How do you determine if a block is seizing under load? Dave S/V Aries 1990 C&C 34+ New London, CT
> On Jan 27, 2021, at 12:42 AM, CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > I'd like to share something most of you know but some may not and it's > something I learned the hard way. Before hoisting sails for the first time > this season, check that all your blocks and deck organizer sheaves turn > properly and the sail tracks are clean. Use a finger to check that the > sheave turns freely in each block. Things work easier if everything actually > works, and if you do this the sails will thank you. > > Earlier I reported that I raise the mainsail on my 36 ft saiboat by hand. > Well I couldn't do that when I first got my boat and needed to use a winch on > halyards. My sailing friends told me that was normal and winches were always > necessary to hoist such large sails. My mainsail weighs only 55 to 60 > pounds, so I thought they might be wrong. Later, I spent some time checking > all of the mast base halyard blocks and freeing a few frozen sheaves in the > deck organizer, I found I could raise the mainsail by hand very easily. > These sheaves are deceptive when frozen and allow a halyard to pass unimpeded > initially when there is no load, but once the strain comes on, if they are > frozen, the halyard becomes bar taught and the job requires a winch. I also > learned from reading the winch catalog that the largest loads; the genoa and > main halyards work best if reeved along the most direct path to the right > side of a winch drum. So now I pick the clutch directly in line with the > right side of the Starboard winch drum for my main halyard. All my winch > drums turn clockwise. My genoa halyard is reeved through the clutch directly > in line with the right side of the Port winch drum. I run the spinnaker > halyards through the outermost clutches and all the other lines have lower > loads so can be run as you like. And I label the clutches. > > I also hoist the Genoa by hand onto the furler and because I clean the foil > grooves and spray the sail tabbing with MackLube, it goes up pretty easily. > The lube also allows easy adjustment of the halyard tension when shaping the > sail while sailing. I usually pick a lightwind day and extend the genoa > halyard so I can wrap the tail round the winch drum and lead it to the bow > where I feed the sail into the groove as I pull the halyard. I can clear any > snags as they develop and the sail goes up happy and quick. > > So clean and lube your winches and the clutches too. > Mark your halyards so you can repeat proper settings. > These things make operating the boat so much easier. > > Sorry for the long rant. > > Chuck Scheaffer, Resolute 1989 C&C 34R, Pasadena Md > > > Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with > the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
Thanks to all of the subscribers that contributed to the list to help with the costs involved. If you want to show your support to the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks - Stu
