Sail Lubricant…

[Seah0rse]

I’m having some difficulty hoisting my Genoa on to the roller reefing furling forestay. Would someone kindly recommend some sort of lubricant for the sail and or groove of the forestay. I was thinking some sort of silicone spray. Thanks

 

[Stingo]

Dishwashing liquid
Any silicone based stuff will collect dust, which becomes grime

 

[scottie]

Car silicon bumper spray has been claimed as a cheap option
but you need to avoid obscuring the number plate

more seriously cleaning the foil helps we always had made up section of the luff with loops kept for that reason

 

[fredrussell]

McLube Sailkote if you’re feeling flush. Good stuff.

 

[Seah0rse]

Dishwashing liquid
Any silicone based stuff will collect dust, which becomes grime

That sounds a great idea. Thanks

 

[Yngmar]

My advice, based on experience and trying both is: cleaning is far better than lubricating. I've got a piece of rope that fits the luff groove, stitched on a few twine loops to pull it up and down and do so along with a spiral hose with the water nozzle pointing downwards into the groove. Pull that up and down twice, watch the dirt and dust and old caked on lubricant come out of the groove and next your sail will slide up like butter with no lubricant at all.

Photos here: How we clean our luff groove

 

[Martin_J]

I clean the groove in a way similar to the above..

I just find a bit of rope, about six inches long, that will fit into the groove. Fold an old tea towel in half over it and slide the part with the wrapped bit of rope into the groove. With a halyard attached to the top of the tea towel and a downhaul tied to the bottom corners... Firstly a soapy tea towel can be used followed by a ptfe lubricant (McLube sailkote) sprayed one...

Quicker to do than to describe!

(Note... We do have a big supply of tea towels on board).

 

[Martin_J]

Although, as per previous questions on difficult to hoist mainsails...

Are you sure its the groove and not the top sheave worn and sticking when under pressure? Try a separate halyard or use the halyard to hoist a good block to the top with a temporary external genoa halyard pre run through it as a test.

 

[thinwater]

McLube Sailkote if you’re feeling flush. Good stuff.

Sailkote. Slippery, lasts, does not build up, and does not draw dirt.

Yes, I have used everything else.

---

Also cleaning. A length of bolt rope with a grommet in each end is handy. And as Martin suggested, check the halyard pulley. Finally, some furler top swivels will start to bind if the sleeve wears. Lube the inside of the slide and outside of the extrusion with Sailkote.

 

[neil_s]

WD40 Special lubricants PTFE spray.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I use a molybendum-based spray - but I got it free from my late wife's work and have no idea what it would cost! But it's good stuff.

 

[Jmc1764]

dry ptfe lubricant works

 

[jwilson]

McLube Sailkote is the best product: no idea what's in it but it works -ask any serious race boat crew.

 

[Refueler]

Quite often hoisting genny onto furling gear - the joints in the extrusions get worn and catch the sails bolt-rope making it difficult to hoist.

 

[Boathook]

I use spray furniture polish.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Holt's sail lube fixed it for me but cleaning with a piece of rope helps as well.

 

[xyachtdave]

Once a month I hoist the lightest member of crew in the bosuns chair and they clean it out with ear wiggers.

I think some people call these cotton wool buds.

 

[Refueler]

Once a month I hoist the lightest member of crew in the bosuns chair and they clean it out with ear wiggers.

I think some people call these cotton wool buds.

Interesting ... so you remove genny every month ?

Only ask as I think most people leave theirs up all season ... some actually leave for consecutive years ...

 

[xyachtdave]

Interesting ... so you remove genny every month ?

Only ask as I think most people leave theirs up all season ... some actually leave for consecutive years ...

Yes, I’ve got a sock to pull over the headsail if we’re tight on time but generally drop it every weekend.

I’m a bit of a tart and like old fashioned headsails in various sizes. For example the number 4 we carry for going upwind in strong breeze is night and day different to say a furled 140% Genoa to same size.

I don’t change down a size when sailing as not really crewed for that hassle, but will go up a size if underpowered.

Look at weather and select best option for weekend.

When I see a decent headsail left up month after month, probably with the halyard twanged up hard slowly stretching the life out of it and slowly going green….eek!

 

[Refueler]

The bit I dislike seeing ... is where people do not roll a turn or two of sheets round the headsail. They leave a small piece of sail out.

That small piece then flogs when strong wind ... but if the sheets were a turn or two - then that clew is safe.