This is a stick up

[Sixpence]

Excuse my poor attempt at humour /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Firstly, apologies to Jim for the late night rambling rigging pm /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif all sorted in the light of a new day. Things seem so much more simple after a good nights sleep

Anyway.
As requested, the latest situation with Sixpence. Finally managed to repair the mast, and between Louise ( pulling the forestay ) and myself ( pushing it up ) we raised the mast at least three times over the weekend, before it finally went up without snagging on something. It hurts when you get to within a few feet each time, only to snag on something you can't clear and have to lower it all the way down again.
By the end we both felt like having a radox bath /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

But we can finally say that it is up, with hankie fitted /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Now how do I get the things that slide up the mast, to, erm, slide without snagging ?

 

[sailorman]

[Now how do I get the things that slide up the mast, to, erm, slide without snagging ? ]

furniture spray polish. silicone spray. teflon spray

 

[Sixpence]

Er, where ? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Please don't say on the mast /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[FullCircle]

[ QUOTE ]
Er, where ? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Please don't say on the mast /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

All right, if he is not allowed to , I will.

Yes, up the mast track. Ahem.

Shall I pack a tin for the Fitting Up Supper?

 

[Sixpence]

Oh dear, yes please, I'll put up with it until then and let someone else tell Louise it has to come down again

 

[sarabande]

is there any crud inside the sail track ?
If the mast hasn't been used for a while, you may have aluminium dust preventing the slides from easing up. You can tell, if the "throat" of the slide is blackish.

If so, then, you need a piece of sail with a bolt rope. Lube the rope with anything from candle wax to teflon spray, and work it up and down the slide track. WD40 will make it slidey, but will cover everything on black oil - yuk.

If there's lots of corrosion, it might be worth abrading gently the inside of the track with some fine glasspaper before you wax it.


Are the slides worn ? To go up easily, the slide should not be able to twist away from the vertical. If it does, then it will pull harder on the track, in the same way that leading edge drum brakes do. If worn, it's a replacement job /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif


Does the halyard attach to the head close to the track ? If it is an inch or so away (say on an ali plate) then it will pull the top slide or slug in at an angle, and increase the friction.



It's really good to see Sixpence in commission at the right time of the year. Nice work, and I hope your sails go up and down OK. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Well done Dave!

Perserverance has paid off..... not long until you go sailing now..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sixpence]

All pretty old really, but thanks, with a combination of various ideas I should be able to get it running smoothly

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Second question.....

Its difficult to tell from the picture, but perhaps looks like the mast is raked rearwards a little.... is it upright?

If it isn't, then you'll have hellish weather helm.... so make sure its vertical.......

 

[Sixpence]

Fingers crossed for next weekend, which is why we pushed so hard over the past few days. Weather permitting, we doubt the initial idea of Lowestoft is even an option, but we're still going to try for Wells

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

i'd personally just have a short day sail first...... shake down cruise if you prefer that term!

 

[Sixpence]

Still got some tweaking to do, hence the late night PM to Jim. It's not right yet, but it's up which is the hardest bit. If I remember correctly it wants to be vertical which is where the tweaking of forestay and backstays comes in ?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

yep.... use these to get it level fore and aft, then the caps to get is correct side to side, and then the lowers to get any required bend in it....

This is a generalisation, but you won't go far wrong.....

As a further tip.... if you put a short bar (6") in a bottle screw, and tighten as tight as you physically can by hand, then you'll not be far off the correct rig tension... just watch your chainplates closely when you first tension to make sure they are secure.....

Also, check everything on the mast next time its down after a full tension up, and then check it again... and then check the chainplates and fittings, and check 'em again.....

 

[FullCircle]

[ QUOTE ]
Still got some tweaking to do, hence the late night PM to Jim. It's not right yet, but it's up which is the hardest bit. If I remember correctly it wants to be vertical which is where the tweaking of forestay and backstays comes in ?

[/ QUOTE ]

All, to a greater or lesser degree.

 

[Sixpence]

Thanks all, tweaking is the next stage, fingers crossed

 

[MoodySabre]

Oh it's a sailing boat /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Well done Dave and even better done Louise. Now find a lightweight friend to hoist up the mast with a can of Telfon spray. Sorry I don't qualify /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Sixpence]

She did look a bit mobo for a while /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
It was noticed by some at the marina, and commented on when the mast went up too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Koeketiene]

Finally starting to look like a proper boat.

Proud of you, my son /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Have a beer

 

[Sixpence]

Thanks, and I'll look forward to you bringing a crate of that when you join us for a trip /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Athene V30]

Great to see boat nearly ready.

I plan to be off from B'sea on Weds or Thurs and with the forecast southerlies should have an easy ride up to Lowestoft. Not sure I have time (or inclination!) to get up to Wells though - I know it is lovely as we go by car but it is a very long way back!

So after Lowestoft I will probably get into the Deben / Backwaters for the weekend and see who else is about. As SWMBO has given me a leave pass to Monday it would be foolish not to use it!