sticky slides

[DRANNIE]

finally got my eboat in the water and everything correctly tied/shackled on. Apart from tuning the rig (the mast is at least straight). When I put the main on I had a bit of a struggle getting the mainsail up. I don't think its the halyard but the plastic lugs on the main getting caught in the track. Any suggestions for a suitable lubricant? Is there something I can spray on the slides?

 

[wingdiver]

McLube

 

[aitchw]

Or rub them with candle wax if you like to be economical.

 

[Aja]

Turbo Gel

Donald

 

[Bejasus]

SailKote

oops, made by McLube.

 

[cameronke]

Just a thought.................

You are head to wind when you try to raise the mainsail? On my E-Boat it can be very difficult if I am not.

Also are you sure the halyards are not twisted round each other within the mast?

Cameron

 

[DRANNIE]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'll invest in some lube.

Cameron - I was on the pontoon putting the main on but almost no breeze, I did wonder if that might have hampered things a little bit. The halyard seems to run free when not attached to the sale, they were threaded through recently as the previous owner had put polyprop through and washed all the sheets and Halyards.

As a fellow eboat owner, how tight do you wind up your shrouds? I have gone a couple of turns past finger tight with a small spanner and there is still a fair bit of give in the capshrouds. I don't want to break anything. I was thinking of going out and seeing how much lee sag I get before winding them up much further.

 

[cameronke]

Hi Rob

I went a bit techy a few years ago and bought a rig tension gauge like this

I set my tension to about (if I remember right) 5% breaking strain as advised by the gauge for the size of rigging on the E-Boat (4mm???) Have had no problems.

There is a very good explanation in Sail and Rig Tuning by Ivar Dedekam (Fernhurst,ISBN-10: 1898660670) that explains why some pre-tension is better than none (back page)

What sail number are you and are you aware of the owners club?

Regards
Cameron

 

[DRANNIE]

Thanks I can see another £30 heading to the chandlers!

Boat is Sail number 122 called Grayling, built 1982. She seems to be reasonably original with exception of an outboard well which had been added?! Not sure what that does for sailing performance as the outboard is too big to fit in it and is on a stern bracket. Previous owner had a fetish for blocks lots of them. I've no idea what half of them were for as I bought the boat unrigged so its taken a weekend to match up all the bits of string. It looks like it should work.

I'm aware there is a class association, I need to send them the £5. PM me for general eboat chat /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rabbie]

Go to motor factors and ask for silicone spray - excellent!.

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
Go to motor factors and ask for silicone spray - excellent!.

[/ QUOTE ]
Or go into Halfords and buy dashboard cleaner which is just silicon spray.

 

[Boathook]

Mr Sheen Furniture polish. Spray on slides as you hoist sail.