching you run the risk of the old, hard bolt rope bunching up inside the sail pocket, if you stitch then it might be better to replace with a new rope. on my new Eastwind sail Dave (sailmaker) left a 'tail' of about six inches and didn't stitch the bottom in. Logic was that over time the rope can shrink and the tail will shorten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbieandrew Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 I think that's a good idea, Get a brand new rope, run it through, stitch the top then leave a little excess at the bottom! Thanks for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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