Mainsail stucked in mast... :(

[Donizetti]

Hi all. Just installed the main with a friend that did not, in my opinion, keep enough tension on the outhaul when I was rolling the mainsail inside the mast.

While on the water today, I was unable to get the main out. It started OK, but after two feet, it seems like all the sail wanted to come out at once, which blocked the mainsail in the slot. The first batten comes out about its half at an angle (foot first...) and seems to contribute to the problem.

I can get the sail in and out in that 2 feet length.

Anyone has a solution for this?

Thanks in advance!

[sam]

At dock try squirting a water hose on the mast slot, attempting to get the sail as wet as possible. Then work the sail back and forth a few inches at a time, trying to tighten the "roll". This has worked for me. It is a tedious and time consuming thing, but I prevailed and it worked.

Sam

LONGHAWK B43, #9

[Jeff Shukis]

Of course this have never, ever happened to me. No way! Absolutely not! None the less, I somehow know how to fix it.

 

You'll need patience and a bit of force. Drop the boom until it's level, pull the sail out as far as you can without causing binding, cleat off the outhaul, and then use the furling line to wind the sail back onto the drum rather tightly. After that, pull out the sail a bit more if you can and repeat. The goal is to get the sail re-furled tightly with no folds. At some point, you may need to get on top of the cabin and pull the sail by hand to relieve a bind or two. The first step - putting the boom level - is important.

 

When this didn't happen to me, it was because I left the topping lift tight after sailing and then furled the sail with the boom angled up (aft end up by about 8"). This caused an uneven furl that wasn't an issue going in but was when unfurling. The parmanent fix is to always have the boom at the right angle when you furl and unfurl. It is surprising, but a few degrees of tilt can cause the sail to bind significantly, especially with a thick dacron sail that's a few years old.

[Bruce Bogdanoff]

I would also check the furling line to the drum. Last year the furling line was jumping a groove or two and that cause the line to bind on guides in the past.

I fixed the problem by replacing a worn furling line.

Bruce

[Donizetti]

Thanks to all for your replies, I did a bit of everything and it worked out just fine.

The followings were done while docked:

1. A lot of water on in-mast sail to lubricate (Thanks to Sam)

2. Tension the roll while working back and forth on the mainsail

3. Step on boom to use my fingers to keep the material inside the slot while a friend was pulling the main out

4. Main came out!

After an inspection, it seems that the furling line skips a groove, so I will replace it (Thanks to Bruce).

Also, I followed the instructions (I don't remember where I got this) to tighten the topping lift before furling... I'm not sure this a a good idea anymore.

Again, thank you all, this is appreciated.